Kasper the K-9 Officer is on the team with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and was shot while working in Jupiter, Florida on Friday. The heroic police dog took a bullet for his partner during a shootout but after excellent veterinary care, is now heading for home.

The incident happened on Friday when deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) came across Philip Oshea, 46, who was wanted in connection with a North Carolina robbery. According to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the suspect had a long criminal record and was that day involved in the robbery of a local bar.

The suspect tried to flee when he saw the officers approaching him.

Kasper the K-9 officer takes a bullet for his partner

One of the deputies took off after Oshea, who then crashed his vehicle. In the aftermath of the crash, Oshea started shooting at the officers, which led to a gunfight in which the suspect was killed. However, one officer took a bullet during the exchange of fire, and that was Kasper, the K-9 Officer. According to Bradshaw, Kasper was shot in the hind leg, while taking a bullet intended for his partner. The K-9 went into surgery on Friday.

K-9 officer is doing well after surgery

As noted by CBS News, the dog’s heroism soon caught the attention of social media with many praising Kasper for his actions.

According to PBSO, Kasper was well enough on Saturday to return home. Veterinarian Michele Tucker of the Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists said in a video released by PBSO that Kasper had done wonderfully and is walking reasonably well, considering his injuries. A further video showed Kasper, wearing a protective cone, with his gunshot wound visible on his leg.

Tucker said that Kasper had suffered a gunshot wound to his left hip and was stable on arrival at the surgery. As reported by the Sun Sentinel, once they had established no internal organs had been injured, they then took Kasper into surgery to remove the bullet.

Tucker continued by saying Kasper had recovered well after the anesthesia and that he is on antibiotics. Everyone at the veterinary surgery was happy that the injury suffered by the K-9 officer wasn’t too significant and are thankful for everything the police dog has done for the county.

According to the PBSO, Kasper has been trained in bomb detection and also works as a patrol and SWAT dog. According to his service record, the K-9 officer has even had stints at protecting the president.