Following a traumatic car collision while responding to an emergency call in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, K-9 Officer Aksel has returned home from the animal hospital to recover alongside his handler, Officer Reese Harper. WSMV reports that Aksel suffered a severe leg injury when their patrol car was hit by a teenage driver and required a one-hour surgery to repair a complete tear of its Achilles tendon, a critical component for the work of police dogs.
Despite the serious nature of the event, which left Aksel with a 50% chance of returning to duty, Officer Harper managed to avoid injury during the incident. As a result of the crash and subsequent surgery, Aksel is now facing a substantial recovery period that could last several months, according to updates from the Mt. Juliet Police Department. During this time, his return to active service will be continually assessed.
WKRN detailed the crash, noting the emotional response from the community and the police department, who expressed their profound gratitude for the support received, stating, "We are so deeply thankful to every person who has played a role in Aksel’s recovery." During this challenging time, Aksel was just a week away from becoming a certified police dog.
