Bomb-sniffing dog returns to duty

Andy Peterson, left, watches Bunny as a veterinary technician adjusts the treadmill in the hydrotherapy tank.

Bunny, a bomb-sniffing dog for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, recently returned to duty after recovering from knee surgery. A detection dog handled by Deputy Andy Peterson, Bunny had surgery for a torn stifle (rear knee) ligament at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. Recovery included several sessions of hydrotherapy in an underwater treadmill. The low-impact rehabilitation therapy is particularly helpful because buoyancy helps take weight off an injury, while water pressure keeps the joint in line, and the extra resistance helps strengthen muscles. Treats provide motivation when the exercise gets boring.

It seems to have done the trick: While Bunny originally was expected to need three months to recuperate, she was back on the job in just seven weeks -- helping to provide security checks for President Obama's visit to Minneapolis on Sept. 19. Learn more about Veterinary Medical Center rehabilitation services.