Moss Point K9 Officer Buddy now at home resting

Buddy, the Moss Point K9 officer who was shot Tuesday morning while chasing a burglary suspect, is now back home.

Buddy is back home and resting for the next four to six weeks, but his handler Robbie O’Bryant said it was a scary situation. “It was racing. He is my partner and I have got to do the best I can to take care of him. I got to get him to the hospital. We got to get him treated. I got to have him.”

On Tuesday, Officer O’Bryant released Buddy to apprehend 44-year-old Richard McGuire while he was responding to a burglary alarm at the Shell Station.

McGuire ran into the woods and Buddy chased behind him. O’Bryant head gunshots ring out and knew something had happened. “I heard those shots and I immediately called for him and he came right back to me and was able to check him and verify that he had received injuries from gunshots.”

After the traumatic incident, Buddy was rushed to the emergency veterinary clinic in Mobile where he underwent surgery. “They verified both his lungs had collapsed as a result of the shooting. They were able to get those back inflated, got him stabilized and then cared for him and took care of him.”

On Wednesday, Buddy walked out of the clinic and was greeted by cheer and applause from his fellow officers. “They say that everything was looking good. His numbers are within a normal range and they felt that it would be better for him healing at home.”

O’Bryant says had Buddy not stepped in the line of fire that could have been him on the other side of the bullet. “I owe everything to him for that.”