Posted on 04/11/2009 11:30:29 PM PDT by Chet 99
Calgary paramedics being investigated for giving dying dog painkillers 11 April 2009 08:07
CALGARY — Two paramedics are being investigated after giving a dying dog painkillers as he sat unable to move in the middle of a street, his owner refusing to leave his side.
Off-duty RCMP corporal Keith Blake needed medical assistance after his pet dog Justice, a German shepherd, was hit by a garbage truck on April 1.
In horrific pain from open fractures and bleeding profusely, the dog lashed out as his owner tried to help him, resulting in broken fingers and bad bite wounds.
“(The paramedics) couldn’t deal with me because every time I moved, Justice would try to get up,” said Blake, who is off work while his injuries heal.
“I didn’t even feel anything because my dog was going through so much pain ... and the only way to move him was to sedate him.”
The paramedics were worried the nine-year-old canine, who had never bitten anyone before, would hurt someone else trying to help.
Faced with a scenario they had never encountered before, the paramedics decided to give Justice painkillers.
Blake said he has nothing but accolades for their compassionate actions.
“They were obviously there to treat me but they also helped Justice,” he said Friday.
“It was heartbreaking ... but everybody was very supportive and professional and did an amazing job.”
Justice’s pain subsided enough for bylaw workers to take him to a vet, where he was euthanized.
EMS chief Stuart Brideaux said there is no protocol for treating animals and a paramedic’s priority is to care for people, adding the incident warrants investigation as “an opportunity for learning.”
“It wouldn’t be inappropriate to do some first aid,” he allowed. “It comes down to the discretion of the crew, on a case-by-case basis.”
Rick Fraser, president of Local 3421 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said he hopes the paramedics face no penalties for the doing “the right thing.”
Fraser noted that horrified bystanders and an off-duty nurse were trying to comfort the dying dog and the police officer as children filed out of a nearby school.
The truck’s driver was also at the scene.
“They limited the dog bite to one person,” Fraser said, adding the paramedics didn’t take the decision lightly.
“They were on the telephone with a vet walking them through to make sure they had the correct dosage.
“Clearly, our No. 1 concern is for the patient but when the patient refuses to be looked at because they are worried about their dog, you have to do what’s best to treat the patient.”
Meanwhile, bylaw officials said the city is looking at hiring a full-time veterinarian who could offer more options for officers dealing with injured or aggressive pets in the community.
Spokesman Bill Bruce said a vet would be handy in dealing with pets in car crashes, animals at large or where animals have bitten people or animals.
Bruce also said his department is looking into a bylaw officer’s decision to take Justice to a vet with emergency equipment activated on his vehicle.
“He transported lights and sirens and broke protocol,” Bruce said.
The bylaw officer is a former British policeman and trained dog handler.
“He knew the dog was a goner and couldn’t bear to see him suffer, it was a judgment call to get it to the vet as soon as possible,” said Bruce.
He said officers are trained to make quick decisions on a case-by-case basis but it is prudent to review the choice to break the rules to determine if it was warranted.
Metro news services
very very sad.
i think the medics did the best they could.
what’s wrong with giving dogs pain dope?
I actually shot a very busted up dog once on the side of a street...poor dog was snapped and howling blood everywhere...a boxer....Old Canton Road Jackson Miss, mom and kids boo hooing.....I stopped with a crowd gathered and the poor dog was snapping at everything totally freaked out ....grabbed the legs and pulled him into the grass and while the kids got his attention I shot him in the head with my .38 load in a M28
I was pretty shook too but the family was very grateful, we loaded him in my trunk in a blankie and took him over to their house
have mercy killed several deer.
you do what u gotta do..course this was 70s back when America was sane....Dixie even more so
hey Chet?
just you and me tonight?
reckon the Easter Bunny scared everyone off?
“what’s wrong with giving dogs pain dope?”
Because it wasn’t in the procedures manual, someone may complain, they may get sued, yada yada... all part of turning normal sane compassionate people into emotionless automatons .
Agree......done it will do it again !
I reckon so. I started watching one of those Matrix sequels, but nearly gagged it was so bad.
at the very end it says they transported the dog with their lights and sirens on.
so they risked other drivers to save a dog that wasn’t gonna make it anyway.
Maybe I missed it, but they didn’t say the driver was speeding or driving recklessly. Just had sirens on..
You have either never had a pet, or you are the coldest sumbich on the planet.
“You have either never had a pet, or you are the coldest sumbich on the planet.”
I have had and still have plenty of cherished pets. Not one of them is worth the life of a person.
Any whacked out person speeding their dog to a vet that causes an accident injuring one of my family can expect and eye for an eye.
At about $100,000 per year for salary + benefits
but if only one dog is saved...
“Maybe I missed it, but they didn’t say the driver was speeding or driving recklessly. Just had sirens on..”
Doesn’t really matter about their speed does it. An ambulance with sirens on forces other drivers to get out of the way. If they weren’t speeding then why the lights and siren? Because they wanted other drivers to get out of the way, putting each of those drivers at greater risk.
So spare me your crocodile tears. When you start protesting the tens of thousands of cats and dogs euthanized every year just because they aren’t adoptable then you can start making a case for risking peoples lives to save one dog.
Give the dog pain medicine, sure no need for it to suffer. Certainly control the animal so it doesn’t hurt anyone else.
“but if only one dog is saved...”
meanwhile they quietly kills thousands of animals just because they are poorly trained and don’t have a family.
Think about that some more. :-(
you have no heart.You’re probably one of those PITA people, one of those that would sue because an eye wasn’t dotted and a tea wasn’t crossed. You would stop someone from helping others.
“You would stop someone from helping others.”
PITA? Oh you mean PETA, nope.
Just don’t think peoples lives should be put in jeopardy for a dog that was already beyond help.
I certainly don’t think thousands of tax dollars should be used to provide medical treatment for a dog that is going to end up put down.
But then I’m not a vet with car payments due.
“Think about that some more. :-(”
Ok you’re right, they are definitely worth more than some degenerates.
But on the average, people have souls. Animals do not.
You obviously have never loved a pet, or had a pet be so loyal that YOU would give your life for a pet if it would take away their pain and suffering.
are you related to barak?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.