ZIONSVILLE, Ind. -- A Zionsville K9 who was injured during a freak accident while training last month is expected to be back on active duty later this year.
Jelka’s trainer, K9 Officer Josh Stutesman, said she was hit by a truck on May 15.
The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, joined the Zionsville Police Department last August still has regular training with her handler.
During one of those training sessions, the tennis ball Jelka was being rewarded with bounced off of her nose and into the road – right in the path of a truck. When she chased after it, she ran right into the path of an oncoming truck.
The driver was unable to stop in time and struck Jelka, sending her to the hospital with a compound fracture to her left leg and a hole in her diaphragm. After 24 hours of treatment, doctors were unsure if Jelka would survive and Stutesman said they told him to prepare for the worst.
But Jelka wasn’t ready to give up, and after several days she began to improve, eventually able to leave the doctor and continue her recovery at home with her handler.
Next month, Jelka will get her cast taken off and return to her normal training – she’s expected to be back on full active duty as early as the first week of August.
While she’s expected to make a full recovery, Jelka’s medical bills are still very high, and the Zionsville Police Department has been partnering with local businesses to raise money towards her recovery.
The final fundraiser for Jelka, a dog wash, will be held Sunday from Noon to 6 p.m. at the Pet Valu in Zionsville. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go straight to Jelka’s medical expenses.
The Zionsville Police Department will continue accepting donations for Jelka’s medical expenses as well as their other K9 fund to get a new K9 officer for the department after K9 Officer Eso’s retirement last week.
