Please Welcome K-9 Appie #299

Please welcome K-9 Appie as the 299th Program Member inducted into our Project K-9 Hero Pack. Appie bravely served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9, from 2017 through 2024, with Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee.

During his seven years of service, Appie had multiple surrenders on tracks. His 2nd track of his career, he located a man with multiple aggravated kidnapping warrants that had been tracked by five other dogs earlier in the day. He had two street bites under gunfire and never hesitated. He had multiple deployments with the agency's SWAT team. As a patrol dog, he was certified in article recovery and he located multiple firearms, knives, and other evidence used in crimes, including domestic assault and homicide. Appie located multiple pounds of narcotics in his career. His largest cash seizure was $50,000. Appie also performed a large amount of community service, and received several awards.

In October 2022, Appie was presented with the Life Savers Award for a track for a suicidal man that had covered himself in gasoline and fled into the woods. Appie tracked to him and he was safely brought out of the woods for medical care. In January 2023, Appie and his Handler were named Deputy of the Month for an apprehension on the interstate of an armed suspect who had already shot himself and was running around, presenting a danger to other motorists.

On June 29th, 2024, K-9 Appie was retired from service, and has suffered from lameness since he was on patrol. It was an injury sustained on duty, and has been aggravated during training several times. His Handler is working to take Appie to the University of Tennessee to get him on the strike plate for gait analysis and diagnosis, which can be costly. Regardless of K-9 Appie’s honorable service to the citizens of Rutherford County, all of his medical bills are now the responsibility of his Handler.