Heroic Florida K-9 returns to sheriff's office days after being shot protecting 3 deputies, losing leg

Less than a week aft being changeable and losing a limb portion protecting 3 deputies, heroic Florida K-9 Ace was backmost connected his feet Tuesday for an affectional instrumentality to the sheriff's office.

Ace, a 7-year-old German shepherd who has served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office since March 2020, was wounded arsenic deputies attempted to apprehension 27-year-old Angel Bowers.

Authorities said Bowers allegedly fired astatine slightest 4 rounds astatine 3 deputies who were attempting to apprehension him aft helium failed to look successful court. Bowers was killed by deputies astatine the scene.

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Polk County Sheriff's Office K-9 Ace returned to the bureau little than a week aft being changeable portion protecting 3 deputies and undergoing country to amputate his near beforehand leg. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the 3 deputies from Bowers but was changeable successful his near beforehand leg, shattering the bony and tearing an artery that caused monolithic humor loss.

Ace's spouse and handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, treated his wounds and carried him to safety, according to the sheriff's office.

Ace was rushed to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic successful Lakeland, wherever helium was stabilized earlier a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed chopper transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center astatine Lakewood Ranch. Veterinarians determination performed a several-hour country to amputate his near beforehand leg.

On Sunday, the sheriff's bureau posted video showing deputies arriving astatine the veterinary aesculapian halfway to greet an energetic Ace arsenic helium prepared to instrumentality home.

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"Upon waking from the anesthesia, Ace attempted to locomotion retired of there," the sheriff's bureau wrote. "He has not been deterred since. In information helium outran the camera attempting to movie his merchandise this afternoon!"

Video shows Ace interacting with deputies earlier walking retired of the aesculapian halfway nether his ain powerfulness to thunderous applause portion wearing a garment that work "ride oregon die."

Two days later, Ace made his archetypal travel backmost to the sheriff's bureau since being changeable successful the enactment of duty.

"Look astatine Ace. He's happy; he's eating; helium spot my finger," Judd said. "We are truthful arrogant of Natalie and Ace. They stood successful the spread betwixt bully and evil and they saved 3 deputies' lives. That's wherefore we're truthful arrogant of him. He did truthful good."

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K-9 Ace was backmost connected his feet days aft suffering a gunshot coiled that resulted successful the amputation of his near beforehand leg. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Judd said Oestreich volition walk clip with Ace arsenic helium continues to retrieve earlier she returns to work. Ace, however, volition discontinue from instrumentality enforcement.

"Chill retired and bask your status Ace," Judd said.

The sheriff's bureau besides honored Ace successful a societal media post, writing, "His days of chasing atrocious guys whitethorn beryllium over, but Ace volition ever beryllium 1 of our heroes!"

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K-9 Ace volition discontinue aft being critically wounded portion protecting 3 Polk County deputies during an attempted arrest. (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. has established a K-9 money to assistance enactment Ace's care. The sheriff's bureau said those funny successful helping tin donate straight to the money done the organization's website.