The Brookhaven police officer who was hospitalized after a yellow-jacket attack relapsed Sunday and was taken to urgent care, police reported Monday.
Medical staff treated and released Officer John Ritch, the K-9 officer who was stung more than 50 times by the highly aggressive wasps last Wednesday, said Maj. Brandon Gurley of the police.
Ritch and Grizz, his Belgian Malinois, were both initially treated last week when one of them —it was unclear who was responsible — stepped on a yellow-jacket nest when tracking a suspect in the woods.
Both Grizz and Ritch are back home recovering on Monday, Gurley said. The department announced Monday that a motorcycle group has taken a special interest in Grizz, who ended up at an emergency vet in Sandy Springs after being stung last week.
We Ride To Provide has donated first-aid kits to the dogs of the Brookhaven Police K-9 Unit, Gurley said.
The group raises money to assist and honor police dogs, providing them with first-aid kits to combat wasp and snake bites and other trauma, and coming together for their funerals. It has credited the first-aid kits with saving K-9 lives, the first being from a snake bite in Oconee County.
The first-aid kit can also be used by the human handler, Gurley said, although it was unclear if Grizz or other dogs would have to share in case of another simultaneous stinging.
Such a case could become a true test for man’s best friend.
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