Injured K-9 Finishes Race
By: Leticia Ordaz, KCRA
Updated: June 26, 2012
Sacramento police officer Randy Van Dusen and his partner Bodie gave
each other lots of love as they were re-united at Placer High School.
The two were separated for the first time this weekend, so the officer could join the western states 100-mile endurance race.
The crowd went wild as Bodie managed to run with his handler for the last lap of the race.
The K-9 is recovering after he was shot by a suspect during a chase last month.
But not even his cast could stop him from picking up the pace and crossing the finish line.
The two received medals.
Officer Van Dusen says his partner wasn't with him the entire time, but deserves just as much credit for inspiring him to keep going.
"I started crying, just knowing he was waiting for me at the finish line. The family is here, Bodie was here, so we are all together again," said Officer Van Dusen.
The officer says the race was tough, as runners faced sub-freezing temperatures.
"We had hail, we had freezing 40 mile an hour gusts, up in Squaw Valley, worked all through it and got down here," Van Dusen said.
But he says Bodie, who is a survivor, taught him quitting is simply not an option.
The two were separated for the first time this weekend, so the officer could join the western states 100-mile endurance race.
The crowd went wild as Bodie managed to run with his handler for the last lap of the race.
The K-9 is recovering after he was shot by a suspect during a chase last month.
But not even his cast could stop him from picking up the pace and crossing the finish line.
The two received medals.
Officer Van Dusen says his partner wasn't with him the entire time, but deserves just as much credit for inspiring him to keep going.
"I started crying, just knowing he was waiting for me at the finish line. The family is here, Bodie was here, so we are all together again," said Officer Van Dusen.
The officer says the race was tough, as runners faced sub-freezing temperatures.
"We had hail, we had freezing 40 mile an hour gusts, up in Squaw Valley, worked all through it and got down here," Van Dusen said.
But he says Bodie, who is a survivor, taught him quitting is simply not an option.
