A St. Petersburg clinic donated a custom prosthetic to a retired Florida police dog who lost his left front leg in the line of duty.
With the artificial limb, Ace can now run and jump again, according to WTVT.
Here's what to know
Polk County Sheriff's K9 Ace received the artificial limb from Westcoast Brace and Limb.
Three weeks after receiving the limb, he was moving independently, no longer relying on his handler and a walking harness for support.
Ace was shot by an armed, wanted suspect in early August.
The suspect died in a shootout with deputies, while Ace's injuries required veterinarians to remove his left front leg and shoulder blade.
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His handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, asked the clinic about a custom pet prosthetic while searching for ways to help him recover. By then, the sheriff's office had retired Ace following his amputation.
Polk County Animal Control's Dr. Kerry Jackson also reached out to the clinic to help arrange the limb, according to WTVT.
Few facilities offer made-to-order animal prosthetics.
More background
Practitioners at the company's St. Petersburg location took a body mold to fit the device correctly.
The company then fabricated the limb at its main lab in Tampa, near the University of South Florida. Danielle Tobler, a certified prosthetist-orthotist at the St. Petersburg location, explained that the work requires dedicated technicians.
"We donated it for them. So, our time and then our main fabrication lab is in Tampa over by USF. That's where we did all the fabrication. We have a couple of technicians that specifically work on our pet orthotics and prosthetics," Tobler told WTVT.
Clinic staff already knew Ace's story when they agreed to donate both the device and their time, providing the department with the custom limb at no cost.
What's being done?
Practitioners guided Ace through hops inside the clinic to help him learn to bear weight on the prosthetic, and staff noted his sweet disposition during the visit.
Jackson said Oestreich initially held Ace's harness while he walked, but he eventually progressed to walking independently, running, and jumping with the artificial limb.
The clinic planned a follow-up visit to check the fit and determine whether the limb's alignment needed adjustment. Staff members also made custom shirts to encourage Ace as he recovered.
Oestreich will keep Ace at home with her throughout his retirement while choosing a new K9 partner.
"It isn't something he'll wear all the time. It's just for those walks and different activities," Tobler explained.
"We're having them come back in a couple weeks to kind of just check the fit, see if we have to adjust the alignment things like that."
Where can I learn more?
Other dogs have also needed help getting back on their feet after serious injuries. These stories follow dogs overcoming injuries and a K9 recognized for earthquake rescues.
• A Los Angeles K9 found three people alive after an earthquake, becoming a Hero Dog semifinalist.
• An Oklahoma French bulldog stood and walked two days after rescue from starvation and gunshot injuries.
• A Wisconsin dog survived nine gunshot wounds before finding a family and a couch.
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