Ben from Bogart, the Atlanta Police dog that went missing earlier this week, has been found and is safe and well. Ben, an 8-year APD veteran most recently deployed at Hartsfield-Jackson, made a break for it as his handler was trying to load him into a truck. He was found in a horse pasture not far from his handler’s home in Oconee County.
From WSB TV…
An Atlanta Police K9 missing since Tuesday after running away from his handler in Oconee County has been found safe.
“It’s kind of an embarrassing and unfortunate event, but it’s one of those things that does occur,” Atlanta Police Captain David Wilson tells WSB’s Jonathan O’Brien. “We’re very happy that all’s well that ends well.”
Early Tuesday morning the eight-year veteran APD K9 officer ran away from his handler after something in the woods. For several days officials have been combing the area.
“We were leveraging a lot of partnerships and resources in the search for Ben,” Wilson says. “We dispatched multiple units to assist in the search.”
Those resources included a Georgia State Patrol Helicopter and an Atlanta Police drone unit. Wilson says local law enforcement officers from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office also played a critical role.
Ben’s handler found him early Thursday morning on a nearby property not far away from his home, he is now being evaluated by a veterinarian and will return to work in the coming days.
“At the end of the day he is an animal, he is a dog, his instincts kicked in and he chased after whatever it was that caught his attention,” Wilson says.
The department thanked the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and media outlets for helping to locate K9 Ben.
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