Injured K-9 to undergo surgery to repair broken legs

A police K-9 that was seriously injured in a patrol car accident in Clayton County this week is expected to fully recover after it undergoes surgery Friday.

Lakota, a male German shepherd was thrown from a patrol car when it crashed into a fence while Officer Travis Fox was responding to a home invasion robbery Monday morning. Fox continues his recovery at Atlanta Medical Center.

His beloved patrol dog is well but will undergo surgery to repair his two broken hind legs Friday morning.

A veterinary surgeon at UGA'S College of Veterinary Medicine told Channel 2's Tom Regan the dog had many other injuries from the crash.

"He suffered a lot of injuries, multiple broken ribs, bruised lungs, bleeding in the chest and abdomen," Scott Rose, doctor of veterinary medicine at the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery said.

Fox was so worried about his dog's health that he voluntarily retired the animal following the crash and took ownership of Lakota.

But Rose told Regan the K-9 should make a full recovery and conceivably could return to police work in 8 to 12 weeks.

"I think he could probably return to full service if he does a good job with his recovery," Rose said.

Corey Fox, the officer's wife, told Regan that she and her husband could face some expensive medical bills for Lakota's recovery. She said they would appreciate any donations for the dog's care.