Injured K-9’s To Receive Purple Hearts, Special Training Provided To VSO K-9’s

Daytona Beach, FL – Two Volusia Sheriff’s Office K-9’s are set to be honored with Purple Hearts after they were shot in the line of duty. K-9’s Ax and Endo were both shot during a shooting in Deltona as Volusia deputies worked to apprehend an armed carjacking suspect. Ax was the first to be shot, receiving a gunshot wound to the side of his face. Endo, meanwhile, was shot in the paw and the chin during the incident. Both were rushed to veterinarian clinics by their handlers. Both K-9’s will be honored at a Purple Heart ceremony hosted by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) on Wednesday (Nov. 17). That is set to begin at 11:00 in the morning. Throughout this week, VSO’s K-9’s will also receive special training from Irondog K9 International—the 501c3 organization responsible for paying Ax and Endo’s medical bills. Combined, the VSO says Irondog has contributed more than $25,000 to the sheriff’s office’s K-9s and handlers since this shooting incident in Deltona with Ax and Endo. That $25,000 contribution includes about $4,000 in medical bills, $4,200 in first aid kits and more than $18,000 for this week’s training session. Irondog K9 International specializes in supporting K-9 teams across the country by providing equipment like first aid and trauma kits, sponsoring training events like this week’s session, and paying for on-duty injury vet bills. Individuals interested in donating to the organization can do so through their website, IrondogK9Intl.org.