K-9 Officer Makes History With Tennessee’s First Emergency Air Transport for a Police Dog
K-9 Luca has spent years protecting others but in one terrifying moment, he was the one who needed saving.
After being accidentally exposed to concentrated ozone in an area he was being kept, the Belgian Malinois from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department was found by his handler in medical distress.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “On the afternoon of April 21, 2026 K-9 Luca, who was assigned to Clay County Investigator Steven Smith, was crated and within a building that houses the Clay County Sheriff’s Office’s Investigative Unit. While in the crate, Luca was accidentally exposed to an Ozone machine that had been inadvertently turned on. Luca was found a few minutes later in severe respiratory distress and vomiting.”
The strong, dependable police dog was suddenly weak, disoriented, and fighting for his life. Smith rushed Luca to Big Bear Vet Clinic. Veterinarians there acted fast to stabilize and sedate him, but Luca needed advanced care and time was critical.
That’s when something incredible happened. For the first time ever in a real emergency, the Erlanger LIFE FORCE Air Medical team launched a K-9 rescue mission, airlifting Luca to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. The goal was to get him there within the “Golden Hour” — the narrow window where rapid treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
“These K-9s are heroes who protect our communities every single day,” said LIFE FORCE K-9 Transport Coordinator Stacy Prater. “They deserve every fighting chance when they are injured in the line of duty.”
The airlift cut hours off travel time and gave Luca that chance.
For his department, the relief was overwhelming. “It was a relief we were able to get Luca there in such a brief window,” they shared. “We’re very appreciative of the program.”
And the best update of all — Luca pulled through. He’s now awake, alert, with his vision and sense of smell intact, and well enough to return home with his handler after a few days of care.
After years of loyal service, this time it was Luca’s turn to be protected and thanks to a team that refused to give up, this four-legged hero got his second chance.