K9 Ryder Released After Burns; PETA Calls for Retirement

San Diego police dog Ryder was released from a veterinary hospital after suffering burns during a September 16 confrontation in North Park, ABC 10News reported. Police Chief Scott Wahl told the station that Ryder was expected to recover fully.

The discharge has been followed by calls to retire the dog. In a September 17 statement, PETA asked the San Diego Police Department to end Ryder’s service and phase out its K9 program. That is an advocacy request; the sources reviewed do not report a retirement decision.

Recovery after the North Park incident

According to police accounts reported by ABC 10News, officers responding to vehicle vandalism pursued a man into a business. Police said the man was carrying a torch and flammable liquid and burned Ryder after officers sent the dog inside.

Three officers suffered burns to their hands while extinguishing the flames. Police shot the man during the confrontation, and he died at a hospital. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office took over the shooting investigation.

Times of San Diego reported September 18 that Ryder’s handler took him for emergency veterinary care before seeking treatment for his own injuries. The outlet also reported that Ryder was walking on his own before discharge.

A prognosis, with recovery still ahead

Leaving the hospital and an expectation of full recovery do not establish that Ryder’s injuries have already healed. Buddylio has not obtained his veterinary records or a return to duty date.

PETA’s statement argues that police dogs face risks they cannot choose and calls for alternative technology. Wahl’s comments to ABC 10News emphasized the department’s responsibility to care for injured officers and its dogs. Neither statement resolves the ongoing investigation into the shooting.

How we reported this: Buddylio checked local reporting and PETA’s original statement. The incident narrative remains attributed to police through those reports. The sheriff’s webpage could not be opened directly, and no veterinary records or completed investigative findings were reviewed.