Dog shot in Hollywood Hills home invasion resting after surgery

A dog who was shot three times when he went to his family’s rescue during a home-invasion robbery in the Hollywood Hills is lucky to be alive, said the veterinarian who performed emergency surgery on the boxer-Weimaraner mix.

Five-year-old Aslan was shot Wednesday when three suspects forced their way into the home in the 8200 block of Mannix Drive and demanded a male resident open a safe, from which they stole a large quantity of cash, officials said.

The intruders shot the man in the neck, and when his dog confronted them, they shot the animal in the neck, shoulder and leg, said Lt. Bob Binder of the LAPD's Hollywood Division. The man is in stable condition, Binder said. The suspects -- three men and a woman -- fled on foot and were later arrested.

Narcotics detectives were called to the home Wednesday night after police uncovered evidence during the robbery investigation, Binder said. A search warrant was issued on the residence. Binder would not say what evidence was found.

Aslan suffered life-threatening wounds, said Stephen Bilbrey, a veterinary surgeon at the Animal Specialty Group, an animal hospital in Los Angeles.

One bullet struck Aslan in the leg, fracturing it. Another bullet went through the dog's left shoulder. A third bullet went through the animal's neck and across its chest, puncturing its lungs and diaphragm and lodging in its liver.

Bilbrey performed a two-hour surgery that included removing part of the dog’s lungs and extracting the bullet from its liver.

“He’s been doing pretty darn well,” Bilbrey said. “If the bullet had hit one of his major structures, he would have been dead within minutes.”

Bilbrey said the dog is expected to make a full recovery. It is currently resting at the hospital with a pink cast on its leg.

“The owner did tell me that the dog alerted them that people were breaking into their home,” Bilbrey said. “She felt the dog saved their lives.”

-- My-Thuan Tran

Photo: David Liss pets Aslan at the Animal Specialty Group veterinary clinic in Los Angeles.  Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[brenda]

good job Dr.

hope Aslan recuperates soon.....

god bless him...

[Matthias Rascher]

After reading the headline only, I thought, "And might one inquire after the current state of the poor creature's human owner"? You talk about it in the text, but I still think this headline belongs into the category "fail".

[mikeohara]

Umm, not sure an attack dog at the home of someone who sounds like a drug dealer is a hero. I mean, it's not the dog's fault but still....

[Matt]

PULLING FOR THIS POOCH!!! HANG IN THERE ASLAN!!!

[David]

The interesting part of the article is..

"Narcotics detectives were called to the home Wednesday night after police uncovered evidence during the robbery investigation, Binder said. A search warrant was issued on the residence."

The big question is how a robbery crew knew that they could expect to find a large amount of money in a safe in the Hollywood Hills. Of course the "victim" is most likely a drug dealer and that's why he had large amounts of cash.

[Dia]

are you serious a whole article on the dog but not on the man? that's very twisted how we value an animal's life more than a human's *smh*

[Kevin]

hope the hero dog comes thru, always man best friends!!

[Chiquis]

what a good dog! he deserves a medal for his bravery and loyalty

[TMC]

If this does not convince you that dogs are mans best friend nothing will! It's about time that some STRICT laws are past to protect ALL abused and neglected animals from thieves and the like. If the dog had attacked and mauled one of the robbers our legal system would label him "vicious" and put him down without a moments thought! Give me a room full of animals over a room full of people any day of the week. They are more intelligent, gentle, kind and ask for nothing in return!!! Society needs to learn a few lessons from our furry friends!

[Miranda]

Brave dog!! Cowardly burglars! I hope he pulls through and is reunited with his family soon. I'm glad nobody was fatally injured. Bravo to the vet who helped save him.

[TMC]

Oops.......I need to correct my spelling passed instead of past!

[Mr. Rad]

Take the guys out of the gene pool and have them shot in public. It will do two things. 1) send a message and 2) make sure that they dont have kids.

[dog lover]

rest easy dog......you did your family proud!!get well your family needs you!! cats suck!!

[Katy R.]

And to think "some" people treat animals badly.What a blessing this dog is!

[Alfonso]

I can not believe that you have this as a BIG announcement under yahoo.... Is there anything better or worthy that you can announce instead of this???? Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Liz Romero]

God bless this little hero. I hope he makes a full recovery.

[Joel]

Healing vibes sent to Aslan and his family. Grrr. I have no problems with us humans killing each other (sadly) but pets are innocent.

[Ryan D]

They think drugs might be involved? Shocking!
Duh!
Why else would four people pinpoint a single house in the Hollywood Hills and rob a safe at gunpoint that just happened to have large quantities of cash?

[David]

I am "roofing" Aslan and his speedy recovery!

[Juan]

Just can't help but notice:

Home invaders seem to know who has a safe full of cash.

A gun is more helpful than a call from Broadview or ADT asking if you are "ok"- like in the commercials.

[No More Spin]

I like cats, and have owned a few, but...

There is no chance, in heaven or hell, a cat will face a group of violent intruders in your home and go down fighting.

[Nasty]

Too bad the homeowner wasn't armed. Then the story might well have read "Three unlucky robbers dead in home invasion robbery attempt".

[Chauncey Sayre]

The Dog, usually mans only true friend.

[Alex Alvarenga]

I think these are the same vetrinarians who saved my cat's life a few years back. My (now ex) wife and I found the cat bloodied and likely in horrible pain after what we think was a fall from a roof. The animal hospital stablized the cat and later performed a major operation that kept her in the hospital for one month and later at home being tube fed for another month. The cat recovered fully and has been a joy to have...and no she does not go outside any longer. I hope the dog (Aslan) makes a full recovery, as for the robbery since I live part time in the area it worries me but it sounds like the thieves knew what they were looking for....

[Ann]

Finally, a story that shows the loyalty animals have for their families. Animal companions are valuable parts of society and serve the fire and rescue, police departments and other agencies more faithfully and in ways humans cannot. This dog is just one example of this loyalty and I hope he has a speedy recovery. Any of my dogs would do the same for me and that's why they are treated as members of my household. They literally protect my life.