Based on coverage from Global News, CP24, Medicine Hat News, and Calgary Sun.
A police dog with the Alberta RCMP is back home recovering after being seriously hurt during the search for an armed robbery suspect in High River. The dog, a four-year-old German Shepherd named Paskal (also spelled Pascal in some RCMP material), was injured while helping officers track the suspect, and the RCMP say he needed emergency veterinary care in Calgary.
The robbery itself is still under investigation, and the RCMP have not said whether an arrest has been made.
High River armed robbery details Tuesday
The RCMP say officers were called after a masked suspect entered a local business with a firearm and took cash from the register before fleeing on a bicycle.
Multiple reports line up on the basics but differ on the timing: the RCMP and Medicine Hat News place the call at about 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, while another account says officers were called just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The RCMP description of the suspect fleeing by bicycle and the theft from the cash register is consistent across the reports.
High River is about 40 kilometres south of Calgary, and police moved quickly to contain the area after the suspect took off.
Alberta RCMP canine Paskal injured tracking suspect
To help track the suspect, the RCMP called in support from Okotoks RCMP, the Emergency Response Team (ERT), and Police Dog Services (PDS). Paskal and his handler, Cpl. Paul Cook, joined the search.
RCMP say Paskal was seriously injured while jumping a fence during the track. In their public statements, police have described the injuries as to the dog’s lower torso. Medicine Hat News reports the injuries required surgery, while Postmedia reports Paskal underwent emergency surgery and that Cook is now providing round-the-clock care at home.
RCMP spokesperson Gina Slaney told Postmedia officers initially feared the dog might not survive.
Calgary veterinarian surgery and recovery timeline
After the injury, the RCMP say Cook immediately transported Paskal to a veterinarian in Calgary. The dog has since been released and is recovering at Cook’s home.
On the recovery outlook, the reporting is consistent: Paskal is on antibiotics and pain medication, with an estimated recovery time of four to six weeks. Postmedia adds that timeline depends on avoiding complications.
A photo shared on social media of Paskal receiving treatment has also prompted an outpouring of supportive messages, according to RCMP and other coverage.
Police dog services role in Alberta policing
The RCMP used the incident to underline how central police dogs are to their work, calling them “indispensable members” of policing teams. In the force’s words, police dogs help keep communities safe, support officers in high-risk situations, and play a critical role in operations.
Postmedia also reports Paskal was born at the RCMP Police Dog Services training facility in Innisfail, adding a bit of Alberta-rooted context to a story that’s landed with a lot of locals as more than just another police file.
RCMP ask for tips as investigation continues
What’s missing so far is the outcome of the search. The RCMP have not provided an update on whether the suspect has been located or charged.
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact High River RCMP at 403-652-2357. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at P3Tips.com, or through the P3 Tips app.
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