Wounded police dog Gino on road to recovery
TUKWILA, Wash. -- A wounded police dog is on the road to recovery.
Tukwila K-9 officer Gino put himself between his partner and an attacker's knife on Monday, and nearly died in the line of duty.
On Friday, he was back playing with his partner officer James Sturgill and his son, Jacob.
James Sturgill says he thought he would lose Gino forever.
"When it first happened, I wasn't quite sure," he said. "I didn't know if he was going to live."
Monday night, officer Sturgill and Gino responded to a shoplifting incident in Tukwila. Police say the thief ran. When Gino caught him, police say the thief stabbed the dog in the neck.
"Considering where it was at on his neck, I was scared that it hit an artery or something like that. That he was going to bleed out and he was going to die right there," James said.
In surgery, doctors were able to stop the bleeding and stitch up the wound -- a relief for the department and Sturgill's family.
"It was just... I thought he died," Jacob Sturgill said. "Then I figured out he was OK."
Because Gino isn't just a police dog.
"He's really part of my family," Jacob Sturgill said. "He's my best friend."
Gino will get a few more weeks off before he's back on the beat. It's a break he's earned.
"Not only protected me, but protected two other officers," James Sturgill said. "And he did a great job, did a great job."
Gino's first day back on the job should be July 4.
Tukwila K-9 officer Gino put himself between his partner and an attacker's knife on Monday, and nearly died in the line of duty.
On Friday, he was back playing with his partner officer James Sturgill and his son, Jacob.
James Sturgill says he thought he would lose Gino forever.
"When it first happened, I wasn't quite sure," he said. "I didn't know if he was going to live."
Monday night, officer Sturgill and Gino responded to a shoplifting incident in Tukwila. Police say the thief ran. When Gino caught him, police say the thief stabbed the dog in the neck.
"Considering where it was at on his neck, I was scared that it hit an artery or something like that. That he was going to bleed out and he was going to die right there," James said.
In surgery, doctors were able to stop the bleeding and stitch up the wound -- a relief for the department and Sturgill's family.
"It was just... I thought he died," Jacob Sturgill said. "Then I figured out he was OK."
Because Gino isn't just a police dog.
"He's really part of my family," Jacob Sturgill said. "He's my best friend."
Gino will get a few more weeks off before he's back on the beat. It's a break he's earned.
"Not only protected me, but protected two other officers," James Sturgill said. "And he did a great job, did a great job."
Gino's first day back on the job should be July 4.