Branford Resident Gifts K-9 First Aid Kit To BPD

BRANFORD, CT —Branford Police Department Sergeant and K-9 handler Melissa Carney and Arrow, the department's K-9, are a little bit more prepared in the field these days thanks to a contribution from a local citizen and dog lover.

Last week, Branford's Michele Hackley donated a K-9 first aid kit from North American Rescue. The kit, which Carney said probably costs hundreds of dollars, includes items like: combat gauze, chest seal, peroxide and antibiotic ointments, designed to treat both minor and more serious injuries a dog might suffer. A local veterinarian and a pharmaceutical company also donated antivenom for the kit because dogs occasionally encounter snakes in the woods.

Carney said the kit has all the items contained in a convenient carrying case, which the officer can bring with her out in the field.

"For minor injuries, or a major injury, the stuff is in the kit. If he cuts open his paw or gets a stick in his eye, I have stuff in there to take care of that and a lot of other injuries that you see in the field," said Carney, who became the department's first female K-9 officer in 2019.

"It's crazy how compact the kit is, and it has so much stuff in there and you can just carry it. You think about how lucky we are to have it. If, God forbid, something happens, we have this right there to help."

Carney said the new kit came about after Hackley, who donates time and money to local animal shelters, asked BPD Detective Art Farris if there was anything she could do to help out Arrow. Carney said Arrow has become "kind of a personality around town."

When the idea of a medical kit was discussed, Hackley did the research and purchased a top-of-the-line product for the 4-year-0ld police dog, delivering it last week.

"She wanted to pay it forward and she got in touch with North American Rescue and sent information to us about all the stuff that was going to be in the kit," Carney said. "It was just so amazing, it's a couple hundred dollar kit. She ordered it herself. She did all of it.

"(Hackley) donates her time, she's had a bunch of dogs and is a huge animal lover. She's donated to shelters and she wanted to show some love to Arrow too."

When Hackley delivered the kit, she told Carney: "I hope you never need this, but I'm glad you have it now."

Carney, a nine-year veteran of the force, and Arrow graduated from the Connecticut State Police 201st Patrol Dog Class in 2019. Carney said Arrow is trained in tracking, evidence recovery, obedience, suspect apprehension and handler protection.