3-02-21 Police Canines Receive Donation of First Aid Trauma Kits

Hawai‘i Police Department’s canines and  handlers have some extra first aid resources thanks to a recent donation  from the Hawai‘i Island K9 Association. During a ceremony held in  Kailua-Kona on Thursday, February 25, 2021, the Association presented  the department with seven canine trauma first aid kits and seven nasal  Narcan kits – one for each of the department’s seven canine units. The  department has five narcotics canines and two live search canines.

The donation included training by a  veterinarian in how to use the equipment, training aids, canine toys and  other materials, with a combined total value of $2,000. The department  received approval from the County Council to accept the donation prior  to last week’s ceremony.

Following the ceremony, veterinarian Dr.  Kristina Henricks, owner of Good Karma Spay and Neuter, provided  departmental canine handlers training in how to use the trauma kits and  Narcan.

“We want to make sure the canines are  protected,” says Tammy Passmore, founder and board chair of the Hawai‘i  Island K9 Association. “We saw a need for the canines to have the  specialty training and equipment so they can perform their job.”

“Hawai‘i Police Department appreciates  the generous donation from the Hawai‘i Island K9 Association to keep our  canines safe,” says Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Paul Ferreira. 

 Hometown Heroes: Nonprofit keeping K-9s safe on the job

Hawaii Island K9 Association received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status  in August, and since the group has been working hard to secure funds to  augment the current budgetary constrictions the Hawaii Police Department  K-9 units face.

“We raise funds and write grants to get money to provide  kennels, equipment, training, the dogs and anything to support them  because their budgets are always so small,” said the association’s  chairperson and co-founder Tammy Passmore.

Currently, the Big Island has seven working K-9s in the police  department with four on the west side and three on the east side.  Working with their handlers, five of the canines are narcotics dogs and  two are live find search-and-rescue dogs used to track missing juveniles  and adult Alzheimer’s patients.

“I formed the association because we didn’t have anything on the Big  Island for the working K-9,” said Passmore. “There’s all the rescue  organizations that do the adoptions and get them what they need but  nobody to help working K-9.”

She knew of this need first hand because her husband is a Hawaii County police officer who has been a K-9 handler.

“They need extra training, they need extra equipment, they need extra dogs, so that’s where we step in,” she said.

On Feb. 25, all seven K-9s and their handlers gathered at Makaeo  Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park for their first event. Board member  and veterinarian Kristina Henricks provided training on administering  canine first aid. Donated canine first aid kits and nasal Narcan kits,  along with dog toys and leashes were distributed while Henricks  explained how the handlers could stabilize their injured partner so they  could get the dog to the nearest animal hospital.  

Police Capt. Thomas Shopay attended the Feb. 25 event, and said the training was a step in the right direction.

“We provide first aid and support for our officers. The K-9s are officers too. We need to treat them like family,” he said.

Passmore said fundraising has been a challenge because of the  pandemic, but she is hopeful the community will step up to help them  reach their goals.

Because nobody on the Big Island raises and trains working dogs, the  units have to travel off island to get the K-9s and receive training.

Passmore said one of the live tracking dogs is ready to retire and they are working to secure funding to replace him.

“We are trying to raise the $10,000 to buy the canine. And that’s at a  discount,” she said, noting the dogs usually come with a $20,000 price  tag.

In addition to the police K-9 unit, they are able to supply the dogs to the fire department, sheriffs, and prosecutor’s office.

“The fire department used to have one canine, but he retired  two-three years ago,” she said. “At this time the fire department isn’t  ready to start another one, but when they are we will be there to help  them.”

“We need to support these working K-9s so they can go out and do  their job to support the community,” said Passmore. “The life line  tracking canines need to go find missing kids and assist in that way."