Recently retired Marietta officer Matt Hickey has offered to buy the dog for $3,500 -- the police dog’s estimated value -- but the city said Ajax must be sold at auction because he’s public property, according to a report from The Associated Press.

Any excess funds raised on the GoFundMe page will go toward buying protective vests for other K-9 officers, according to the AP.

In an interview with WBNS-TV in Columbus, Hickey said he has cared for the dog for three years and that he's like a family member.

Marietta officials said they’ll only allow a police officer, active or retired, or a trainer of police dogs to bid on Ajax, according to the AP.

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People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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