BARNESVILLE — A village law enforcement officer recovered from an injury sooner than expected, thanks to help from a Wheeling veterinarian.

Village leaders and members of the police department expressed their gratitude last week to the Wheeling doctor for his commitment to law enforcement and for getting the department’s K-9 officer fixed up and back on the job after a serious injury.

During Monday night’s Village Council meeting, Police Chief Rocky Sirianni expressed the appreciation felt by his staff and the village.

“We would like to publicly thank Dr. (Karl) Yurko and his team at K.E.Y. Animal Hospital in Wheeling,” Sirianni said. “They’re the ones who did Dixie’s surgery, and they’ve been doing an exceptional job taking care of her and taking care of us.”

The chief said Dixie has been back on the job for about two weeks.

Officer Andrew Stewart, who is Dixie’s handler for the Barnesville Police Department, explained the circumstances of the K-9’s injury. He said that in November, Dixie tore the ACL in her right knee during routine training with the Police K-9 Association in Canton, Ohio.

Stewart said Yurko saw Dixie the same day that she was injured. He then cleared room in his schedule so that the surgery she needed could be performed the following day.

Stewart said Dixie’s recovery from the injury was faster than originally anticipated and credited her toughness as well as the quick action taken by Dr. Yurko and his staff.

“We were awfully blessed with how quickly everything went and how well everything transpired after that,” Stewart said. “He (Yurko) gives priority to law enforcement, and he’s made that very clear and that’s great to have that accessible to us. We’re very grateful. “

Sirianni also updated council concerning the new K-9 Unit vehicle being purchased through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant program. He said he had recently been assured by a representative from Lebanon Ford that the vehicle will be delivered sometime in February.