Public Relations

Athens, Ga. — The University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital is caring for Lakota, the K-9 officer who was severely injured in a single car accident on Monday, October 3, 2011.

You may follow Lakota's progress on the owner's website: www.guardianofthenightk9.com/guardianofnight/lakota/

All media inquiries about Lakota's condition should be directed to Kat Yancey Gilmore: 404.406.9769 (mobile), or kygilmor@uga.edu.

Thank You!

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine wishes to thank the public for your generous outpouring of support in honor of Lakota.

Those of you who wish may still make a secure, online donation to the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine’s G.R.A.C.E. Fund – a canine emergency fund (www.vet.uga.edu/GO/grace). You also may donate to a variety of other funds that support scholarships, research, our quest to build a new veterinary hospital (Veterinary Medical Learning Center), and other animal-related causes.

For more information, please contact our Office of Veterinary External Affairs at 706.542.1807 or give2vet@uga.edu. Thank you for your support of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine!

Updated: Friday, October 7, 2011, 4:45 p.m.

The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal and human diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share. The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 560 who apply. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.

The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States. The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians. www.vet.uga.edu/vmlc/index.php

To download individual images, click on the image you want to download and the full-size file will load in your browser. Files are sRGB, 300 dpi JPGs. Click here to download a ZIP file of all available high-res images of Lakota [6 photos added 10-06-2011].

October 5

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Left: Dr. Natalia Andrade (top, surgery resident) and Dr. Scott Rose (right, orthopedic surgery) evaluate Lakota's injuries before Lakota was sent for radiographs.
Right: In the radiology suite, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT) John Cassidy (left, soft tissue surgery) and Daina Rollor (right, orthopedics) remove Lakota's bandages so radiographs can be taken. Lakota is wearing a working dog muzzle.

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Left: In the radiology suite, Daina Rollor, RVT, removes Lakota's bandages so radiographs can be taken. Lakota is wearing a working dog muzzle while the hospital staff attend to his injuries.
Right: Back in the ICU, Daina Rollor, RVT (right), re-bandages Lakota's leg while fourth-year veterinary student Kathryn Cochran (left) assists.

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Veterinarians and veterinary technicians work together in the ICU to put a central line in Lakota and rebandage his back legs with splints to immobolize his fractures. Clockwise from bottom left: John Cassidy, RVT; John Younker, fourth-year veterinary student; Dr. Ben Brainard (Diplomate of the ACVA and ACVECC), assistant professor, emergency and critical care; Dr. Christina Maglaras, intern, emergency and critical care; Dr. Tom Edwards, resident, emergency and critical care; Daina Rollor, RVT; fourth-year veterinary student Kathryn Cochran.

October 6

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Left: Julie Kordner, a fourth-year veterinary student from Clayton Co., Ga., is on Lakota's treatment team in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Right: Dr. Scott Rose, clinical instructor, orthopedics, is the senior clinician on Lakota's case.

October 7

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Left: Mike Shaughnessy, RVT (left), veterinary technician in anesthesia, and Dr. Stephanie Kleine, anesthesia resident, help Lakota get comfortable on the table before going under anesthesia. Lakota, the police dog injured in a single-car accident on Oct. 3, underwent surgery Friday, Oct. 7, to repair his broken back legs. Dr. Scott Rose, clinical instructor in orthopedics, led the surgical team.
Right: Mike Shaughnessy, RVT (left), veterinary technician in anesthesia, and Dr. Stephanie Kleine (right), anesthesia resident, begin to situate Lakota on the prep table once the anesthesia has taken effect. Kendall Flynt (middle), a fourth-year veterinary student, monitors Lakota's vital signs.

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Left: Kendall Flynt, a fourth-year veterinary student, helps to prepare Lakota for surgery.
Right: Dr. Stephanie Kleine (left), anesthesia resident, shaves Lakota's front leg to prep the area before the dog goes into surgery.

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Left: Dr. Stephanie Kleine (left), anesthesia resident, shaves Lakota's front leg to prep the area before the dog goes into surgery. Sarah McKissick, RVT (middle), veterinary technician in anesthesia, cuts off the bandages on his back legs.
Right: Dr. Rose checks over Lakota while the dog is being prepped for surgery.

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Left: Sarah McKissick, RVT, veterinary technician for anesthesia, cuts off Lakota's bandages before surgery.
Right: Kendall Flynt (top), a fourth-year veterinary student, and Dr. Stephanie Kleine, anesthesia resident, prepare Lakota for surgery.

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The veterinary technicians, veterinary students, and anesthesia resident from the surgical team prep Lakota after taking him into the OR.

October 11 — Family Visits Lakota

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Corey Fox (left) and Clayton County Police Officer Travis Fox (right) visited Lakota at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Lakota was in pain from his injuries, but wagged his tail when Officer Fox interacted with him.

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As of their visit on Tuesday, October 11, Lakota was being moved through the hospital primarily by cart. However, as part of his rehabilitation, he was walked in a sling to go outside or for short distances. Lakota is seen here with (l to r) Julie Kordner, fourth-year veterinary student from Clayton County; Dr. Scott Rose, clinical instructor of orthopedics and the primary clinician on Lakota's case; Officer Travis Fox and Corey Fox.

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Lakota took a short walk down a hallway in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with the aid of a sling held by Dr. Scott Rose. Veterinary student Julie Kordner (left) and John Cassidy, RVT (holding Lakota's leash), encouraged Lakota to move forward on his own as he put weight on his injured legs. Lakota wears the Elizabethan collar (shown in the left-hand photo) when he is in his kennel at the hospital to prevent him from licking or biting his bandages.

Public Relations

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Thank You!

October 5

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October 11 — Family Visits Lakota