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Polk County K9 Ace receives custom prosthetic leg after line-of-duty shooting

Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 10:21 PM · 1 min read
Polk County K9 Ace receives custom prosthetic leg after line-of-duty shooting — FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Riverview Health news
Image: FOX 13 Tampa Bay

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 progressAce is adjusting smoothly to a new prosthetic leg three weeks after receiving it from a specialized clinic in St. Petersburg. His handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, will keep the retired K9 in her home for the rest of his life.RELATED: K9 Ace becomes first canine patient saved by Tampa General AeromedDr. Kerry Jackson at Polk County Animal Control helped arrange the new leg by contacting West Coast Brace he had to have his harness on, and Natalie would hold onto the harness as he was walking, but now he's doing great—running and jumping around with the leg."Handler seeks new partnerDeputy Oestreich will choose a new K-9 partner in the near future while Ace enjoys his full-time retirement at home.

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