Lady Gaga's dog walker, who was shot last week during a robbery in which two of the singer’s French bulldogs were stolen, has described his recovery “from a very close call with death".
Ryan Fischer was shot once as he walked three of the star's dogs on Wednesday night on a street just off the famed Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Video captured by the doorbell camera of a nearby home recorded Fischer's screams of "Oh my God! I've been shot!" and "Help me!" and "I'm bleeding out from my chest!" A third dog, named Asia, escaped the assailants.
The doorbell video shows a white sedan pulling up and two men jumping out. They struggled with the dog walker before one pulled a gun and fired a single shot before fleeing with two of the dogs.
In social media posts uploaded on Monday, Fischer shared pictures taken from his hospital bed, where he said “(a) lot of healing still needs to happen” but he looks forward to reuniting with the dogs.
"The gratitude for all the love I feel from around this planet is immense and intense. I felt your healing support! Thank you," he wrote.
"I am humbled and grateful that attention and focus from the police were enough to get Koji and Gustav back to safety, and I know they are committed to bringing these criminals and attempted murderers to justice."
Fischer also included a message for Lady Gaga, thanking her for "showing so much support throughout this whole crisis".
"But your support as a friend, despite your own traumatic loss from your kids, was unwavering. I love you and thank you," he added.
Police are seeking two men in the attack and said on Monday they are still investigating.
The two dogs, named Koji and Gustav, were returned unharmed on Friday evening when a woman showed up at a Los Angeles police station with them.
Detectives do not believe she was involved in the robbery or shooting and did not know if she would receive the $500,000 reward Lady Gaga had offered for the dogs' return. The singer is currently in Rome filming a movie.
