Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker, Ryan Fischer, Breaks His Silence After Being Shot

Ryan Fischer, the man who was shot while walking Lady Gaga’s dogs, is in recovery and speaking out for the first time.

Fischer was shot in the chest on February 24 while walking Gaga’s three French bulldogs: Koji, Gustav, and Asia. The perpetrators managed to kidnap Koji and Gustav before driving away. Both dogs have since been returned by a woman who police believe is “uninvolved and unassociated” with the shooters.

“Four days ago, while a car sped away and blood poured from my gunshot wound, an angel trotted over and laid next to me. My panicked screams calmed as I looked at her, even though it registered that the blood pooling around her tiny body was my own,” Fischer wrote in the first of two lengthy Instagram statements on March 1. “I cradled Asia as best I 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.”

“I am still in recovery from a very close call with death and have kept myself (for the most part, I mean I am human) from the growing media story,” he continued in a second post from his hospital bed. “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.”

After thanking family and friends for their support, Fischer turned his attention to Lady Gaga, who called him a “hero” in a previous statement about her missing dogs.

“Lady Gaga: your babies are back and the family is whole… we did it,” Fischer wrote. “You have shown so much support throughout this whole crisis to both me and my family. But your support as a friend, despite your own traumatic loss from your kids, was unwavering. I love you and thank you.”

Before her dogs were returned, Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for their safe recovery and shared a message about Fischer. “I continue to love you Ryan Fischer, you risked your life to fight for our family,” she wrote. “You’re forever a hero.”