Rotorua Police Dog Teo’s Miraculous Recovery from Scalding Geothermal Water Burns

Key Takeaways

• Search and Rescue dog Teo and her handler, Senior Constable Adam Johannsen, were deployed to help find missing Tokoroa teacher Jayleb-Che Dean.
• During the search, Teo fell into geothermal water, suffering serious burns, and Johannsen rescued her, carrying her to safety despite his own injuries.
• Teo spent three weeks at the vets and had to be airlifted to Massey University Campus for specialist care, but is now recovering at home with Johannsen and his family.
• Johannsen and Teo had a seven-year career together as a search squad, and Teo is now retired and living with Johannsen’s family.
• The Rotorua police dog section is getting new staff, including Senior Constable Stu Palmer and his dog Ridge, and Senior Constable Chrissy Lunt and her dog Vegas.

Introduction to the Incident
The connection between a search and rescue dog and its handler is one of trust and loyalty. For Senior Constable Adam Johannsen and his dog Teo, this bond was put to the test during a search mission for missing Tokoroa teacher Jayleb-Che Dean. On October 8, Johannsen and Teo were deployed to help Rotorua police find Dean, who had vanished from a geothermal swimming spot on Waiotapu Loop Rd. The search was extensive, with ground and aerial crews involved, but unfortunately, nothing has been found, and the official search has been suspended.

The Rescue Effort
During the search, Johannsen and Teo were part of the specialist search squads, aware of the geothermal activity in the area. To protect Teo, Johannsen made the potentially life-saving decision to put protective boots on her. However, despite this precaution, Teo slipped into hot water, estimated to be around 85C, as the ground beneath her gave way. Johannsen quickly grabbed Teo, and in the struggle, she gripped onto his neck and hand, causing puncture wounds. Johannsen also fell into the water but managed to roll them both out, eventually becoming free from the scalding waters.

The Aftermath
The incident left both Johannsen and Teo injured, with Teo suffering serious burns, particularly across her hindquarters. Johannsen had leg burns and hand injuries but still managed to carry Teo to safety, despite being in dense bush about 200m from any exit point. Teo was rushed to Central City Vets in Rotorua, where veterinarian Dr. Russell Cowie and his team provided initial burn management. Due to the severity of her injuries, Teo was airlifted to Massey University Campus, where national police dog co-ordinating veterinarian Dr. Vicki Erceg took over her specialist care.

Teo’s Road to Recovery
Teo spent three weeks at the vets before being allowed home, where Johannsen stayed by her side during the crucial early days. Although she is now on the road to a full recovery, Teo still has visible scars around her legs, and her fur hasn’t fully grown back yet. Johannsen described her as "quite a spectacular police dog" that had a "remarkable" career. Teo is now the Johannsen family pet, happily lying in the lounge of their home in retirement mode.

Expert Care and Support
Dr. Vicki Erceg, who cared for Teo, said it was a privilege to be able to help care for her. She praised the dedicated care from all the veterinary teams involved, which helped save Teo’s life. Erceg also commended Johannsen’s quick thinking and actions, which undoubtedly saved Teo’s life. The protective boots Johannsen put on Teo saved her paws, and his decision to pull her out of the water and get her to veterinary care quickly was crucial in her recovery.

New Developments in Rotorua Police Dog Section
Meanwhile, the Rotorua police dog section is getting new staff, including Senior Constable Stu Palmer and his dog Ridge, and Senior Constable Chrissy Lunt and her dog Vegas. A graduation ceremony was held at the Dog Training Centre in Trentham in December, marking the beginning of their new roles. Palmer has been policing for 14 years and has worked in both Taupō and Rotorua in public safety and road policing roles. Lunt’s career spans an impressive 30 years, with 15 of them as a qualified detective.

Conclusion
The story of Teo and Johannsen’s rescue effort is a testament to the strong bond between a search and rescue dog and its handler. Despite the challenges they faced, Johannsen’s quick thinking and actions saved Teo’s life, and she is now recovering at home. The Rotorua police dog section is also getting new staff, which will help strengthen their search and rescue capabilities. As for Teo, she will always be remembered as a loyal and dedicated police dog, who served with distinction for over seven years.