CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Police dogs hurt on the job in the Champaign area will soon be able to get an ambulance ride to a hospital along with emergency care on the way there.
Arrow Ambulance and the University of Illinois are teaming up to provide the ambulance ride to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The News-Gazette reported (https://bit.ly/2n2h7BP ).
Dr. Michael Smith, medical director of Carle Regional EMS and Arrow Ambulance, says a University of Illinois veterinarian will train Arrow Ambulance crew members in the basics of dog emergency medical response next month. The training will be offered to Arrow crews covering Champaign, Douglas and Vermilion counties, as well as parts of Piatt and Ford counties.
The training will be done by Dr. Maureen McMichael, head of emergency and critical care services at the veterinary hospital. Arrow Ambulance will then offer care and transport of dogs for free.
“We’ve always wanted to support the police dogs,” Smith said. “But you don’t want to step on the toes of veterinary medicine.”
Chief Deputy Allen Jones at the Champaign County Sheriff’s office says police dogs in the area are probably injured about as often as police officers.
“Injuries and things happen to them, just like our human officers,” he said.
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine spokeswoman Chris Beuoy said the veterinary hospital has treated nearly 60 police dogs from 16 counties in Illinois and Indiana over the past five years. She said they were treated for conditions such as tooth fractures, broken bones, bloat and gastrointestinal issues, disc problems, skin issues and a thorn in the foot.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.