More than 900 turn out to welcome K-9 Karson

UPDATE @ 11:16 p.m.: More than 900 people turned out to welcome Wilmington K-9 officer Karson back to the police department.

FIRST REPORT

Karson, the K-9 officer from the Wilmington Police Department missing for 61 days, is the guest of honor at tonight’s coming home party.

The celebration was held tonight at the Bible Baptist Church, 55 Meagan Drive in Wilmington.

Karson, a Belgian malinois, survived during the harshest Ohio winter weather, from Dec. 23 until he was spotted and captured Feb. 22.

Karson got away while being boarded at Clinton Animal Care Center on West Locust Street while his partner, Officer Jerry Popp, went away for a weekend. The department launched a search for the dog immediately after he went missing, hiring Jordina Ghiggeri of Lost Pet Professionals, which specializes in searching for pets. He was found about nine miles away from where he was boarded.

The search for Karson cost at least $20,000, Wilmington Police Chief Duane Weyand said during a press conference.

A post on the Facebook page set up to find Karson asks anyone coming to the event not to bring food or treats, because the dog is on a special diet. The post does say Karson loves tennis balls, but no other toys.