Heroic Florida K-9 returns to sheriff's office days after being shot protecting 3 deputies, losing leg

close Video Hero K-9 returns to sheriff's office for first time since shooting, prepares for retirement K-9 Ace returned to the Polk County Sheriff's Office for the first time since surviving a line-of-duty shooting and losing his left front leg as the longtime police dog prepares for retirement. (Polk County Sheriff's Office via Facebook) NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Less than a week after being shot and losing a leg while protecting three deputies, heroic Florida K-9 Ace was back on his feet Tuesday for an emotional return to the sheriff's office. Ace, a 7-year-old German shepherd who has served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office since March 2020, was wounded as deputies attempted to arrest 27-year-old Angel Bowers. Authorities said Bowers allegedly fired at least four rounds at three deputies who were attempting to arrest him after he failed to appear in court. DEPUTY US MARSHAL FATALLY SHOT WHILE SERVING ARREST WARRANT IN LOUISIANA Polk County Sheriff's Office K-9 Ace returned to the agency less than a week after being shot while protecting three deputies and undergoing surgery to amputate his left front leg. (Polk County Sheriff's Office) Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Ace protected the three deputies from Bowers but was shot in his left front leg, shattering the bone and tearing an artery that caused massive blood loss. Ace's partner and handler, Deputy Natalie Oestreich, treated his wounds and carried him to safety, according to the sheriff's office. Ace was rushed to Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland, where he was stabilized before a Tampa General Hospital Aeromed helicopter transported him to the Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch. Veterinarians there performed a several-hour surgery to amputate his left front leg. On Sunday, the sheriff's office posted video showing deputies arriving at the veterinary medical center to greet an energetic Ace as he prepared to return home. AMERICA'S WOUNDED COPS FIND HOPE, HEALING AND SECOND CHANCE THROUGH OFFICERS WHO REFUSE TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND Video "Upon waking from the anesthesia, Ace attempted to walk out of there," the sheriff's office wrote. "He has not been deterred since. In fact he outran the camera attempting to film his release this afternoon!" Video shows Ace interacting with deputies before walking out of the medical center under his own power to thunderous applause while wearing a shirt that read "ride or die." Two days later, Ace made his first trip back to the sheriff's office since being shot in the line of duty. "Look at Ace.