Wisconsin K9 Among the 'Top in the Nation' Tragically Injured While Chasing Suspect
On Tuesday the Lake County, Illinois Sheriff's Department posted a concerning message about their police dog Dax, who is also amongst the top in the nation.
Dax was injured on Sunday during the apprehension of a fleeing felon.
According to the Facebook post, Pleasant Prairie Police Officers were pursuing a stolen vehicle when that vehicle crashed into a squad car. The driver then fled on foot. Sheriff’s K9 Dax and Deputy Forlenza were requested to track the fleeing suspect, as it was believed he was hiding in a wooded area.
Related: K9 Dog Hailed a Hero for Helping to Capture Escaped Fugitive in Pennsylvania
These two partners arrived at the scene and it's reported that Deputy Forlenza gave announcements warning the offender to surrender, and K9 Dax began barking to further warn the offender. This is probably where this felon should have surrendered, because that's when Dax really got involved. The report says the offender refused to surrender or make himself known and after a brief track, K9 Dax located the offender hiding in the woods. K9 Dax bit the offender in the torso area, and he subsequently surrendered. Welp, that's what you get for not obeying the law!
During the apprehension, K9 Dax sustained an injury resulting in him not being able to bear weight on his hind legs and it is reported that K9 Dax is currently under the care of a veterinarian.
What an a amazingly brave pup Dax is! We know how worried we would be if our own pup got injured, and it's hard to imagine how an officer feels when his K9 partner is injured. Police dogs and the remarkable work they do is just incredible.
What Goes In To Training a Police Dog
The US Department of Justice reports that the total average cost of a successful canine police program is $55,672.42.
Not only do these incredible dogs have to be trained for drug detection, but also how to perform search and rescue and how to help apprehend criminals.
Police dogs able to search through rubble after a devastating explosion, earthquake, or other disaster. They find people lost in avalanches. These dogs search for explosives and illegal drugs, they canvas large events to look for explosives, and help search civilian vehicles that have been pulled over.
Basic training for the patrol dogs takes approximately 4 months of full-time work, sometimes longer.
In addition to that, these amazing pups are like family both to the officers who work with them and their relatives.
We are wishing brave K9 Dax a speedy recovery so he can get back to the work he just excels at! What a good boy he is!
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