Police dog stabbed Maraekakaho, NL (NZ) Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 6, 2006 Disposition: Alleged Case Images: 1 files available Alleged: man Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 8958 Classification: Stabbing Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in NL (NZ) Login to Watch this Case

All the stops were pulled out on June 6 to save the life of police dog Edge after he was stabbed several times in the chest by a man who had turned a knife on himself.

The two-year-old german shepherd was airlifted from Glencoe Station, Maraekakaho, at 9am this morning after trying to prevent a suspect harming himself.

Police waited anxiously for the helicopter to land at Anderson Park, Havelock North, so Edge could be rushed to nearby AnimalCare for an assessment.

Thermal blankets were spread out to keep Edge warm in the car but his handler Dave Whyte refused to handover his partner and put him in the boot.

Instead, he carried him in his arms from the helicopter to the car, placing him on his lap in a blood-stained towel and cuddling him as they drove into the village.

Eastern Districts police operations manager John Fairley, who was with the dog and Mr Whyte at the vets, said the dog had been stabbed several times.

He said he didn't know what the prognosis was but was hopeful Edge would survive.

"He is receiving the best vet care available," he said.

"He is part of the police family but for the police handler he is part of his own family."

Mr Fairley said the dog had been operational for the last six months.

"The dogs cost thousands of dollars in time and effort to get them to this stage."

While the dog was being flown to Havelock North, St John Ambulance took the 53-year-old male suspect allegedly responsible for the attack to Hawke's Bay Hospital.

The man's condition is described as moderate.

Hastings police Senior Sergeant Mike O'Leary said police were called to Glencoe Station at 8am this morning after a man was seen acting suspiciously.

He said the man had taken off and police followed him.

"He was located by a dog team in a forestry area," Mr O'Leary said.

"He was in possession of a knife and started to stab himself."

Mr O'Leary said Edge was sent to stop the man but he turned on the dog and stabbed it several times.

He said the man was being guarded in hospital.

Police would be talking to him once his condition had been stabilised.

"He was wanted on several warrants," he said.

Edge was reported to be stabilising late this morning.

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References

Hawke's Bay Today - June 6, 2006

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