Aiden joins Fountain PD

FOUNTAIN, COLO. -- One puppy in Fountain was facing death before an animal hospital, the community and the Fountain Police Department got together and saved his life.

Aiden could be the newest addition to the Fountain Police Department.

"He is all puppy right now. So far he's very playful and it's hours of tug of war," said Cpl. Steve Warden.

Aiden is an officer-in-training, and it's safe to say, this German Shepherd is living the life. But only weeks ago, Aiden was in desperate need of a nearly $3,000 heart surgery.

Aiden had a deadly heart condition that prevented his body from receiving enough oxygen.

"He could run and play, but he would get tired sooner than a normal puppy would, but to just look at him you wouldn't know anything was wrong," said Tracey Young, co-owner of the Healthy Pets Animal Hospital.

Aiden's owners at the time couldn't afford the surgery, so the Healthy Pets Animal Hospital decided to temporarily adopt Aiden and raise the money with the help of the community.

"We chose to because he could live a normal life after the surgery," Young said.

Today, Aiden is fully recovered, and an official member of the Falcon Police Department family.

"Our plan for him is to be a multi-purpose dog where he'll do apprehension, he'll do tracking, and he'll also do detection work for narcotics," said Warden.

Aiden still has a lot of growing up to do.

It will be about a year before the police department will know if Aiden will actually be able to pass all the tests to become a certified canine dog. If he does become an official officer, Aiden will be the third canine officer on the Fountain Police force.

If he doesn't, an officer with the Fountain Police Department says they have plenty of people on the force lining up to adopt him.