PELAHATCHIE, Miss. — A Rankin County Sheriff’s Office K-9 has been medically retired after collapsing May 21 while tracking a juvenile who had escaped from the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputy Ronnie Decell and his K-9 partner, Fox, responded to the escape and deployed Fox to track the juvenile, the office said. About 100 yards into the search, the dog suddenly collapsed and Decell carried him back to the patrol vehicle.
Decell rushed Fox to URGIVET, an after-hours emergency veterinary clinic in Madison, where veterinarians later determined the dog was suffering from an undiagnosed tumor that ruptured during the track and caused severe internal bleeding near his heart, the sheriff’s office said.
Fox, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois trained and certified in narcotics detection, tracking and handler protection, remains under treatment and observation for what officials described as a life-threatening condition. Because of the diagnosis, the sheriff’s office said Fox will be medically retired from service.
Sheriff Bryan Bailey asked the community to keep Deputy Decell, his family and Fox in their thoughts and prayers. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
