Sheriff's K-9 Shot In The Line Of Duty Released From Hospital

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - The Sacramento sheriff's K-9 officer shot in the line of duty is on the road to recovery. Drago was looking happy and healthy Saturday as he left a vet hospital one day after taking a bullet to the chest.

"I think he's very lucky and so are all of the officers he helped protect," said Chris Wong, a VCA Veterinary Hospital spokesperson.
Luckily for Drago, the bullet missed all of his vital organs. He's expected to make a full recovery and be back on the crime-fighting beat in a few weeks.

CBS13 was there when Drago was released. When that time came, he was very eager for his freedom.

"What he did was go out, find the guy, and took the bullet for us and saved our lives," said Deputy John Halk, Drago's handler.

Drago's journey started early Friday morning when Sacramento County authorities chased a driver in a stolen vehicle. That driver, who's now being identified as 42-year-old Robbie Joe Wolff, abandoned the car and ran into a field. Six-year-old Drago quickly followed Wolff, who started shooting.

Shortly after the shooting, Drago's handler heard his longtime partner drop.

"I was terrified…'Oh, my God, I lost my partner,'" said Halk.

One bullet pierced Drago's chest and exited out his clavicle.

"If we were to search this field on our own by ourselves, we would never have come across this guy except for stumbling on him; and we would have been close. Those gunshots would have been right on top of us," said Halk.

Although Drago now favors his leg, doctors say not only will he make a full recovery, but is expected to be back on the job in just four weeks.

This was Drago's first injury during his 3 years on the force.