Canine Officer Fighting for His Life
May 19, 2012Bodie
http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/...0,972622.storySACRAMENTO—
The bond between partners out on patrol is legendary; sleeping at the Sacrameno Veterinary Referral Center tonight is K-9 officer Bodie's human partner.
The German Shepherd is trying to recover from an felony attack that happened Friday morning near Land Park – an attack that resulted in the death of the suspect after officers returned fire.
After being shot in the paw and face by a suspected car thief Bodie was chasing, his surgeon says he's in a tenuous position.
"Pretty serious injury ... he had a bullet go in one side of his mouth through his jaw bone ... right through his tongue and out other side ... so his tongue [has] taken most of the damage right now," said Doctor Robert Runion, staff surgeon at the vet center.
The swelling caused by the injuries Bodie suffered out on the beat compromised his airway so much he's now breathing through a tracheotomy tube.
"His tongue is swelled up to the point that we're looking at getting some medical-grade leeches tomorrow to decrease the swelling in his tongue," said Runion.
Bits and pieces of debris from the scene, and chunks of his own hair, blew into Bodie’s wounds – raising infection concerns.
Doctors are focused on addressing Bodie's soft tissue wounds this weekend. They say next week will be all about his broken bones.
"So far so good, but we got a long way to go," said Runion.
This kind of care for Bodie is a huge undertaking. Donations towards helping pay for Bodie’s hospital care can be made to the Sacramento Police Canine Association.
Bodie recoveringhttp://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/...,4760609.storySACRAMENTO—
A Sacramento police dog named Bodie continues to make improvements Sunday after getting shot by a carjacking suspect Friday morning near Land Park.
The Sacramento Police Department K9 Association says Bodie's condition has stabilized and his body is now accepting blood transfusions.
“He’s actually standing up today, so he’s looking a lot better so we’re very optimistic about him coming back to work,” said Sgt. Steve Oliveira of Sacramento Police K-9 Association.Sacramento Kings owner Joe Maloof sent a message via Twitter on Sunday that, in honor of Bodie, he would like to donate the money needed to get another police dog.
“I have always loved dogs & it truly was amazing to watch these dogs train. In appriciation [sic] of what the K9 unit does & in honor of Bodie,” Maloof added in a following tweet.
Handlers hope to get Bodie back on the force, but they are thankful to have the donation from Maloof.
“Obviously all the outpouring of support is just a booster for us, especially [since] it was kind of a dark day for us when it happened to Bodie.”
Oliveira says Maloof has offered in the past to donate the money needed to buy a new police dog. Police K-9s can run upwards of $10,000.
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The woman who was in the car with Webb and arrested at the scene was identified Saturday as 28-year-old Leslie McCulley. She faces charges of possessing a stolen vehicle and stolen handgun, and negligent discharge of a firearm. Apparently McCulley fired off a round in the stolen car sometime before police got to them.
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