Michigan Police Dog Named Rocco Eats Rocks After Handler Accidentally Seasons the Landscaping
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids police dog named Rocco is recovering from surgery after discovering what he apparently considered an irresistible snack: landscaping rocks flavored with beef drippings.
It was an unfortunate collision between a powerful canine nose and a menu that needed closer inspection.
Rocco’s handler, Austin Diekevers, told WWMT that he had prepared beef sandwiches in a slow cooker and tossed the leftovers outside for his chickens. Some of the cooking juices landed on nearby landscaping stones.
The chickens were the intended dinner guests. Rocco apparently considered the invitation open to everyone.
Within minutes, Diekevers noticed the dog chewing rocks. He contacted a veterinarian but initially did not know how many, if any, Rocco had swallowed.
When Rocco stopped eating the following day, Diekevers took him to Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital of Byron Center. X-rays confirmed that several stones had made it into his stomach, requiring surgery.
The hospital reported that Rocco handled the operation well and went home after a 24-hour stay.
For a dog whose work involves investigating suspicious things, this particular investigation could have benefited from a second opinion.
A chicken, for instance, might have pointed out that the beef-flavored object was still a rock.
Unfortunately, this was not Rocco’s first serious medical emergency of the year. Diekevers said the dog injured his leg on a fire pit in April and required lifesaving blood transfusions. He credited the animal hospital’s staff with saving Rocco during that earlier ordeal.
The latest recovery is progressing well. Diekevers told reporters that Rocco was back to his energetic personality, although restrictions remained while his incision healed. At the time of the report, his handler expected him to return to duty in about a week.
That is good news for Grand Rapids and excellent news for Rocco.
The landscaping, meanwhile, should probably be removed from the dinner specials.
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