FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office K9 wounded in the crossfire of shots between a sheriff’s deputy and a suspect Saturday is recovering following surgery.
Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt posted a message to the department’s Facebook page updating the Deputy K9’s condition Sunday night.
“Tonight I can share that our K9 remains in serious but stable condition after undergoing lengthy surgery this afternoon,” Waldschmidt shared. “He is by no means out of the woods, but he’s a young, healthy, strong dog and his team of specialists are doing everything they can to help him. He was awake and alert enough this morning to recognize his deputy handler, and he even got to spend a little time gnawing on his favorite toy (a tennis ball) before surgery.”
“The other hero of the day today is Dwyer, a yellow lab owned by one of the hospital veterinary technicians. Dwyer’s blood type was a match to our deputy K9, and the vet tech and Dwyer wanted to donate his blood to help our K9 through this. The transfusion worked, and blood counts rose to levels needed to undergo this important surgery,” the post continued.
The department has received numerous inquiries about how to donate to our K9 program to help cover the cost of medical bills, follow up services, and to support our other K9 teams, which is 100% donor funded.
Those wishing to donate can send checks to “FDL Sheriff K9 Program, PO Box 1273, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1273.
Donations can also be made by credit card at the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office at 180 South Macy Street, Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm, or over the phone by calling 920-929-3372.
“We will continue to provide future updates on our deputy K9, and again, we are truly humbled by all the support. We can’t say “THANK YOU” enough,” wrote Waldschmidt.
