A police dog who gained fame on TikTok has recovered after being shot twice in the line of duty.
Arlo, a three-year-old German Shepherd and a member of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, was injured during a verhicle pursuit on January 13.
He undergo eight hours of surgery at Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Service, and was then taken to Newaukum Valley Veterinary Services in Chehalis, Washington for treatment. He had a bullet lodged near his spine and a gunshot wound to his leg.
Ahead of his operation, the doctors initially gave Arlo a 60 percent chance of survival. Thanks to the wonderful veterinarians and prayers from his 1.5 million fans on TikTok, Arlo survived and on his way to a full recovery.
“It’s a miracle that Arlo’s still alive,” Dr. Jen Warnock, the orthopedic veterinary surgeon who repaired the K-9’s vertebrae, said in a statement. “The C6 vertebra was shattered; the bullet missed an artry that would’ve killed him by a millimeter; it could’ve destroyed his carotid artery.”
A video of Arlo leaving Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine after his surgery shows that an honor guard formed by his fellow officers. He was also welcomed on his home by several members from the County Sheriff’s office and several neighbors who held placards calling Arlo a hero. The video has been viewed more than 41 million times.
Arlo is unlikely to go back to active duty due to the damages to his neck and shoulders.
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