When it comes to life and death – every second counts.
On Thursday, Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital donated three first-aid kits and doses of naloxone to the K-9 Units of Pottstown Police Department.
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Each of the units – Taz and his handler Officer Jeff Portock, Kato and his handler Corporal Steve Hatfield, and Jak and his handler Officer Peter Yambrick – received a kit.
The naloxone will help combat the effects of opioid drugs that these K-9s may come into contact with while on the job.
“With the dogs being exposed, we don’t always know what kind of environment we’re sending them into,” said Hatfield. “To have that on scene, it’s a big help to us because it will give us a chance to give them a dose and then get them to the vet to get the necessary care they need after that.”
Todd Metrision, Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital’s director of operations, explained how the decision to donate these items follows the June incident involving Officer Portock’s K-9, Taz. Taz sustained an injury during a police pursuit.
Metrision says Dr. Mark Hanlon, practice owner, began brainstorming with his wife about what would happen to the dogs if they came into contact with an opioid such as heroin, Percocet, or morphine.
“If they sniff it, inadvertently, or bite the bag with powder or inhale it – the opioid ingestion will cause slow heart rate and uneasiness, so they brainstormed and thought it would be nice to get them some first-aid kits and naloxone, which is the key,” said Metrision. “It reverses the effects of an opioid or blocks it completely.”
Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital is one of the main care providers to the Pottstown Police Department’s K-9 units.
The naloxone provided in the kits in the nasal spray version.
“Nasal is the easiest access; IV is the fastest,” said Metrision. “In the chaos of everything, finding a vein can be tough. Nasal is best.”
He says the practice receives many calls involving pets eating human medication, and they also keep naloxone available for those situations.
