Williamstown Police Dog Recovering
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| Officer Michael Ziemba and Blue [iBerkshires file photo] |
Blue the bloodhound suffered internal bleeding and seriously injured her hip, said Police Chief Kyle Johnson on Thursday, adding that the department's K-9 tracker was out of action until her hip heals.
It could have been worse, he said, if two girls hadn't come to Blue's rescue.
Jessie Grees and her friend Danielle Collyer were on their way to the movies in North Adams last Thursday when Grees caught sight of something in the snow by the side of the road.
"I almost hit her," said Grees on Thursday, adding it was very dark on Massachusetts Avenue as she was driving along at about 7 p.m.
Grees stopped the car and the two girls got out - Blue was slouched in the snowbank, her paws in the road. She sat up as the girls neared her.
"We were a little hesitant," said Grees, who graduated from Mount Greylock Regional High School last spring. "I mean, she's a full-size bloodhound."
She didn't have to worry. Blue limped toward them and they helped her into the car.
"She's sweet. I think she knew we were there to help her," said Grees.
Blue was obviously hurt and didn't have her tags on. The girls didn't know who she was or who owned her.
The 80-pound dog had gotten out of her kennel at owner Officer Michael Ziemba's home. No one's sure how it happened, said Johnson, but it's thought the temperature that night - the coldest so far this winter, dipping into the single digits - might have iced up the latch, preventing it from fully closing.
"You have to push it up and pull really hard to get the door open," said Johnson. "We don't see how she could have done it. It's really bizarre."
Grees and Collyer drove to Greylock Animal Hospital and Grees went in to get help.
"They asked me if I needed a stretcher. I told them she was a full-size bloodhound and they knew [who she was]," said Grees.
Ziemba, who'd put Blue out to eat and "do her business," discovered her gone and sent out the alert so hospital staff knew she was missing.
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Blue was stabilized and taken to the veterinary hospital at Tufts University in North Grafton with internal bleeding and a dislocated hip.
The internal bleeding cleared up but she was scheduled to go into surgery for her hip. But as they started to work on her, the hip popped in on its own. Right now, she's in a sling preventing her leg from moving too much so it will heal properly. That'll be on for at least two weeks, then she'll be eased back to work. She's expected to fully recover.
Grees, who'll start Mount Holyoke College in a couple weeks, said "It was all pretty exciting."
"I can't thank the girls who found her enough," said Johnson. "It could have been worse. These girls really saved her life."
Her medical bill's about $1,800, said Johnson, but would have been more if she'd undergone surgery. The dog is owned by Ziemba (to avoid town property issues) and her training, equipment and other aspects of her job are paid by the department.
When Blue joined the force three years ago, the department started a K-9 account for incidentals and doctors' fees. The dog isn't insured if she gets hurt, but is covered if she hurts someone else. There's enough in the kitty to cover the bill, but it took a bite out of the account.
Called to Action
Blue has proved herself a valuable member of law enforcement in Northern Berkshire. "We use her a lot more than we ever expected," said Johnson. "She loves to go to work."
She's been called to numerous scenes to track the missing - and the fleeing. Blue's become so well known even scofflaws recognize her. A few weeks ago she was called out to find the driver of a car who went off the road and fled on foot.
"She tracked the guy to a brush pile. He called her by name and said, 'Don't bite me, Blue,'" said Johnson.
Meanwhile, Blue's medical vacation has left a hole in the force.
"It's empty here without her," said Johnson. "We keep tripping over dog toys. We miss her slobbering over us."
The Williamstown Police Department does not solicit funds for the K-9 Account but if you would like to contribute, send donations to K-9 Account, in care of the police department.
