Casper, a brave police dog, has been labeled a hero after taking a bullet for his human partner during a gun shootout.
The incident occurred on May 13th of this year. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), 46-year-old Philip O’Shea robbed a bar at gunpoint at around 4 AM. According to Global, bartenders immediately contacted the PBSO, and nearby deputies were able to respond within minutes.
O’Shea then proceeded to carjack a woman and flee to nearby Jupiter, Florida. He crashed the vehicle in the parking lot of an industrial park and then proceeded to exchange gunfire with deputies on the scene.
Although O’Shea did not kill any of the officers, he did manage to injure one of the cutest guys on the force: an adorable K9 pup named Casper.
Casper has shot in his hind leg, the bullet lodging into the meaty muscles near his hip. In a Facebook post written by the PBSO (via Global News), the police explained that Casper was shot “while protecting his handler”, and the announcement drew praise from social media users everywhere.
In a later interview, Deputy John Sylvester described the event, saying, “When the rounds came, it was mean for a group of us. Unfortunately, [K9 Casper] was the one who took the round.”
O’Shea was killed during the shootout.
Luckily, Casper wasn’t hurt too badly. Vets said the bullet did not hit the dog’s bone, making rehabilitation much less complex.
Veterinarian Michele Tucker, in a video released by the PBSO (via Global News), said, “Casper came into us last night after suffering from a gunshot wound in the left hip. He was stable when he arrived. Once we determined that the bullet had not harmed any internal organs, we proceeded to remove the bullet surgically.”
“He’s on antibiotics and is walking fairly well, all things considered.”
According to PBSO (via CBS News), Casper is trained to sniff out bombs and also works as a SWAT and patrol dog. He’s also a bit famous, having worked stints protecting current President Donald Trump.
A few short weeks ago, Casper was rewarded for his bravery, being given a Purple Heart from U.S. Marshals during a formal ceremony.
During the ceremony, Casper was praised for his dedication to his handlers, his fellow officers, and the public alike.
“His actions exhibit the highest courage of any law enforcement officer.”
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