Vincennes Police Department to receive Narcan kits for K-9s

VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Protecting K-9 Heroes provides police departments around the country with resources to the ensure the safety and health of their K-9s, if they are faced with a dangerous sitauation or drug encounter.  

“We provide medical K-9 trauma kits, Narcan kits, and ballistic vests, to departments that do not have funding for their K-9 units,” said Staci Goveia, founder of Protecting K-9 Heroes.

The Narcan that is provided can be used on both humans and the dogs if they inhale drugs like fentanyl. Through donations to the organization, Protecting K-9 Heroes is able to provide these items for no cost.

“Our K-9 trauma kits are 100 dollars and that includes the shipping. The Narcan kits are also 100 dollars,” Goveia said

While 200 dollars for these resources may not seem like a lot, officers with police departments like the one in Vincennes say their K-9 unit relies solely on these types of generous donations.

“The Vincennes Police Department, we do not have a line item for our K-9 program. Everything is 100 percent donation funded,” said Michael Caswell, Vincennes Police Department K-9 patrolman.

The ease of the financial burden is important, but so are the Narcan and trauma kits that they will soon receive. Caswell says his K-9 Gary has not experienced an overdose, but having to go on these scenes is becoming more common and it’s good to be prepared.

“The Narcan kits are important because we’re getting more and more opiate, heroin, fentanyl overdoses here in our city, and our dogs are going in and searching these houses,” Caswell said.
    
Caswell says K-9s cost the Vincennes Police Department around $15,000 after training, so keeping them safe is critical.