In an interview with a local Houston news station, Click 2 Houston, officers involved commented, “I checked the map and thought, ‘This is quite a distance for the child to walk all the way here,’” noted HPD Sgt. Ricardo Salas.
Sgt. Salas also acknowledged that the dog accompanied Jose to ensure his safety. “The dog understood he had to go along because Jose was engaged in something he shouldn’t have been doing,” Salas explained. Even after they located the boy and the dog, Alejandro refused to leave Jose’s side. “I placed the child in my patrol vehicle so he could cool down with the AC, and when I turned around, the dog had hopped into the patrol car as well,” Salas recounted.
Jose’s sister, Samantha Munoz, shared that Alejandro had been protective of Jose for a long time. “Alejandro has always been an extremely protective dog since we got him as a puppy,” she revealed. “I wasn’t surprised when they said he had been walking with Jose the entire time,” Samantha added.
Salas mentioned that stories like this could have various outcomes, but both he and the community were relieved that Jose and Alejandro safely returned home. “We’re very grateful this story had such a positive ending; we’re truly thankful for that,” he expressed.
In a video posted on KPRC 2’s YouTube channel, viewers commented that the dog deserved recognition. One person wrote, “That dog deserves plenty of treats and affection,” while another commented, “German shepherds have a natural instinct to protect, and this dog knew the child had medical and physical challenges. Dogs are angels in fur instead of feathers