Advanced Veterinary Care in Millcreek has been named a receiving hospital for injured police dogs under Intermountain Health's K-9 air ambulance program, the only one in Utah.

The program, which ABC4 profiled on Wednesday, Sept. 16, has transported five police dogs since it began operating. KSL reported the program launched on Feb. 1, 2024, making it the third of its kind in the nation.

When an operational K-9 is hurt, the handler contacts Intermountain Health Flight & Ambulance directly. A helicopter crew trained in canine first aid picks up the dog and handler, then flies them to a pre-designated veterinary hospital. The flight team knows how to intubate, start an IV and stop bleeding in a K-9, according to ABC4.

"We live in Utah. There are multiple operational canines here and our terrain does not suffice getting them medical attention soon and fast enough," Darby Earle, the Intermountain Health flight nurse who leads the K-9 transport team, told ABC4.

Advanced Veterinary Care, at 1021 E. 3300 South, operates around the clock. It offers emergency, surgical, cardiovascular, oncologic and dermatology services. The other designated hospitals are MedVet Salt Lake City, MedVet in Sunset, Mountain West Veterinary Specialists in Layton and Bluffdale, and Veterinary Emergency Critical Care in Las Vegas.

The program's first patient was K-9 Azula, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois belonging to Box Elder County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Allred, according to Police1. Azula was injured during the Aug. 17, 2025, shooting in Tremonton that killed Tremonton-Garland Police Sgt. Lee Sorensen, 56, and Officer Eric Estrada, 32. Intermountain Health flew Azula to MedVet Salt Lake City, where she received critical care. She returned to duty.

The most recent transport came on Tuesday, Sept. 15. K-9 Bruno, a chocolate Labrador and Park City's first police dog, jumped from a U.S. 40 overpass near the Interstate 80 interchange in Summit County while assisting Utah Highway Patrol with a suspicious package investigation, KUTV reported. The flight team retrieved and transported Bruno within 30 minutes. He was reported in stable condition and "good spirits," according to ABC4.

Bruno had joined the Park City Police Department in December 2025 as an explosives detection dog. The department called Bruno a partner and an important part of the Park City Police family.

The program's next goals include training more local law enforcement agencies in K-9 first aid and pursuing nationwide expansion of K-9 air transport.