Share
Lifestyle

K-9 Shot in Line of Duty Will Enjoy 'Life of Luxury' in Retirement from Now On

Share

K-9 Officer Jerry Lee with the Austell Police Department in Austell, Georgia, showed up for duty Sunday on what would prove to be his last day of work.

He and his handler, Officer Reeves, arrived at a scene where a suspect had fled on foot and was hiding in the woods. Jerry Lee was sent in to track the man, and as he pursued, the dog was shot in the leg.



“Douglasville requested K9 assistance from the Austell Police Department,” the Douglasville Police Department said in a news release. “After the tracking began, the suspect shot the Austell K9.

“A perimeter was set up. A single gunshot was heard from the woods. The suspect was located behind Hooters, given medical attention, and is deceased.”

Trending:
Kamala Harris Gets Ice-Cold Reception on Trip to Promote Biden's Massive Spending Plan


From that moment on, the K-9’s life was in the balance.

“Ofc. Reeves spending some time with Jerry Lee,” the Austell Police Department shared on Monday. “He’s headed to surgery now. Please pray for a good outcome with the procedure.

“Not the best diagnosis, but we know this hero can pull through and recover 100%. Thank you for the outpouring of love and support.”



As soon as people heard what had happened to Jerry Lee, they wanted to know how to help. An official fundraiser was started through the Georgia Police K9 Foundation.

“K9 Jerry Lee was transported and given proper medical care,” it wrote. “K9 Jerry Lee underwent surgery and has a long road of recovery ahead. He is currently at home resting and recovering with his handler.”



Since the surgery, the Austell Police Department has kept people updated on the K-9‘s condition.

Related:
Rescue Dog Shot Several Times by Unidentified Suspect, Police Still on the Lookout for Culprit

Donations of money and supplies have poured in, and Jerry Lee has even been the recipient of some artwork to celebrate his bravery.



“Ofc. Reeves is so glad to have his partner going home!” the department posted, along with a video of the K-9 going home from the veterinarian’s office with his handler. “Jerry Lee has a long hard road to go but so happy to see his person!”

Jerry Lee has a cast around his shoulder and leg but is getting plenty of rest and attention.

While his condition means he can no longer be a police dog, according to WXIA-TV, his handler has reassured people that he will be living a “life of luxury.”

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , ,
Share
Amanda holds an MA in Rhetoric and TESOL from Cal Poly Pomona. After teaching composition and logic for several years, she's strayed into writing full-time and especially enjoys animal-related topics.
As of January 2019, Amanda has written over 1,000 stories for The Western Journal but doesn't really know how. Graduating from California State Polytechnic University with a MA in Rhetoric/Composition and TESOL, she wrote her thesis about metacognitive development and the skill transfer between reading and writing in freshman students.
She has a slew of interests that keep her busy, including trying out new recipes, enjoying nature, discussing ridiculous topics, reading, drawing, people watching, developing curriculum, and writing bios. Sometimes she has red hair, sometimes she has brown hair, sometimes she's had teal hair.
With a book on productive communication strategies in the works, Amanda is also writing and illustrating some children's books with her husband, Edward.
Location
Austin, Texas
Languages Spoken
English und ein bißchen Deutsch
Topics of Expertise
Faith, Animals, Cooking




Conversation