Corbin Fire Department dog, ‘Hemi” en route to vet clinic in Lexington

UPDATE: “Hemi,” the Corbin Fire Department’s unofficial mascot, will remain at Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists in Lexington overnight.

Hemi’s owner, Firefighter Trevor Allen, took the four-and-a-half-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix to Lexington Thursday morning with an unknown medical problem.

Allen has been in contact with firefighters at the station throughout the day to provide updates.

According to the most recent update, Hemi is having neurological issues that is causing her not to blink and her jaw to lock.

“She doesn’t move when you touch her nose which isn’t good,” Allen said in the update.

Allen said doctors are treating Hemi with medication and steroids and also giving her fluids. In addition, and ultrasound will be performed later Thursday afternoon.

Allen took her to a local vet and this morning the decision was made for Allen to take her on to Lexington.

Hemi has been a fixture at the station since Allen was hired at the department four years ago.

“Hemi is well known around the state of KY. She has many friends and is my very best friend,” Allen said on a Facebook post on the department’s “Shift 1” Facebook page.

While Hemi does not go on runs, she is at the station when Allen is on duty.

She roams the station when the firefighters are there and is housed in a kennel in the truck bay when they are paged out on a run.

Firefighters said a donation account to help fund Hemi’s medical expenses has been established at Hometown Bank located on Cumberland Falls Hwy. in Corbin.