ATF K9 Handlers Come to Portland for Hands-On Emergency Veterinary Training

PORTLAND, OR – When a working K9 with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is injured during a search warrant, exposed to opioids in the field, or faces another emergency miles from veterinary care, their handler may be the only person there to help.

This week, twelve ATF K9 handlers from across the western United States came to Portland to learn what to do in those critical moments.

DoveLewis 24/7 Animal Hospital hosted the handlers for two days of hands-on emergency veterinary training. The Operational Canine First Aid & Pre-Hospital Care Course was developed and led by DoveLewis Emergency Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Tauber at the invitation of the ATF National Canine Division.

“These dogs face unique risks in the field, from traumatic injuries to heat illness and drug exposure,” said Dr. Tauber. “Handlers are often the first people able to help, so giving them the skills to recognize an emergency and take those first steps can make all the difference.”

Handlers practiced canine CPR, wound packing, controlling severe bleeding, applying tourniquets and bandages, caring for impalement injuries, and responding to emergencies including heat illness and opioid exposure.

The scenarios reflect the realities of the dogs’ work. ATF Explosive Detection Canines can be deployed at major events like the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, but much of their work involves assisting with search warrants, homicide investigations, firearms recovery, and evidence searches. These operations can take place late at night, on weekends, or in rural areas where a veterinary hospital may not be close by.

The goal of the training is to help handlers care for and stabilize their K9 partners until they can reach a veterinarian.

“These dogs spend their careers protecting people, and this is one way we can help protect them,” said Dr. Tauber. “When their partner is the one who needs help, we want handlers to have the knowledge and confidence to respond.”

DoveLewis has shared emergency veterinary training with local law enforcement, TSA K9 teams, firefighters and pet owners. For the ATF handlers who trained in Portland this week, the hope is that they never need to use what they learned. But if an emergency happens in the field, they’ll be better prepared to help their K9 partners until they can reach veterinary care.

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