A Border Patrol K-9 was transported by helicopter to a La Mesa emergency veterinary hospital Friday night, prompting a temporary traffic shutdown near Jackson Drive and Grossmont Boulevard, according to East County Magazine.

The helicopter landed around 8:25 p.m. in front of the Jack in the Box on Jackson Drive, where an officer carried the dog across the street to the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center run by Thrive. Witnesses told East County Magazine the dog was given an IV, placed on a stretcher and taken into the clinic.

La Mesa Police had issued a Nixle alert around 7:30 p.m. asking drivers to avoid the area because of the emergency operation. Streets reopened about 9 p.m.

Border Patrol had not released details on what type of injury the K-9 sustained or its condition as of the report. East County Magazine said it had contacted the San Diego Border Patrol sector office for more information.

For Santee and East County readers, the incident is a reminder that regional emergency resources often move across city lines quickly, especially for law enforcement and working animals. The veterinary hospital near Grossmont is close enough to serve cases from across East County when minutes matter.

Source: East County Magazine reported this story on July 26, 2026.