Armstrong County K-9 Injured In Line Of Duty

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Armstrong County's only K-9 unit needs your help.

Klif is an 8-year old Czech-born German Shepherd.

Since 2007, he's been working with the Armstrong County District Attorney's office and detective Mark Heider.

Earlier this month, Klif was injured in the line of duty.

He responded to two bomb threats in one day at West Shamokin and Ford City High School.

It was on one of those calls that he slipped on slick ground and he's been out of commission since.

The Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty Emergency Center thinks Klif may have ruptured, or partially ruptured, a disk in his back.

He will need an MRI to tell for sure.

Doctors say surgery is the worst case scenario, but the prognosis is good. He has an 80 percent chance of returning to work.

Klif has been on about 300 calls over the years and last year, he responded to a record 90.

His handler says Klif gets mad on days when he can't go to work.

Klif and his handler also assist in other counties.

During the Pitt bomb threats, Klif and Heider were teamed up with fallen Pittsburgh Police K-9 Rocco and his handler Phil Lerza.

If you would like to donate to help with Klif's medical expenses you can do so at any Farmers and Merchants Bank Branch.

Tell them you'd like to donate to the Armstrong County D.A. K-9 Fund.