LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – With LVMPD’s K9 Enzo recently stabbed on the job, it is a reminder of the dangers police canines face.
A private security company that relies on dozens of canines to keep the community safe tells FOX5 it is important to be prepared for anything. With four paws and a strong nose, K9s are always on a mission.
“Anywhere from detecting to tracking to the law enforcement side of apprehension,” Lt. Randall Caldwell with the K9 Division for Protective Force International said.
The private security company has 13 working K9s on the job.
“The bond is unlike anything out there. It’s one of those things where you are with that partner every day, you are constantly working together, you are constantly overcoming challenges together,” Lt. Caldwell said.
The team faced just such a challenge on Friday, when Metro Police said a man stabbed one of their K9s when responding to an apartment. That apartment is one of the properties the security company patrols daily.
“That could have been any one of our dogs,” Lt. Caldwell said.
PFI tells FOX5 that right now, they can only afford one ballistic vest for their dogs, which is why knowing how to render aid is so important if they get injured on the job.
“They have more body parts that we need to focus on, other arteries, they will bleed out more quickly than we do,” Sgt. Pricilla Lagler said.
PFI goes through a few canine first-aid trainings a year, noting that training is just as important as their firearms training.
Sgt. Lagler showed FOX5 how they would wrap a tourniquet around their dogs, as she carefully wrapped it around her dog’s arm and neck all while applying pressure.
The K9 handlers each carry a canine first-aid kit with them at all times, because every second matters if their pups get injured while they put their lives on the line for us.
“We both want to go home at the end of the night to our families,” Sgt. Lagler said.
PFI tells FOX5 the ballistic vests for their dogs can cost anywhere between $1,300-$1,500 and if anyone would like to donate or give them the vests, you can call 702-464-9618 or email [email protected].
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