Injured North Carolina K9 flown by helicopter to vet center in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For the first time in Tennessee, a K9 officer has been flown by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center.

The K9, named Luca, is a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois. He is a full patrol K9 with the criminal investigation division of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina. Sheriff Mark Buchanan told 6 News that the dog was in an enclosed space when an ozone machine inadvertently turned on. Exposure to concentrated ozone can cause acute lung injury. When his handler found the dog, he was in respiratory distress and vomiting.

On Wednesday, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office described the dog’s condition as “stable but serious,” adding that he was being carefully monitored.

Luca was evaluated at a veteran clinic in Hayesville, NC. He was then sedated and airlifted to Knoxville via Erlanger Life Force Air Medical.

The Knoxville Fire Department posted at 1:55 p.m. that it was helping the University of Tennessee Police Department set up a safe landing zone for the Lifeforce medical helicopter off of Alcoa Highway. UTVMC said the dog was suffering from concentrated Ozone exposure.

“We did a dry run in September—the first ever in the state. Then Life Force did dry runs with two emergency veterinary groups in Chattanooga. Today is the first air transport of a K9 officer in Tennessee,” shared a UTVMC spokesperson.