Protecting the K9 Teams Who Protect Us

Partnerships with local police departments are one of the threads that connect our hospitals. At Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center (LVVSC) and Veterinary Emergency + Critical Care (VE+CC), supporting the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) is deeply engrained in the work these teams do.

For years, these teams have helped care for the city’s working K9s by supporting dogs trained in bomb detection, narcotics detection, patrol and therapy. Keeping these K9s healthy is essential not only to our teammates, but also to the safety and wellbeing of the broader community. To support their ongoing service, LVVSC and VE+CC provide vaccines and bloodwork at no cost, helping ensure they remain ready for the critical work they perform each day.

Among these special K9s is Jimmy, a newly certified therapy dog. Jimmy recently supported an elementary school community after a shooting, leaving covered in children’s stickers after a day of offering comfort. VE+CC ER Service Head Dr. Erika Fauth donates her time for his annual wellness exam.

Partnerships like this are a meaningful reflection of how our teams show up for the communities they serve by caring for the animals who help protect us all.