CAVES Assists With Training

The Manchester Police K-9 Unit, together with the Manchester Police Training Division, hosted a four hour training block on K-9 first aid that was attended by law enforcement and fire agency K-9 handlers from throughout the region, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine.

The K-9 first aid training was provided to the K-9 officers by the doctors and staff at Concord Area Veterinary Emergency Services (CAVES) and was intended to provide K-9 handlers with the basic skills needed to treat their K-9 partners in the field in the event of injury or illness. 

Topic areas covered in the course included detecting vital signs, diagnosing illness or injury and treating injuries such as broken bones, lacerations, gunshot wounds and even ingested poisons.

CAVES staff members brought with them some canine companions in order to allow the officers the opportunity to practice the application of some of those first aid techniques on a “willing” canine patient.  Officers were able to identify vital signs and practice the application of bandaging and splints.

While we certainly are grateful to yellow lab Jethro, black lab Maddie and golden retriever Oakley for participation this training, we especially want to thank CAVES and Dr. Laurie Farrell for making the presentation to the class, along with Dr. Alison Darby and technicians Rene Kucharski and Megan Meyers. 

Submitted by Lt. Maureen Tessier, public information officer, Community Policing Division of the Manchester Police Department