Posted on 08/18/2026 12:12:17 PM PDT by MtnClimber
The 7-year-old German shepherd walked out of veterinary care under his own power to thunderous applause.
Less than a week after being shot and losing a leg while protecting three deputies, heroic Florida K-9 Ace was back on his feet Tuesday for an emotional return 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 as deputies attempted to arrest 27-year-old Angel Bowers.
Authorities said Bowers allegedly fired at least four rounds at three deputies who were attempting to arrest him after he failed to appear in court. Bowers was killed by deputies at the scene.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the three deputies from Bowers but was shot in his left front leg, shattering the bone and tearing an artery that caused massive blood loss.
Ace's partner 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 in Lakeland, where he was stabilized before a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed helicopter transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch. Veterinarians there performed a several-hour surgery to amputate his left front leg.
On Sunday, the sheriff's office posted video showing deputies arriving at the veterinary medical center to greet an energetic Ace as he prepared to return home.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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Ace will probably be promoted to the station mascot and taken around for “show and tell.”
He was retired and is living with his handler Dep Natalie Oestreich. Most K9’s after active service go home with their handlers to become household pets. The ongoing medical care for the retired K9’s can be very expensive. The National Police Dog Foundation commends these handlers for their dedication to the K9’s and is proud to assists in the costs of Medical Care for the retired K9’s. So in a way, they have a go fund me by the Police Dog Foundation.
National Police Dog Foundation is funded primarily through public donations, corporate sponsors, donor-advised charitable giving funds, and grants. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it relies heavily on community contributions rather than government funding.
I support the service dogs through the charities I support.
wy69
“”Very likely this pooch will be getting a custom prosthetic. Many pets do fine without but this dog is used to being active and athletic.””
***
Yeah, I was thinking they might try that. I’ve seen three-legged dogs get around just fine, though. So happy to see them take such good care of him, either way.
“”Ace will probably be promoted to the station mascot and taken around for “show and tell.”””
***
Ace will be getting prime cuts for the rest of his life, I’m betting. A nice reward for a hero.
Interesting. My little sister had a birth defect —one llg didn’t have anything but a thigh with a little foot on it. Clever prosthetists made her a boot with a metal lower leg . She did great with it ultil she was fully grown, then as a teenager had weird leg amputated.
Artificial leg with artificial knee didn’t slow her down. Had lots of boyfriends, sold real estate, then had a couple of husbands. She walked around in high heels without a limp and no-one had a clue that she had a “disability.”.
Hope hero dog does as well.
In an unrelated incident, sheriff Grady was asked why his deputies put 48 rounds in a suspect. His reply was classic, his men had run out of bullets.
When officers were asked why they shot the perp 100 times, they said that was all ammo they had.😗
Yah beat me to it.😏
The dog is retired. Came by for a heroes photo-op. It is amazing how fast a dog can recover missing one of it’s legs.
” Ace, however, will retire from law enforcement.”
Of course, you didn’t read the article. Ace is retired. His handler is returning to duty.
The dog was not forced back to work. Already been said he is medically retired.
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