After losing one of their beloved police dogs, an Ohio city raised $24,000 in a single day for bullet proof vests for the K-9 cops left on the force.

Jethro and his partner Officer Davis with the Canton Police Department surprised a burglar Saturday night and the three-year-old German shepherd was wounded in a shootout.

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"There's not a doubt in my mind that that dog saved officers' lives today," Police Chief Bruce Lawver told the Canton Repository.

At first, it looked like the dog had only minor injuries, but Jethro took a turn for the worse and passed away Sunday.

Even in his death, Jethro is protecting his fellow officers. A memorial fund to buy new protective vests for other K-9 officers, which was set up in his memory, has guaranteed new protections for other dogs.

Pet blogger Beth Philley had met Jethro and Officer Davis just days earlier. After hearing about Jethro's heroism, and how the body armor for Canton police dogs was heavy and obsolete, she decided to try to raise $10,000, in Jethro's memory, to buy new modern K-9 bulletproof vests.

Philley's GoFundMe campaign more than doubled its $10,000 goal in its first day and is at nearly $30,000 just three days into the campaign.

The Canton police have also been receiving donations at the station.

Jethro's body, draped in an American flag, was given a police escort from the vet's office Sunday and a funeral with full police honors for the hero dog is planned for Thursday.

Photo: Canton PD

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