Dogs Getting Narcan

Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend and they play a huge role in our daily life. Whether it is companionship or service dogs, they go with us on some crazy adventures and travel most of the places people go…

So, it’s not surprising that in the workplaces that are unsafe for humans, dogs are also unsafe. In Boston, Massachusetts law enforcement with K9 units have begun carrying Narcan not only for themselves but for their dogs.

“Our dogs are like family, so it would be the same as taking care of a family member that had medical emergency,” said Lt. James Creed, a K9 officer with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department in Massachusetts.

With opiates being mixed with stronger chemicals and ones that can be absorbed through the air, police dogs are more vulnerable to being injured while working. This has a lot to do with both the power of their noses and how they find things. Dogs searching for drugs are at risk of overdose because as they sniff the trail of a drug, they can sniff their way into the drug itself.

To watch a report on how the Boston police force has had to respond, click here.