Alpharetta K-9 who survived 3-story fall almost becomes ‘America’s Top Dog’

Even though he lost in the finale of A&E’s “America’s Top Dog” on Wednesday, Alpharetta’s police K-9 Mattis is still a good boy.

Mattis and his handler Sgt. Mark Tappan got to the finale by winning their episode of the new dog competition show, which aired in late January.

The show was hosted by sports broadcaster Curt Menefee, K-9 school owner and former Secret Service member Nick White and sideline reporter Jamie Little.

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Each week’s winning team got $10,000 and an additional $5,000 to donate to the animal charity of their choice. Tappan said he chose the Georgia Police K9 Foundation. The winners Wednesday earned an additional $25,000.

Tappan has been with the department since July 5, 2006 and is now the leader of their K-9 team. Mattis is about six years old.

“My goal was to make my family, friends, Department and community proud and show off how amazing my best friend is,” Tappan previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

BACKGROUND | After falling 3 stories, Instagram-famous Alpharetta K-9 to compete on TV

Mattis was injured in 2016 after bounding over a 30-foot retention wall while running down a suspect.

Tappan posted on their 49,000-follower Instagram page that he "couldn't be prouder of Mattis, he is a very special dog! "

Click here to read more about the near-fatal fall and how the pooch is named after former United States Secretary of Defense Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis, who is a Marine like Tappan.

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