Police officers are real heroes which need to be given more credits. All officers are equally valuable no matter their ranking. But, we have to admit, canine officers deserve special treatment. Not because they’re so adorable, but because they show an extra level of bravery.
Every day is a new adventure, and it could end up with terrible casualties. That’s the life of police officers. When Arlo, the sheriff’s K9 officer from Thurston County, woke up that day, he expected nothing but a hard day at work, full of tasks.
Well, the day turned out to be a lot harder for Arlo and his partner.
A Vehicle Pursuit Gone Wrong
It was Wednesday night when Arlo and his sheriff received a call about a suspect escaping Interstate 5. The twenty-five-year-old suspect was being pursued by Washington State Patrol, but the chase didn’t last for long.
Somewhere around milepost 88, contact with the suspect was established and gunfire was exchanged.
Arlo knew he had to do his job, but he didn’t have much experience in being trapped in a gunfight. There’s not much a brave dog can do against firearms.
As the drama rose, and the shots became more frequent, Arlo wasn’t panicking. He stood next to his pawtner, providing mental support, and waiting for the right time to show off his bravery.
Unfortunately, Arlo didn’t have the time to react. A stray bullet hit Arlo and the poor pup got down on the ground.
When Arlo’s partner saw his dog was down, he began firing his gun fiercely. Soon enough, the suspect was shot and the exchange of fire ended.
Arlo was rushed to a veterinary clinic in severe condition, but he still had more of a chance of survival than the suspect.
Everyone fought hard to bring Arlo back on his four legs.
Arlo’s Operation
When Arlo got to the hospital, he had injuries in his shoulder and in one hind leg. The bullets got stuck in those parts of his body. However, that’s not the only damage they caused.
Vets at Oregon State University discovered that one of the bullets was stuck near Arlo’s spine. The brave K9 officer was about to go under surgery that was expected to last 8 to 10 hours.
Luckily, the operation was a success, and Arlo made it through. Despite the high temperature he experienced over the night, Arlo woke up stable.
But, it wasn’t Arlo’s long operation or the fast recovery that went viral. It was the fundraising done by Arlo’s fans, all eager to help the brave canine.
Arlo’s Fundraising
Arlo and his partner, Deputy Tyler Turpin, were stars on TikTok even before the shooting happened.
With a fan base of over 65k followers, it didn’t take long to collect the funds necessary for Arlo’s operation and rehabilitation.
A wonderful crowd of people managed to collect $40,000 over social media! Arlo was covered.
If it wasn’t for these good people, Tyler would probably have some difficulties taking care of vet bills, which were pretty high considering his condition.
But, this German Shepherd has earned it all with his incredible bravery.
It has been two years since the accident happened, and Arlo’s fan base has not stopped growing.
The brave Arlo retired shortly after his recovery. His pawtner wasn’t sure if Arlo could serve without his medical condition being affected in any way. It was the best decision for Arlo.
Today, this K9 and his partner, Tyler, have reached an impressive number of followers on TikTok – 3.5 million of them!
Although Arlo’s not in the service anymore, he’s still a courageous dog with a knack for humor. You can follow his adventures here on TikTok.
