Wellston police therapy dog back home after getting hit by car

WELLSTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- An Ohio police department’s therapy dog’s recovery journey is having an impact nationwide. 

Officer Blu with the Wellston Police Department was hit by a car in an off-duty accident last month. Blu was rushed to surgery at MedVet Columbus, by his partner, officer Michael Jadrnicek and his wife.

Blu was released from the hospital on Monday and is now home.

Jadrnicek said this accident is bringing to light the power of Blu’s work.

“We didn't know the impact, the love, the support,” Jadrnicek said. “I'm always on the verge of tears because somebody's coming up saying something. We just don't know the impact that we have on other people and the positive that every day. When Blu shows up to work, it's always about positives. It's always about making somebody smile.”

Blu works as a therapy dog in the Wellston School District, supporting students in a crisis. 

“Kids had a bad night or whatever the deal is. They're emotional and Blu will sometimes bypass everybody that wants to pet him and he'll go straight to the trauma,” Jadrnicek said.

Jadrnicek said after the accident on March 26, the roles were reversed. He said it was he and his family’s turn to support Blu.

“My wife jumped in my cruiser with me. And because my cruiser is already set up for a K-9, we were able to get him right in there,” Jadrnicek said. “You always go to the worst case scenario, right?”

He said waiting for him at the doors of MedVet Columbus, he sees Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies and Columbus police officers there to help.

“This is one of the incredible moments,” Jadrnicek said.

Dr. Andrew Taylor, a critical care specialist at MedVet Columbus, said Blu had a ruptured bladder, pelvic fractures, a spinal cord compression and other injuries. He said Blu needed surgery.

“I think any time we have these big trauma cases, there's a lot of variability and a lot of unknowns when we first see them,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the surgery was successful. He said the recovery will be challenging, but Blu took every day like a champ.

“Blu was positioned in our ICU, kind of right in the middle of the room. And so every day when you walked in, he was right there. And as he got better and more comfortable, his tail wag just increased exponentially," Taylor said.

Jadrnicek said was posting Blu’s journey on social media

"There is a video that was posted about me seeing Blu and the backstory was that that was right after the surgery. So we didn't know exactly how his body was going to -- especially being with anesthesia -- the anesthesia going on. But when I saw him and that tail starts wagging, everybody in the medical team was like cheering because that was such an incredible sign,” Jadrnicek said.

He added a Venmo handle to the posts, since Wellston’s therapy dog program runs on donations. He said it quickly gained attention.

“A cop from California sent a donation. We've had Arizona. In other states, Iowa, Wisconsin, and, of course, here, West Virginia,” Jadrnicek said. “They're doing things at the school and they had all the teachers wear blue jeans for a whole week and they would pay a dollar a day.”

Then Monday, Jadrnicek posted the update everyone has been waiting for. Blu is returning home.

“Oh, my goodness. I just cried. I mean, it was you know, there is such a time when you're going through these emergencies that you just don't know if he's going to rebound,” Jadrnicek said.

Taylor said this was a great day for everyone at MedVet too, because they built a special bond with Blu and Blu’s family.

“I think we don't always have the benefit of seeing some of these really bad trauma cases all the way through to the end. They don't always all have the happy ending that Blu did," Taylor said.

“He made an impact. And I think that's been clear from, you know, how the community rallied around him. I think that what he does every day is demonstrated here as well.” Jadrnicek said

Blu has a long road ahead. The doctors recommend he be on bed rest for four to six weeks. 

“My goal is, and I don't know if that'll happen, that he can walk through our buildings before graduation, which is the end of May,” Jadrnicek said.

Jadrnicek said if this journey has taught him anything, it’s to never underestimate the power of just one interaction. Jadrnicek said they are going to take the summer to keep rebuilding Blu’s muscles and he hopes he will be back on full-time duty next school year.

He said so far, they’ve raised about $12,000 in donations. Those who would like to donate can send money to the Venmo posted on the Wellston Police Department Facebook page.