BRAVE DUKE LIVES TO TELL THE TAIL!
KNIFE YOB PLUNGES A BLADE
A ROBBER plunged a knife into the skull of a hero dog when he sprang to the defence of his owner.
German shepherd Duke was out walking with owner Gino Wensel, 40, when they were confronted by a knifewielding thug.
Duke bared his fangs and growled at the robber who lashed out, driving his knife deep into the dog’s scalp.
Gino was terrified Duke had died but then he saw the blade was moving and realised his canine pal was breathing.
He then rushed him to an animal hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Vets discovered the blade had missed Duke’s brain by a few millimetres and the dog is expected to make a full recovery.
Allan Perrins, of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa, said: “Duke had suffered a very high impact blow that I have no doubt was intended to kill him.
“He was in a critical condition and was close to death.
“He was slipping in and out of consciousness and he was immediately sedated and given pain relief while we carried out an Xray. The X-ray showed the blade had gone in three inches but had bent on entry away from the brain, missing it by millimetres.
Mr Perrins added: “A fraction harder and Duke would have died, but our vet operated immediately and extricated the blade safely and then stitched up the deep wound.
“Incredibly Duke recovered overnight and Gino has already come back for him.
“The fuss they made over each other gives all of us the reward we need for what we do here.
“The guy who stabbed Duke wanted to rob Gino but Duke saw him off.”
Gino said: “Duke was never going to allow anyone to cause me any harm.
“I have no doubt this man was trying to kill my dog. There are very bad men and gangsters round here. Whether he was trying to rob me or attack me I will never know.
“This man probably wanted to rob me but my dog nearly lost his life protecting me.”