Police K-9 survives multiple stab wounds after emergency care at UC Davis veterinary hospital

Ty, an 8-year-old police K-9 with the Solano County Sheriff's Office, was stabbed several times with a blade on April 7, 2026, while apprehending a suspect following a vehicular pursuit near Interstate 80 in Fairfield, California. According to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, which provided emergency surgical care to Ty, the dog is expected to make a full recovery.

Ty's handler, Deputy Mike Ferrando, pulled him from the scene after hearing a fellow deputy shout that the suspect was stabbing Ty. "He probably saved Ty's life," Ferrando said in a university report.¹

According to UC Davis, Ferrando deployed the police dog when the subject refused to surrender. The suspect responded by driving a 4-inch blade into Ty repeatedly. Despite his wounds, Ty was not deterred, according to the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine.

The dog behind the case

Ty has served alongside Ferrando for 6 years, a partnership that extends well beyond the job. At home, the police dog lives with Ferrando's family, including his children.

"He's part of the family," Ferrando said.¹ "He lives with us, he's around my kids, he's a great dog. When it's time to work, he's all business, but at home, he's just one of us."

Rapid response and transfer to specialized care

Following the incident, Ferrando immediately transported Ty to a nearby veterinary clinic for initial stabilization. Amid concern that critical structures such as the esophagus or spine could be involved, Ty was transferred to the UC Davis veterinary hospital for specialized care.

At UC Davis, a multidisciplinary veterinary team led by Max Latifi, DVM, DACVS-SA, an assistant professor of small-animal soft tissue surgery, performed an urgent surgical exploration to fully assess the extent of the damage.

"In cases like this, the wounds can be more extensive beneath the surface than they appear," Latifi said. "We identified multiple stab wounds that tracked deeper into the tissue, requiring careful exploration, cleaning, and removal of damaged tissue to reduce the risk of infection and ensure proper healing."

Latifi stressed that the speed at which Ty received care was a decisive factor in his outcome. "The sooner we can treat these wounds, the better the outcome," he said in the UC Davis report.¹ “After roughly 6 hours, wounds are at high risk of infection, which can complicate and hinder treatment. In this case, the quick actions by first responders and the initial veterinary team played a key role in Ty's recovery."

According to UC Davis, the surgical team was able to fully explore and repair Ty's injuries in a single procedure. “No life-threatening damage to critical structures was found, and his prognosis is excellent,” the university wrote.¹

Following a short recovery period, Ty is expected to return to full duty.

Through the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine's Faithful Partner Compassionate Care Fund, Ty's care was provided free of charge to the Solano County Sheriff's Office. The donor-supported fund exists to ensure that working animals injured in the line of duty can receive the specialized, lifesaving treatment they deserve, regardless of cost.

Reference

1. Hinds T. UC Davis treats injured police K-9 after line-of-duty stabbing. News release. UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. April 8, 2026. Accessed April 14, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-treats-injured-police-k-9-after-line-duty-stabbing