
09/12/2025
On August 17, K9 Officer Azula of the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office was injured in the line of duty during a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two officers.
Thanks to the partnership between Intermountain Health and MedVet, Azula became the first K9 to be airlifted through this program designed to provide rapid, specialized care for public safety animals.
Upon arrival, Drs. Katherine Dawson and Jordan Scherk, along with the MedVet Salt Lake City team, had lifesaving supplies and interventions ready, from blood products to chest tubes. Thankfully, Azula’s injuries were less severe than feared, and after attentive care she has returned to training with her partner, Deputy Mike Allred.
We are proud of our MedVet caregivers and grateful for the collaboration with Intermountain Life Flight that made this possible. It is an honor to serve our community and support the brave K9s who risk their lives alongside first responders.
MedVet Salt Lake City and MedVet Northern Utah are certified to receive and provide care for public safety dogs via the Intermountain Health K9 Transport Program. Learn more about this program: https://hubs.la/Q03JbS_W0
For more info about K9 Azula's lifesaving care, visit ABC4: https://hubs.la/Q03JbTVY0
In a unique collaboration with local veterinarians, specialized animal hospitals, and public safety agencies, Intermountain Life Flight, one of the nation's premier medical transport programs, is launching a specialized operational K9 transport service. This new service will provide transport for op...