Airlift of wounded Utah police dog stops traffic in Las Vegas — VIDEO

A helicopter carrying a Utah police dog with a gunshot wound briefly shut down traffic in the southwest Las Vegas Valley Wednesday morning when it landed outside a veterinary emergency clinic.

The helicopter was carrying a canine for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office that was shot Tuesday night, Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Jay Rivera said. Tropicana Avenue was closed for about two blocks west of Durango Drive while the helicopter landed on the street outside the Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center.

The dog, a Washington County sheriff’s office canine named Tess, was shot in the jaw in Santa Clara, Utah, after a carjacking incident Tuesday night, the St. George News reported. The person who shot Tess was also shot by police, according to the news report. His condition is unknown.

The sheriff’s office posted on Twitter about 2:40 p.m. that K9 officer Tess is out of surgery.

A release from the sheriff’s office noted the veterinarian indicated Tess was likely shot two times while trying to apprehend the car-jacking suspect.

It also thanked first responders and the veterinary clinic personnel who helped with Tess’ treatment and recovery.

”Tess is headed home with her handler and family where she is predicted to make a full recovery in 6 weeks time,” the release said.

Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.