Rocky was hurt in the line of duty after finding a suspect in a dumpster.
HOUSTON — The U.S. Marshal K-9 shot during a manhunt on Wednesday was released from the animal hospital Friday. He narrowly escaped death and is credited with saving lives.
Rocky was shot twice, through the nostril and the neck. He was rushed by helicopter to Westbury Animal Hospital where his handler stayed by his side.
The 18-month-old Belgian Malinois was led to an SUV Friday afternoon, finally heading home to rest.
A veterinarian who treated Rocky said the wounds narrowly missed his spine.
“We are all extremely grateful to the staff at Westbury for the fact that Rocky is still with us,” said T. Michael O’Connor, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Texas in an emailed news release. “While Wednesday was a tragedy for all of us in law enforcement with the loss of Deputy Vargas, it likely could have gone worse had Rocky not been there. He is a hero. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”
K-9 Rocky hunted down the suspect who U.S. Marshals say shot and killed Deputy Jesus Vargas and found him hiding in a dumpster. He alerted other officers and jumped into the dumpster where Sean Christopher Davis allegedly shot him twice.
Other officers then killed Davis in a shootout behind the same strip center where Deputy Vargas was shot hours earlier.
K-9 Rocky was taken by Texas DPS helicopter to the animal hospital.
“He’s the luckiest dog I’ve seen,” Dr. Jeff Chalkley of Westbury Animal Hospital said. “I don’t you call that luck or the hand of God, but that bullet, I mean could have ended his life instantly.”
The veterinarians believe Rocky will make a full recovery and return to duty and “catch more bad guys and hopefully get rid of evil in the world.”
Vargas will be laid to rest on Monday.