A bullet broke police K-9 Ace’s front left leg and tore an artery, causing serious blood loss and forcing the 7-year-old German shepherd into retirement. After emergency treatment, surgery and an air transfer between veterinary hospitals, Ace has returned home to recover.
A suspect shot Ace on Thursday night while the dog was serving with three Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Florida. The sheriff’s office said the suspect also fired at the deputies, but initial information did not include their conditions or explain the broader circumstances of the shooting.
Deputies first transported Ace to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland. Dr. Oscar Aguayo and his team controlled the bleeding and stabilized him, addressing the immediate danger posed by the damaged artery and blood loss.
Once Ace was stable enough to travel, a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed helicopter carried him to Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton. Dr. Devon Diaz’s veterinary team continued his care there.
Ace initially remained in critical condition. Veterinarians later amputated his injured front leg, and the sheriff’s office subsequently announced that he had been released to recover at home.
Why rapid veterinary care mattered
Gunshot injuries can be more extensive than their external appearance suggests. Veterinary guidance from VCA Animal Hospitals says pets with penetrating trauma may first need stabilization with intravenous fluids and possibly a blood transfusion before veterinarians fully examine and repair their wounds.
The damage can involve more than the path of the projectile. VCA notes that energy from a bullet can be absorbed by surrounding tissue, while bone injuries may require fracture repair or, in severe cases, amputation. Treatment decisions depend on the location of the injury and the organs and tissues affected.
A 2022 veterinary study of acute gunshot fractures in dogs and cats also found that extensive soft-tissue damage at a fracture site was associated with a greater likelihood of a poor outcome. The research does not determine any individual animal’s prognosis, but it helps explain why a broken limb combined with major tissue and blood-vessel damage can require aggressive emergency care.
Owners should treat any suspected gunshot or penetrating wound as an emergency, even when the visible opening appears small. VCA advises seeking immediate veterinary assistance because a pet can initially appear normal and later collapse from shock.
A service career ends abruptly
Ace had worked with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office since March 2020. The agency said his injuries require his retirement, ending more than six years of active K-9 service.
Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace will live with his handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, and her family. That arrangement moves him from active duty into a home recovery period shaped by a permanent physical change.
The Wiltse Family Trust committed to covering Ace’s treatment at the Bradenton veterinary center. It also pledged to purchase a replacement K-9 for the sheriff’s office, although no timeline has been announced for selecting or putting that dog into service.
Polk Sheriff’s Charities Inc. also maintains a K-9 Fund that will support Ace’s care. The sheriff’s office directs donors to its donation page, where the K-9 option can be selected.
Ace’s discharge answers the immediate question of whether he survived his injuries, but it does not establish a long-term prognosis. His recovery will now continue away from active police work, with his veterinary expenses supported and his retirement made necessary by the loss of his front leg.
What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
