A police dog stabbed on Saturday in Whangarei is recovering well at a local veterinary clinic.
Caesar the police dog was stabbed twice in the head in Whangarei by a man resisting arrest Photo: Supplied
Twenty-month-old Caesar was stabbed twice in the head at a Parua Bay home just before 6.30am, by a man who was resisting arrest.
A resident had discovered an unknown man in the house, armed with a knife and packing items into a suitcase.
The man was still at the house when police arrived and Caesar was stabbed while three officers were trying to arrest the man.
The police said both wounds have been stitched up and an X-ray shows no major damage.
Caesar will undergo a CT scan in the next few days to confirm there is no permanent damage around his eye.
Photo: Supplied
Caesar and his handler, Constable Josh Van Der Kwaak graduated from the Dog Training Centre in Trentham on December 6 and have only been operational together for the last two weeks.
Police are hopeful that Caesar will make a full recovery from his injuries and be back on the job shortly.
The Northland District Commander, Superintendent Tony Hill, has extended his sincere thanks to the veterinarian who assisted Caesar and his handler Constable Van Der Kwaak.
He said the service was "simply outstanding".
Mr Hill said he would also like to acknowledge the victim of the original burglary complaint, who assisted Constable Van Der Kwaak after Caesar was stabbed.
A 30-year-old man will face charges of burglary and injuring a police dog in relation to this incident.