From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Galway vet did his bit for American Presidential security by treating a sniffer dog who was struck down with a nasty bug ahead of a visit to Knock.

Colm McGovern was on call at Glenina Veterinary Clinic in Renmore when he was asked to treat a very important patient last Thursday night.

In came two members of the Secret Service, who were part of the canine unit which carries out searches for explosives at locations before the arrival of Joe Biden.

The handlers had been staying at the Hardiman Hotel since the Mayo leg of the presidential visit and four-year-old German Shepherd named Kato was throwing up for a few hours.

“We ran IV fluids into him, did full bloods, x-rays and checked urine over two hours. It was routine gastroenteritis. They wouldn’t leave him with us, which I thought was interesting. I checked him the next day and he had improved but wasn’t able to go to Knock. I spoke to his handler at midday on Saturday and was good to fly at 2pm that day.”
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the April 28 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.