Point of Injury K9 medical care training

The OPK9’s team puts on exceptional trainings for handlers all across the state.  This training allowed for early detection of our K9 Falco suffering from heat stroke during a track.  Additionally, the responding ambulance crew, who also attended an OPK9 class, were able to utilize skills they had learned to stabilize our K9’s body temperature until we arrived at Blue Pearl.  Without the team at OPK9 and the classes they teach, I am certain that our K9 wouldn’t be working in the field today and doing what he loves.

In October of 2021, K9 Officer Riggs suffered a gunshot wound to the head during the successful apprehension of a double homicide suspect.  He was treated at the scene and quickly transported to a level one trauma center and survived.  His handler Deputy Sheriff Terry Tifft commented “Had I not applied what I learned at training I would have transported K9 Riggs myself in my squad and the outcome could have been much different.” K9 Riggs initially returned to duty but later took an early medical retirement.  K9 Officer Riggs survived because he received complete medical care from the emergency scene, transport, and veterinary hospital.