Box Elder County, Utah Sheriff’s K9 and Partner Injured in August Law Enforcement Incident Reunited with Medical Teams Who Helped Save Animal’s Life
(PRUnderground) September 9th, 2025
Three weeks after being seriously injured during a deadly domestic violence call in Tremonton, Utah, a Box Elder County Sheriff’s K9 service animal and her partner were reunited today with the caregivers who helped save her life – and celebrated the unique Intermountain Health air transport program that helps K9’s injured in the line of duty in Utah.
When Box Elder County Sheriff’s police K9, Azula, was injured in Tremonton on August 17, she was transported from the scene via medical helicopter by an Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance team as part of a new program designed to provide specialized transport and trauma care for injured public safety animals.
Azula was the first K9 injured in the line of duty to be transported by the program, which includes a unique collaboration between the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance service and local veterinarians, specialized animal hospitals, and public safety agencies.
The first of its kind program in Utah – and only the third in the United States – it was launched in February of 2024.
Azula, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, was flown to MedVet Salt Lake City animal hospital where specialized veterinarians cared for her on August 17. She has since recovered from her injuries and has returned to duty.
Azula, and her partner, Box Elder County Sheriff’s deputy, Mike Allred, who was also injured during the law enforcement incident, reunited on Tuesday with caregivers and teams from the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance service and MedVet Salt Lake City to recognize all those who played a key role in their care and recovery.
“I’m so thankful and grateful for this program and for everyone who responded that night,” said Deputy Allred. “Azula is doing well and has returned to work. I really appreciate the outpouring of support that has been shown to us.”
Deputy Allred, who was also injured in the incident, was flown to Intermountain Health Bear River Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.
The Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance service transports any operational K9 needing emergent medical or surgical services. If an operational K9 is injured (for example, gunshot wound, impalement, or automobile accident), the agency or handler can contact the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance team directly.
The K9s and their handler (human partner) are flown to one of several pre-designated veterinary hospitals including MedVet Salt Lake City; MedVet in Sunset; Mountain West Veterinary Specialists in Layton and Bluffdale; Advanced Veterinary Care in Millcreek; and Veterinary Emergency Critical Care in Las Vegas.
These hospitals are advanced specialty/emergency veterinary hospitals which are open 24 hours a day, have board-certified surgical and/or critical care specialist veterinarians on staff, and have advanced life-support equipment such as ventilators and banked blood for transfusions.
“Operational K9’s are essential to our communities and public safety,” said Darby Earle, an adult flight nurse and lead for the K9 transport team for the Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance service. “These animals are involved in EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire rescue, FEMA, narcotics detection, and TS. They serve our communities well.”
Training for these K9’s can range from $40,000 to $70,000 and take four to five years to train.
“In addition, they are like family members to their agencies, and like any other officer who is injured in the line of duty and needs immediate care, we want to help them,” Earle added. “Until now, there has been no formal process to help these animals when they need medical care. We’re thrilled to help fill that vital gap to ensure these operational animals have immediate access to trauma care when needed.”
“I’m so proud of our critical care team at MedVet and the way they responded that night,” said Katie Dawson, DMV, a critical care veterinarian at MedVet Salt Lake, who treated Azula the night she was brought into the hospital. “Everything went smoothly from the transport from the scene to Azula’s care here at the hospital. She was a terrific patient!”
NOTE TO MEDIA: Images and video available upon request
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, over 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/.
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Original Press Release.
