Monterey Park Police Department raising funds for K-9 stung by bees

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- A Monterey Park police K-9 is in critical condition after she tracked a suspect and was suddenly attacked by a swarm of bees.

The K-9, named Robin, is one of the police department's newest officers, but now she is in an emergency vet center recovering from her attack.

Monterey Park Police Chief Jim Smith said the 3-year-old Belgian Malinois was hot on the trail of some burglary suspects in a steep, wooded area in the city on Saturday.

As Robin and her handler moved uphill, she may have disrupted a bee hive on the ground.

"Both were attacked by the bees. The handler was stung about 18 times and Robin was stung between 50 and 60 times," Smith said.

Robin initially was treated by a vet and released, but as all the toxins from the bee stings started moving through her body her organs started shutting down and she was rushed to an emergency clinic.

"She's still pretty critical, but she's made some improvements that look promising. It's pretty serious," Dr. Jeff Patlogar said.

Patlogar said Robin is expected to be hospitalized for two weeks, and her huge bill has spurred fellow officers to launch a GoFundMe campaign for her.

"The K-9s are part of our law enforcement family, part of the police family, part of the city family. And you know they're really out there and they serve a great service for us, helping us protect the community," Smith said.

Robin's handler was treated at the scene for the stings and is doing well. The robbery suspects were caught, one of them thanks to Robin.