The Brief
- Retired Polk County K-9 Ace is running and jumping again after receiving a custom prosthetic leg following a line-of-duty shooting.
- Animal control officials partnered with a St. Petersburg specialist to fit the retired K9 after his leg was amputated in August.
- Investigators have not yet confirmed who funded the artificial limb, while Ace’s handler prepares to select a new law enforcement partner.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A retired Polk County K9 is running and playing once again after being fitted with a custom artificial limb following a line-of-duty shooting in August.
K9 Ace recovery progress
Big picture view:
Polk County Sheriff’s K-9 Ace is adapting to life on four legs again after receiving a donated prosthetic limb from Westcoast Brace and Limb. After the dog lost his leg, Ace’s handler, Natalie Oestreich, searched for solutions to help him recover. She reached out to the clinic about custom pet prosthetics.
Three weeks after receiving it from the specialized clinic in St. Pete, K9 Ace is adjusting smoothly to the new prosthetic leg. The company made the custom prosthetic limb for the retired K9 for free.
Dr. Kerry Jackson at Polk County Animal Control helped arrange the new leg by contacting West Coast Brace & Limb, one of the few facilities that builds custom prosthetics for animals.…