Fort Lauderdale K-9 Released After Shooting Surgery

Fort Lauderdale Police K-9 Appie was released from BluePearl Pet Hospital on Thursday, five days after he was shot while chasing a burglary suspect. (nbcmiami.com) Appie, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, underwent a five-hour surgery after the April 18 shooting and walked out of the Oakland Park hospital with Officer Guzman as officers applauded. (local10.com) Veterinarian Dr. Sagen Woolery said Appie arrived in shock, lost blood and developed life-threatening heart-rhythm changes before surgeons repaired a fractured arm. Doctors told local outlets the bone should heal in about three months. (local10.com) The shooting happened during a burglary investigation in the 1600 block of Northwest 16th Court in Lauderdale Manors, where officers said Appie was sent after Christian Q. Bouie as he tried to flee. Police said Bouie shot the dog at point-blank range. (nbcmiami.com) Bouie, 30, was later arrested after another police dog bit him, and Fort Lauderdale police said officers recovered a firearm at the scene. He was booked into the Broward County Main Jail. (local10.com) Local 10 reported Bouie faces four charges: use of a deadly weapon on a police animal, interfering with law enforcement with violence, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, and resisting arrest without violence. (local10.com) Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz said Appie’s return home was “a powerful and emotional day” for the department, while also saying any decision on whether the dog returns to duty will depend on medical advice, behavior and the handler’s recommendation. (wsvn.com; nbcmiami.com) PETA separately urged the department to retire Appie and replace police dogs with robots, drones or portable mass spectrometers. Schultz told reporters the department was focused on Appie’s recovery. (local10.com) For now, Appie is home, off the street and healing, with Fort Lauderdale police saying the next call on his future will come after his recovery. (nbcmiami.com)