Search and rescue dog helping Hardin County Cancer Association

Jodi Le, a furry member of the Hardin County K9 Search & Rescue Team, was found to have a cancerous tumor in a milk duct gland several weeks ago.

She underwent surgery to remove the tumor on Aug. 21. The doctor felt positive about being able to remove the tumor and affected tissue, but only time will tell. Jodi is recovering well, according to owner and handler William Branum.

Left, the tee shirt design for Team Jodi. At right, in a 2015 photo, Jodi and William Branum play ring toss after a hard day training to find missing people.

Branum, in addition to being a member of the K9 SAR team, is the Bruton Branch (District 14) fire chief.

Firefighter Support Fund organizer Hollie Broughton put together a tee shirt fund drive to help Branum – a cancer survivor himself – cover the costs of Jodi’s treatment.

Branum declined the assistance, but he and Broughton have decided to continue the drive and ask everyone to join “Team Jodi” and buy a tee shirt – with all proceeds going to the Hardin County Cancer Association.

“Cancer is the scariest thing in the world, but Jodi and me got through it without chemo, just surgery. The Hardin County Cancer Association does so many great things for people having to go through that, so if we can help them in any way, that’s what I want to do,” Branum said.

To order a tee shirt to join Team Jodi and “Think Pink” for cancer awareness, contact Broughton at 731-607-3252.