Dep. Brandon Finley and K-9 Furax on the job (Photo courtesy of Mission K9 Rescue)
Six years after suffering traumatic brain injury from a shooting, a former Tate County (MS) Sheriff's Deputy was reunited with his police K-9 partner Saturday.
Tate County, MS, Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Finley and his police K-9 partner Furax, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, spent three years protecting the citizens of Tate County, MS. That was until a fateful night in February 2011 when Brandon was shot while off duty. The shooting left Brandon critically injured with massive head trauma and Furax's future unknown.
While Brandon was fighting for his life, Furax was being retired from the department, because no one else could handle him. Brandon's family wanted to keep Furax, and asked a "friend" to hold Furax while focusing on Brandon. Instead, the friend sold Furax to a local man who wanted Furax for protection. Instead of giving Furax the retirement that he deserved, the man left Furax in his backyard, neglected for nearly six years.
Earlier this year, the man died, and Furax was rescued. He had suffered such a severe case of neglect that he too has extensive brain trauma and neurological disorders. His amazing rescuers knew that Furax needed a lot of help, and contacted Mission K9 Rescue, who took him into their care. Furax suffered from numerous issues including heartworms. Once he was treated, Mission K9 Rescue put him up for adoption and posted him on their Facebook page. Thanks to the power of social media, the family, who had been searching for Furax, contacted the page and the plan to get him back to Mississippi began.
Brandon Finley watching video of his former K-9 Furax (Photo: Mission K9 Rescue)
Even though Brandon has extensive brain injuries and has limited speech, he has never forgotten his K-9 partner. When he was told that Furax was coming home, he became very happy. According to Brandon's sister Amanda, when he was asked what he was going to do with Furax once he arrived, he responded in sign language, "Throw the ball." Since Mission K9 Rescue and the family have connected, many pictures and videos of Furax have been sent to them. When they showed a video of Furax to Brandon, he "lit up and began to cry happy tears."
It is clear from Brandon's reactions that no matter what the brain goes through, the bond between handler and K-9 is so unbreakable that the memory remains intact. These two heroes have been apart for too long, and it's time that they reunite and spend the rest of their lives healing together.
Mission K9 Rescue provides transportation, adoption facilitation, monetary and professional assistance to any retired canine who has served mankind in some capacity. The public can help make more of these reunions possible by donating to Mission K9 Rescue at www.missionk9rescue.org.
