By Abigail Roberts
K9 training is a continuous effort and thanks to a Spike’s K9 Fund, the Lincoln County Sheriff Office’s K9 handlers received a free training course this week.
Spike’s K9 Fund is a national nonprofit that helps active and retired military, police and search and rescue dogs with life-saving equipment, emergency medical care and critical training.
Spike’s K9 Fund CEO Emily Grey said the nonprofit travels across the country to provide assistance where it is needed.
“Once we identify a need – like (Chief Deputy) Mullins had filled out an application to host the school here – then we coordinate with the instructors, we bring in instructors who are experts in the field, and then we offer this training free to the agencies and the handlers and we also sponsor their lunch,” Grey said.
Spikes K9 Fund has helped over 3,200 dogs in all 50 states, Grey said.
“A lot of civilians don’t realize the impact that K9’s have on our communities. They show up and go to the darkest places that us as humans can’t go sometimes, they can detect bombs and drugs and things that we can’t ourselves,” she said. “These dogs really can do the work of 10 officers in some ways and they mitigate a lot of risk to the officers and allow the humans to come back home safely to their families.”
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has two K9s – K9 Major and his handler Chief Deputy Michael Mullins and K9 Viki and handler Deputy Logan Smith.
Both attended the emergency K9 first-aid course was held Wednesday, July 8 at Lincoln County Fire Station 1 in Stanford.
The training included risks that handlers may come across with their K9 partner including bloat, heat exhaustion, gunshot wounds and other high-risk medical situations. It involved hands-on instruction from veterinary professionals experienced with working dogs at no cost to the handlers.
“This will basically prepare each K9 team with the proper training they need to attend to their dog in the field if an emergency does arise and get them back to an emergency medical hospital so potentially save their lives,” Grey said.
LCSO Chief Deputy Michael Mullins said K9 handlers from out of state as well as neighboring counties attended the training.
Mullins said K9s are instrumental in helping the sheriff’s office find and get drugs off of the streets.
“We really appreciate Spike’s K9 Fund for hosting this and providing the free training,” Mullins said.
Anyone interested in supporting Spike’s K9 Fund’s mission or seeking more information can visit www.spikesk9fund.org.
https://spikesk9fund.org/?srsltid=AfmBOoqFGmvJEByuQda_qq966mIEygRhJcLgmVMtoeeH7N43jOHddCDH
