Odessa grad helps save life of ML K-9

Moses Lake – Jesyka Melcher Morrison, DVM, is a graduate of Odessa High School and the daughter of Wes and Vickey Melcher, originally from Odessa but currently residing in Moses Lake. Dr. Morrison practices at Pioneer Veterinary Clinic in Moses Lake, where she has been involved in assisting the police K-9 unit since its beginning. On Feb. 28 of this year, she was enjoying an evening at home with her family when she received an emergency call about one of her patients. K-9 officer Chief of the Moses Lake PD had been shot in the eye by a fleeing suspect being pursued by police. She rushed to her clinic.

Officer Brad Zook, one of several K-9 handlers with the MLPD also had the evening off and was working with his own dog at home when he heard over his radio that a pursuit was in progress. He got geared up and headed to the scene, arriving just after Chief had been shot. Zook helped Chief's handler, Officer Stewart, who had to remain at the scene, by carrying the dog to his vehicle and heading directly to Morrison's clinic. Morrison met them there, saw that Chief was in critical condition and several actions were set in motion. Another doctor was called in to assist, as well as additional staff, and all worked feverishly to stabilize the dog. The Life Flight Network agreed to supply a medevac plane to transport the dog to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Morrison's alma mater (class of 2006), which had agreed to treat him.

Morrison and Zook drove Chief to the Grant County Airport to wait for the plane. During the flight she worked to stabilize Chief, but with the dog's condition deteriorating, it took all of her expertise and all of the medication and supplies she had brought along to keep him alive. When Chief was turned over to the vets at WSU his prognosis was not good. But thanks to the efforts of Morrison, her clinic staff and the WSU vets who worked to save him, he walked out of the WSU veterinary hospital the following Wednesday. He was driven home to Moses Lake with an accompanying motorcade that would have done a sitting president proud.

Chief's left eye had to be removed and part of his jaw had been damaged by the bullet, but scans showed that the bullet did not enter the brain. Although Chief will be retired from the force due to his injuries, he has made an amazing recovery. He is healing, and his handler Officer Stewart is happy to have him at his home.