FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – More than 10 months after he was critically wounded in the line of duty, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s K9 deputy Iro has been cleared to return to patrol work.
On Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office offered a Facebook update on Iro’s healing journey. The post included a video showing Iro doing therapy exercises and undergoing training to become recertified as a K9 deputy.
“What’s Iro been up to lately? Well, he’s been balancing on stability balls and walking on the water therapy tank treadmill at the UW Veterinary Care clinic in Madison, jumping into vehicles and chasing down simulated “bad guys’ at Jessiffany Canine Services, LLC, and doing a lot of physical therapy at home, all on his journey to return to patrol work,” the Facebook post reads.
Officials say Friday was “a big milestone” for Iro, as he graduated from hisK9 recertification course “and has been checked off to return to duty!”
Although the Sheriff’s Office did not provide a specific date in which Iro will be back to work, the post says, “He will soon be hitting the highways on full patrol again, and we’ll share more information when that day comes.”
Iro was seriously injured Oct. 14, 2023, during an exchange of gunfire between authorities and 33-year-old Kyle Massie, who was fatally shot. After receiving a lifesaving surgery, Iro was released from the animal hospital and allowed to return home with his handler, Deputy Blaine Evans.
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