A dog is a dog, right?
Dr. Alexis Newman (’98) might disagree with you – at least when it comes to caring for police K9s and working dogs.
“I find working with these animals quite different and a wonderful challenge,” said Newman. “I greatly respect the bond between the handler and the K9, and the challenge of working with these dogs.”
Newman first became interested in K9s and working dogs while serving as the medical director at a specialty hospital in the Chicago area.
“Our hospital cared for several police K9s and working dogs,” she recalled, “and I assumed care for them when another veterinarian left the practice.”
Newman was immediately drawn to the care of the animals. She became so interested in the bond between the handler and the K9 have that she decided to start her own practice catering specifically to K9s and working dogs.
That’s how Partners and Paws Veterinary Services in Lisle, Il., began.
And her love for K9s and working dogs continues to this day.
“I find it quite different and a wonderful challenge,” Newman said. “I greatly respect the bond between the handler and K9 as well as the challenge of working with these dogs.”
It’s not an easy practice. Some of her patients have a good demeanor. Others can be very aggressive. But the respect Newman has for the dogs supersedes however the dog acts while under her care.
“I have respect for what these canines can do and treat them appropriately,” she said. “I trust the handlers and they trust that I know their dog and have his or her best interest as a priority.
“The handler is always with their K9 when it is being cared for, which is a big part of why my practice grew.”
And grew it did. Partners and Paws Veterinary Service cares for 200 K9s from 80 departments and agencies in the Chicago area.
Word of mouth and earning the trust of the handlers have gone a long way in building the practice.
Then there is “The Rig,” a refurbished ambulance that Newman uses to visit K9s and training groups in the field.
“’The Rig’ allows me to treat the dogs without the handlers having to bring them into the clinic,” Newman said. “It’s a huge part of what our clinic is known for.”
Newman also teaches first aid and CPR to new handlers and provides first aid kits. She is a frequent contributor to national police K9 magazines and spends as much time with police departments and other agencies as possible.
“I am dedicated to gaining and keeping the handler’s trust and maintaining the K9s’ health,” she said.
That includes caring for K9 and working dogs in their retirement. As president of MARK-9 (Medical Assistance for Retired K9s), Newman helps support retired K9s throughout the United States by providing financial assistance for their medical care.
It’s just another way Newman is assisting the K9 community.
“It’s hard to express how rewarding this work is,” Newman said. “I can support the K9, the handler, the department, and the city.
“I cannot imagine a more rewarding career in veterinary medicine for me.”
April 2026
