'He didn't whimper once'

2007-03-05 08:12

Yolande Hayward

Uitenhage - A Port Elizabeth police dog needed emergency surgery after armed robbers stabbed him in the jaw.

Oscar, a German shepherd and his handler, Inspector Jacques Adlem, were on the trail of armed robbers on Friday after six men had broken into Woolworths in Caledon Street shortly after midnight on Friday night.

According to police spokesperson superintendent Priscilla Naidu, the suspects were later spotted by a police patrol vehicle in Constitution Street after breaking the shop's display window and making off in a white Mazda bakkie with goods valued at about R22 000.

When the suspects saw the police van they sped off but lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a parked car.

'He is a tough dog'

One suspect was arrested on the spot, but the rest scattered in all directions. Adlem, who's been working with his brave canine colleague for the past two years, was called in and he immediately put Oscar on their trail.

"I was about 20m behind Oscar when I heard one of the fleeing men scream. I saw my dog fall back but I ordered him to continue to attack and he succeeded the second time."

It was only when Adlem had the two suspected robbers safely in custody that he noticed that the dog was covered in blood. A local vet was hastily summoned and Oscar was taken to an animal hospital.

The vet confirmed that Oscar had been stabbed in his jaw with a sharp object, according to Adlem.

"Oscar is a tough dog. I could see on their faces that the two robbers just couldn't believe that he would continue to attack after they'd stabbed him."

"He was so brave that he didn't whimper once, said Adlem.

He was furious to see what they had done to his four-legged friend.

- Die Burger