Course Description: This two-day course presented by Veterinary Tactical Group provides intensive hands-on training focusing on providing emergency medical care to working dogs in tactical situations, focusing on life-threatening issues like severe bleeding, airway obstruction, and hypothermia. The course incorporates current TCCC and TECC guidelines with canine specific anatomy and physiology to provide the most up-to-date lifesaving information available for working dogs. Training includes multiple hands-on, interactive, scenario-driven casualty response situations in simulated tactical environments, using canine mannequins in dynamic scenario simulation.

VTG founder Janice Baker is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with over 20 years of experience in the U.S. Army where she served 10 years in special operations as the command veterinarian for Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Joint Special Operations Command, and the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, respectively, with multiple deployments to combat zones in support of canine operations. As a civilian she deployed as direct veterinary support with the FBI Hostage Rescue Team Canine Unit on multiple federal law enforcement operations while actively working in emergency veterinary practice in North Carolina. She graduated from University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, became Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2014, and earned a Master of Veterinary Forensics degree from University of Florida in 2016.

Lt. Seay’s diverse career in public service includes as a Lieutenant, NREMT-P, Fire Instructor and Fire Marshal with Spotsylvania County Fire & Rescue for 14 years. Brian furthered his training and education in the public service realm and has been a Deputy Sheriff, K9 handler and Sergeant with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office for over 10 years. Brian is also VPCA K9 Trainer, Tactical Medic with SWAT, ICAC Investigator, Infection Control Officer, CPR/First Aid Instructor and Recruit Instructor. Over the years, Brian has been awarded numerous awards for his accomplishments and service within the Sherriff’s office, State of Virginia and from local community organizations. Brian is currently training his third K9 partner, Kara, (a very energetic Belgian Malinois) as he continues to work towards becoming a Master K9 Trainer.

Ms. Dickenson is a retired firefighter-paramedic with Fairfax County, VA, and FEMA certified canine handler with VA TF-1 with both live find and human remains detection dogs. She has multiple deployments to disaster and military search events in the United States and overseas. She Has a special interest in canine fitness and conditioning, as well as canine behavior and training, and owns a successful dog training business in Northern Virginia. She has recently completed a PhD in Animal Behavior at Virginia Tech University with a focus on behavior of detection dogs.

After graduating from college Paul spent four years as an Artillery Officer in the US Army, serving in both Korea, and Fort Benning Georgia. In 1997 he began his career as an FBI Special Agent, spending several years working in rural South Carolina prior to joining the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. He was initially assigned as an Assaulter/Operator, and in 2008 he joined the Hostage Rescue Team’s Tactical K9 Unit as a K9 Handler until his retirement in 2020. While in the FBI, Paul also served as a SWAT Medic/EMT and was responsible for the HRT K9 Program’s medical training. Paul has been teaching with VTG since 2020 as a primary instructor and as a guest instructor for many years before his retirement from the FBI. He is currently studying to become a registered veterinary technician.

Charles "Big Mike" Elston is a Battalion Chief with Salem Fire-EMS Department in Virginia. Chief Elston was stationed at the city’s technical rescue station for over 10 years serving as the Special operations Team Leader. He is an adjunct instructor and technical rescue instructor for Virginia Beach Department of Fire Programs. He also teaches Breaching and Breaking at the VATF-2 Structural Collapse Specialist School in Virginia Beach, VA. Mike has been teaching canine emergency care courses with VTG since 2016 and has participated in many canine field activities in support of law enforcement, military, search and rescue dogs, and veterinary humanitarian aid events in rural and underserved areas of the United States.

John Mras served 14 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Specialized Search Dog handler and trainer, and later a Special Operations Combat Medic-Advanced Tactical Practitioner, before medical retirement from service-connected injury. John currently works as a Nationally Registered Paramedic performing critical care transport in Boise, ID, where he is also an instructor for Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Medical Life Support, and Basic Life Support. He has been teaching with VTG since 2014.

Training Audience: Law Enforcement Officer

Prerequisite (s): none

Equipment Needs: All materials will be provided in class

Course Contact: Kevin Bernard, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator, (610) 344 – 4619 or kbernard@chesco.org.