Update: St. Pete Police Dog Bit by Rattlesnake

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A St. Petersburg Police Department K9 hot on the trail of a suspect fell in the line of duty Thursday afternoon courtesy of a snake, not a bad guy.

According to the agency, the dog, Ajax, and his human handler, Officer Joseph Lehmann, were tracking down a burglary suspect in the area of Inlet Bay apartments at 119th Avenue North and 4th Street around noon when they entered a wooded area. That’s when the rattlesnake struck.

“The rattlesnake was shot by the handler and the K9 has been taken to a local veterinarian clinic for treatment,” the agency wrote in an email to media.

Ajax was taken to Partridge Animal Hospital, 6920 4th St. N., and received anti-venom. “His condition is still being evaluated,” a followup email from the agency stated.

As of 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Ajax was continuing to recover, the agency reported.

“There seems to be some improvement,” the agency wrote in an email to media. “He received a blood plasma transfusion and will spend the night under observation.”

The suspect Ajax was tracking has not been caught.

Stay with Patch for updates.

Photos courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department