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ONLY ON WINK: Retired K-9 cop reunited with owner, thanks to WINK viewer

By Maggie Crane, WINK News

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - A good Samaritan and loyal WINK News viewer helps reunite a Lee County Sheriff's deputy with man's best friend, but this dog was one of the department's own, a retired K-9 cop. Only WINK News has this heart-warming reunion.

Lt. Donnie Laurinaitis had spent the past two days searching for a fellow officer, and now that former K-9 cop is reunited with his family, all thanks to WINK News viewers who heard the call for help this morning.

"I thought oh my gosh call the cops! We have their dog!" Valeri Skipper, Three Oaks Animal Hospital employee, says.

"We were so excited! We were both shaking!" Dotty Sebesta, WINK News viewer who called LCSO, says.

"It made me feel so good all of a sudden because he's like a member of the family," Lt. Laurinaitis says.

Jagr is arthritic. Plus, his fear of working during thunderstorms is why he's retired. It's the same thing that scared him into running away in the first place.

"We have a six foot fence that's all fenced in-in the back, and he actually jumped over that fence to get loose," Lt. Laurinaitis says.

Driving down San Carlos Park Boulevard, Maria Sevilla discovered a disoriented dog during Tuesday night's thunderstorms.

"He was pacing back and forth, back and forth looking for somewhere to hide, and I told my daughter to open the back door, and she did and he just climbed right in and that was it!" Sevilla says.

She took him to Three Oaks Animal Hospital where employees immediately realized this dog was different. "The dog was too well-behaved, too well-trained," Sebesta says.

And, Jagr came complete with titanium teeth that were made for him after he broke his during training with LCSO.

If Jagr had been micro chipped, the vet's office would have been able to return him to his owner immediately. So today, Lt. Laurinaitis says he's making an appointment to get Jagr micro chipped.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 11:31 PM Sue wrote ...

Dogs and thunderstorms are not compatible. If its the static eletricity that bothers them try wiping the dog down with an unscented dryer sheet,that sometimes works. If it's the loud noise then make sure they are in a safe location during the storm.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 8:16 PM Betty wrote ...

On Martha Stewart's show this year she had a VETERARIAN on. He said most daogs are not afraid of the thunderstorms. It is the static eletricity that builds up before storms and they get zapped that really hurts them. Check out her web site for more info on this.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 4:21 PM Hendry Co. viewer wrote ...

This is such a wonderful ending to what could have been tragic for all concerned. Thanks to the wonderful lady who brought Jagr to Three Oaks Animal Hospital on Tues. afternoon and to Dottie and Valeri for thinking quickly as to calling the LCSO and doing the RIGHT THING ! No thanks to LC Animal Services/Control for not recognizing the description of the dog that was given to them on Wed & this would have then been over. Dottie & Valeri did their job and many thanks to them.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 3:27 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Thanks to everyone who assisted in the return of Jagr!

Thursday, Aug 7 at 2:47 PM Lauren wrote ...

Man's Best Friend....home again.

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