Fulton Sheriff K9 'Suddenly Attacks,' Bites Veterinary Tech

ROSWELL, GA — A veterinarian technician in Roswell is recovering after being attacked by Fulton County Sheriff K9 Ian. Now, the 911 call is revealing what happened Dec. 4.

11Alive reported the 911 call detailing:

• Caller: I just called animal control, they told me I need to get a report done for a dog bite that happened to us today.
• The caller explains to the 911 operator he was transferred to her line.
• Caller: So we had a K9 of Fulton Sheriff Department attack an employee today at an animal hospital.
• The dispatcher asked the caller for their address and the name of the vet hospital. Officials told 11Alive that during the attack, two veterinary technicians were handling a Fulton County Sheriff's Office K9 earlier when the dog, Ian, suddenly attacked one of them.
• Dispatcher: Was the employee bit?
• Caller: Yes, severely.
• Authorities said the dog bit her in the arm and face.

"A police report obtained by 11Alive said the woman was held in the dog's grips for about two to three minutes because, after he attacked her, no one knew the commands to get him to release," the station reported. "When Ian was deputized, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office sent out a press release saying the dog was trained to respond to commands in Czech. The vet employees were unaware of that, the police report says."

Body cam footage from the police investigation shows an employee saying the attack occurred when a name tag was being put around the dog's neck.

"We went back there to put his on and she was in there, I was in the back of the cage and she was in the front, and I slipped it around his collar and he just like grabbed ... but nobody knows the command so he wouldn't drop," the employee tells Roswell Police officers in the body camera video, 11Alive reported. "I just choked him until he finally let go."

K9 Ian has been with the department since 2017 and has never had any previous issues.

"The county said a supervisor checked out the dog after the attack and that he appeared to be fine," 11Alive reported. "He's still certified and will be up for his re-certification soon."