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The Otoe County Sheriff's Office was surprised Thursday to find Gillian Simrell's hand-drawn card and their first donation to help with medical expenses of patrol dog Pablo.
Pablo leapt from a 30-foot bridge near roads K and 12 southwest of Unadilla Sunday while pursuing suspects in the shooting of 84 geese that had taken refuge on a farm pond. The dog fell on concrete rip-rap below.
The card to dog handler Deputy Brian Briley and the sheriff's office says "I hope your dog is okay," and had $5 attached. "I'm giving you money to make him a happy dog," the girl said.
Chief Deputy Mike Holland said it's meaningful to receive the gift from such a young child. "When you think of what percentage the donation is of her life savings and yet she is willing to give that up for the care of the dog," he said.
Pablo, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, was taken to Kansas State University on Thursday for surgery to repair a crack on a spinal vertebrae.
He said the surgery went well and raised hopes that Pablo will be able to return to duty.
Recuperation is expected to take three months and will begin with a 30-day immobilization period, where Pablo is basically confined to a kennel.
Holland said the dog program has been established and maintained by donations. "Obviously, we don't have a line in our budget for the dog's health care expenses," he said.
The Otoe County Sheriff's Office was surprised Thursday to find Gillian Simrell's hand-drawn card and their first donation to help with medical expenses of patrol dog Pablo.
Pablo leapt from a 30-foot bridge near roads K and 12 southwest of Unadilla Sunday while pursuing suspects in the shooting of 84 geese that had taken refuge on a farm pond. The dog fell on concrete rip-rap below.
The card to dog handler Deputy Brian Briley and the sheriff's office says "I hope your dog is okay," and had $5 attached. "I'm giving you money to make him a happy dog," the girl said.
Chief Deputy Mike Holland said it's meaningful to receive the gift from such a young child. "When you think of what percentage the donation is of her life savings and yet she is willing to give that up for the care of the dog," he said.
Pablo, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, was taken to Kansas State University on Thursday for surgery to repair a crack on a spinal vertebrae.
He said the surgery went well and raised hopes that Pablo will be able to return to duty.
Recuperation is expected to take three months and will begin with a 30-day immobilization period, where Pablo is basically confined to a kennel.
Holland said the dog program has been established and maintained by donations. "Obviously, we don't have a line in our budget for the dog's health care expenses," he said.
