LOS ANGELES — The family of Lady Gaga’s dog walker said Friday that he’s expected to make a “full recovery” after being shot Wednesday night during a dognapping in Los Angeles.
Family members identified him as Ryan Fischer in a statement obtained by Rolling Stone.
“Thankfully, Ryan is receiving extraordinary care in the hospital right now and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery,” family members told Rolling Stone. “We cannot possibly say enough to thank all of the first responders, nurses and doctors who have worked so tirelessly to care for Ryan.”
Police said Fischer was shot around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday while walking three of Gaga’s French bulldogs near the intersection of Sierra Bonita Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Investigators said two men got out of a white Nissan Altima and held Fischer at gunpoint while demanding he hand over the dogs.
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Fischer refused and was shot once by one of the men, authorities said. The men grabbed two of Gaga’s dogs, identified as Koji and Gustavo, before leaving in the Altima, police said.
“Ryan loves Gustavo and Koji as much as Lady Gaga does; so we join in her plea for their safe return,” Fischer’s family told Rolling Stone. They also thanked Gaga for showing “nothing but non-stop love and concern for Ryan and our family right from the outset.”
Gaga’s father Joe Germanotta, pleaded for the dogs’ return on Friday, telling NBC News that “the whole family is devastated” by the incident.
“It’s a disgusting act,” he said, according to NBC News. “If (the robbers) are listening, please don’t hurt those dogs and please return them. They haven’t done anything wrong.”
Gaga is offering a $500,000 reward for the return of her dogs, no questions asked, CNN reported.
“Anyone who has the dogs can use this email, KojiandGustav@gmail.com to retrieve the reward,” an unidentified source told the news network.
Previously, law enforcement sources told TMZ that it wasn’t immediately clear whether Gaga had been targeted in the attack, as French bulldogs are among the most popular and expensive breeds in America.
Police continue to investigate the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 213-486-6840.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call 213-486-6840 or remain anonymous at https://t.co/Ti3qvwDM7Y
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 26, 2021
Cox Media Group
