The Florida police dog received a hero’s welcome as he returned to the sheriff’s office following a shooting that left him critically injured. K-9 Ace, a seven-year-old German shepherd, was shot on Thursday, 6 August, while protecting three deputies as they tried to arrest 27-year-old Angel Bowers, suffering extensive damage to his left front leg. An aero-med crew quickly transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch, where doctors performed several hours of surgery to amputate the injured leg. After waking from anesthesia, Ace immediately tried to walk out of the hospital. He made an energetic return to the sheriff’s office on Sunday, racing past the camera as colleagues greeted him with a huge round of applause. Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that Ace will retire following the amputation, bringing his service to an end.