Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office K9 handlers now equipped with ‘Buddy Bags’
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office uses five K-9 officers. They help with suspect apprehension and tracking, as well as narcotics investigations.
Ben Johnson is a K9 handler for the HSCO. He explained his K9’s skills. Johnson said, "She’s trained to detect those odors by passive alert, which is sit, stay, stare, things of that sort."
Now the handlers have a better way to take care of their four-legged partners. Veterinarian Dr. Jacob Liu unveiled the new "buddy bags" on Monday.
Dr. Liu explained, "The bag contains a lot of things for stabilization. You know, a lot of times when you have injuries that occur to working dogs, things that unfortunately have to be addressed by a veterinarian. But the kit gets you to the point where you can transport them in a lot of cases."
The bags have a variety of life-saving equipment to treat the animals if they are hurt in the line of duty.
Johnson said, "Their main goal is to get whatever they’re after..whatever means that takes, and sometimes it causes injury and with this training and these bags it helps us to better, you know, help the dog or the K-9 as far as getting it medical care there at the scene before getting it to a closer vet."
Grants and donations from the public helped buy these buddy bags, but that doesn’t mean the need is over.
Matt Lea with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said, "We always need spares, we always need additional ones in case we get more in the future, so there are opportunities here for people who may want to be creative in their charitable giving this year during the holidays."
Johnson added, "It makes you more confident, because you know if there was injury to the dog, you know you have the appropriate training and the appropriate necessities to be able to take care of that injury."
Hamilton county has five K-9 officers, but only four have bullet- and stab-proof vests.
Ben Johnson is a K9 handler for the HSCO. He explained his K9’s skills. Johnson said, "She’s trained to detect those odors by passive alert, which is sit, stay, stare, things of that sort."
Now the handlers have a better way to take care of their four-legged partners. Veterinarian Dr. Jacob Liu unveiled the new "buddy bags" on Monday.
Dr. Liu explained, "The bag contains a lot of things for stabilization. You know, a lot of times when you have injuries that occur to working dogs, things that unfortunately have to be addressed by a veterinarian. But the kit gets you to the point where you can transport them in a lot of cases."
The bags have a variety of life-saving equipment to treat the animals if they are hurt in the line of duty.
Johnson said, "Their main goal is to get whatever they’re after..whatever means that takes, and sometimes it causes injury and with this training and these bags it helps us to better, you know, help the dog or the K-9 as far as getting it medical care there at the scene before getting it to a closer vet."
Grants and donations from the public helped buy these buddy bags, but that doesn’t mean the need is over.
Matt Lea with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said, "We always need spares, we always need additional ones in case we get more in the future, so there are opportunities here for people who may want to be creative in their charitable giving this year during the holidays."
Johnson added, "It makes you more confident, because you know if there was injury to the dog, you know you have the appropriate training and the appropriate necessities to be able to take care of that injury."
Hamilton county has five K-9 officers, but only four have bullet- and stab-proof vests.
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