Thurston County Sheriff’s police dog Arlo has returned home after surviving being shot during a police chase and then multiple surgeries by veterinarians in Oregon.
The chase happened Wednesday night as deputies pursued an armed driver along I-5 south into Grand Mound. In the moments after the chase ended, gunfire erupted leaving both the suspect and Arlo wounded.
Arlo suffered a shot to his leg and another bullet that went into his shoulder and neck. He was rushed to a local veterinarian clinic where he had surgery to be stabilized, but it was discovered that one of the bullets was still lodged in Arlo near his spine.
A second surgery was scheduled with veterinary specialists at Oregon State University in Corvallis, and Lacey fighters gave him a medical transport Thursday ahead of surgery on Friday.
After a fever of 104 degrees was brought under control, surgeons removed the bullet from near his spine and fused his C-5, C-6 and C-7 Vertebrae together with screws and cement, Thurston County Sheriff’s officials said. They also removed bone fragments from his spine and surrounding areas. Arlo now has 6 screws in his neck, but some bullet fragments had to be left behind that veterinarians say were too dangerous to reach but should not pose a threat.
As for his leg wound, deputies said: “When they cleaned and inspected the bullet wound in the other leg, they were amazed at the lack of injury, saying that the bullet missed K-9 Arlo’s knee by less than a centimeter and that if it had hit the knee, amputation would have been likely.”
Arlo spent a few days recuperating at the hospital, then was brought back home via police escort to Thurston County.
“Nearly the entire trip home K-9 Arlo and Deputy Turpin had a Police Escort with lights and sirens, starting from OSU by the OSU PD,” deputies wrote. “When Deputy Turpin and K-9 Arlo arrived home, they were greeted by neighbors, friends, firefighters, fellow K-9 handlers from multiple organizations from local and surrounding counties and a multitude of law enforcement officers from all local agencies and surrounding county and police agencies. It was quite humbling! Arlo is currently at home resting with his family.”
Arlo has been with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for a little over a year. During that time, he amassed more than 642,000 followers on TikTok.
Deputies say Arlo’s injuries to his neck and shoulders will leave him with arthritis and thus we will not be returning to active duty.
