Stabbed Ed on mend

The two-year-old German shepherd was in a stable condition last night after surgery at Massey University's veterinary hospital. He was expected to spend two days in intensive care.

Ed was stabbed twice in the chest yesterday morning as he tried to stop a man who had stabbed himself during a stand-off with police.

Massey animal surgeon Barbara Kirby said one of the knife blows missed his heart by just one millimetre. The other blow punctured Ed's diaphragm and went into his liver.

Ed lost a lot of blood and received a tranfusion of greyhound blood which was stored in the hospital's blood bank.

Ed's handler, Hastings senior constable Dave Whyte, remained by his side last night.

The dog's full name is Edge, but he is affectionately known as Ed because Edge clashes with the name of his brother �?who is a police dog based in Nelson.

Both animals' police careers began at the start of this year.

Ed was wounded after police were called to a rural property near Maraekakaho where a man was behaving suspiciously.

Senior Sergeant Mike O'Leary of Hastings said the man �?who was wanted on a warrant �?fled across farmland before the dog team found him in a forestry area.

When the man took out a hunting knife and began hurting himself Mr Whyte deployed Ed. The dog was attempting to stop the man injuring himself.

"The guy then put the knife on the dog, striking the dog a couple of times. At least two blows have struck home to the chest area," Mr O'Leary said.

The police dog was left motionless in a pool of blood.

His distraught handler and fellow officers tried to stop the bleeding and comforted the dog.

With Ed's condition deteriorating the Hastings-based Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter was called just before 9am.

Pilot Brent Williams said when they arrived Ed had collapsed, was losing blood and had shallow breathing.

St John Ambulance area manager Stephen Smith held an oxygen mask over Ed's face during the six-minute flight to Havelock North.

Dog supervisor Sergeant Al McRae said Ed was "incredibly tenacious and brave".

"He has already taken on offenders that have been armed and multiple offenders and he has had an excellent tracking rate. He is one of our up and coming young dogs."

A man, 53, was transferred from Hawke's Bay Hospital to Wellington Hospital late yesterday under police guard for surgery

Updates on Police Dog Ed (aka Edge)

Ed (Edge) prior to his attack.
© NZ Police 2006

New Zealand Police are very grateful to all the messages of support from the public extended to Ed and Constable Whyte.

These postings are based on internal Police emails as to progress.

9 June 2006 10.45am

Edge will be released from the intensive care ward at Massey University to return to his handler's home in the Hawke's Bay. The dog's condition improved rapidly to the point where this morning, the specialist veterinary surgeons where happy for Edge to go home. The dog underwent a battery of tests before the medical staff gave the all clear.

Edge will now pass back into the care of local veterinary staff who cared for him immediately after he was injured. He will spend his recovery time with his handler and family at their home.

9 June 2006 8.50am

The blood transfusion from Greyhound 'Happy' has done the trick with Edge's condition improving greatly yesterday. Tests at the end of yesterday revealed a blood count just under normal.

With the greatly improved condition of the dog, a relieved and weary handler, Senior Constable Whyte, was finally able to head to bed. Apart from waking to phone and check on the condition of his dog, the handler got his first full sleep in three days.

So amazing has the rapid recovery of the dog been, he will be well enough to return to the Hawke's Bay later today or tomorrow for a period of convalescence.

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/2451.html

Police pair's heroism wins award

5:00AM Thursday December 13, 2007

Senior Constable Dave Whyte and his dog Edge. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Senior Constable Dave Whyte and his dog Edge yesterday received the Gold Merit Award - policing's highest honour - for disarming a man who stabbed himself before twice stabbing the dog.

The award, given to staff for outstanding work or service, was given to the Hawkes Bay officer at a special ceremony at Hastings Police Station.

Police dog Edge received a citation for bravery and perseverance after being critically injured when he was stabbed by Graham Ashcroft.

Police said Edge continued to fight off his assailant and protect his handler as he bled profusely from stab wounds to his chest and side.

Mr Whyte and Edge were called to an incident at Maraekakaho near Hastings on June 6 last year after reports of a man act acting suspiciously on a farm.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10482037

Top honours for brave cop and his dog