East End Veterinary Center donates first aid kits to K-9 units across Suffolk County

In Suffolk County and all over the world, dogs who serve in police K-9 units are at risk of being shot, stabbed, punched or poisoned in the line of duty. Search and rescue and bomb-detecting dogs face an even greater risk of injury.

Knowing the risks these dogs face in the field, the East End Veterinary Center in Riverhead has put together dozens of K-9 first aid kits which contain supplies specific to the needs of these dogs and is donating them to K-9 units throughout Suffolk County, including one to Southold Town K-9 Officer Frank Mele. They are also providing training to K-9 officers in the use of the components of the field trauma kits to enable immediate critical care until a dog can be transported to a vet.

East End Veterinary Center director Gal Vatash said that the idea to provide the kits began with the special interest one of their surgeons, Dr. Rosemary Lombardi, has in German Shepherds and police dogs.

“She was the one who started the wheel rolling,” says Vatash. “We got in touch with Dr. [Charles] Greco who has the official contract to care for the police dogs. We started inviting them over here for treatments. From there it evolved into our first continuing education lecture. We recognized their need not only for practical information but also for tools. From there came the idea of donating the first aid kits.”

After working with K-9 officers to create a list identifying their needs, the team from East End Veterinary Center purchased tool boxes from Home Depot and filled them with relevant supplies.

“Everybody in the hospital did something at one point or another to help,” Vatash told the officers in attendance. “Our intention is to help you help your dog under crisis by giving each and every one of you a first aid kit. We are hoping you will carry it with you in your cars and we will teach you how to use the instruments and supplies in there.”

Before the training classes began, Riverhead Police Officer Jack Doscinski introduced his K-9 student, a 17-month-old German Shepherd named Titan and Riverhead Councilman Tim Hubbard and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio presented a proclamation of appreciation to the the center.

“I’ve worked with canine officers over the years,” said Hubbard, a retired police officer, “and the importance of a K-9 unit is really second to none when it comes to entering a possible burglary site, where bad guys are on the premises. It saves a human being from going in first. The dog can go in and secure the area or alert the officer that someone is in fact in there.”

“I think it’s amazing that EEVC put these kits together for our K-9 officers out in the field so that when medical treatment is needed and not available they’ll have the tools they need and the directions on how to administer medical care to their companions. I want to thank EEVC for stepping up as a giant community member for all of our police K-9 units in Suffolk County and especially Riverhead,” Giglio added.

SoutholdLOCAL photos by Katharine Schroeder. First aid demonstration photos courtesy Bernadette Eyre.