Lady Gaga’s dogwalker posts first picture from hospital bed after attack: ‘I had a very close call with death’

Ryan Fischer calls Lady Gaga’s dog ‘guardian angel’ as it stayed with him after he was shot by dognappers

Lady Gaga’s dogwalker Ryan Fischer posted images from the hospital on Instagram saying he “had a very close call with death” after being shot as two of the star’s three dogs were kidnapped.

Mr Fischer said that “an angel trotted over and laid next to me,” as blood poured from his gunshot wound. He said his “panicked screams” were calmed as he looked at Asia, one of Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs.

He added that he cradled the dog as best he could “thanked her for all the incredible adventures we’d been on together, apologized that I couldn’t defend her brothers, and then resolved that I would still try to save them… and myself”.

Mr Fischer wrote that he smiled at the “shaking form” of his “guardian angel” Asia and that he was hopeful that his “calm(ish) and forceful pleas for the urgency of my care as well as the focused descriptions of the dogs would be enough to help me and get enough police and media attention to find the boys,” referring to the two other dogs that were taken but that have since been returned.

Mr Fischer added that life had taken “a very sudden and unexpected turn” as neighbours poured from their surrounding homes and restaurant-goers came to see what had happened.

Writing that he had had “a very close call with death,” Mr Fischer said that he was still in recovery. He added that he had stayed away from the media stories “for the most part, I mean I am human”.

He wrote that he was very grateful “for all the love I feel from around this planet,” calling his emotions “immense and intense”.

Read more: Lady Gaga’s dogs recovered safely

He added: “I felt your healing support! Thank you. 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. I am so appreciative of everything you continue to do.

“To all my friends and family who have cried with me and maybe even laughed at one or two of my morbid jokes by my side or over a screen: I love you.”

He wrote that the images and videos sent from clients of their dogs “worked miracles” to keep his spirits up.

He wrote: “Seeing their faces light up when you said my name motivates me to keep pushing so I can play with them and see you again soon.”

He thanked the first responders and health care workers for saving his life and tagged Lady Gaga in the caption, telling her: “Your babies are back and the family is whole… we did it! You have shown so much support throughout this whole crisis to both me and my family... I love you and thank you.”

Mr Fischer was shot Wednesday night as he was walking Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs while she was shooting a film in Rome. According to the LAPD, “The suspects approached the victim in a white Nissan Altima. Two suspects exited the vehicle and demanded the victim turn over the dogs at gunpoint”.

The dogs were taken to an LA police station Friday night around 6pm, The New York Times reported.

“The dogs are returned safely,” police spokesman Officer Mike Lopez said.

Captain Jonathan Tippet told the Associated Press that the woman who brought the dogs to the police station appeared to be “uninvolved and unassociated”. Her identity and the location were she found the dogs won’t be made public for her safety and to protect the integrity of the investigation.