This dog has miraculously survived being stabbed in the head by a gangster who thought it was going to attack him.
Four-year-old Duke had a steak knife plunged 5cm deep in its frontal sinus area, cracking its skull, but fortunately missing his brain by a mere 2cm.
The owner of the German Shepherd says not only is his dog gentle, but it was on a leash and the skollie was in no danger of being bitten.
Gino Wentzel, 40, says on Tuesday he took Duke for a walk in the direction of the Town Centre in Mitchells Plain when they were confronted by a gangster in a lane.
Gino says their daily lunchtime routine turned into a nightmare when the thug became frightened when Duke started growling at him, and pulled out a knife and stabbed the dog in the head.
MIRACULOUS: The knife had missed Duke’s brain by 2cm. Photo: SUPPLIED
“I took him for his daily walk,” explains Gino.
“We usually walk across the soccer field and on Tuesday we were walking in the direction of the Town Centre.
“We were in a lane when we came face to face with this gangster.
“Duke growled at him because he could sense that he is a dangerous person.
“The gangster took out a knife and stabbed my dog in the head.”
Gino says both he and Duke panicked.
Duke ran for a few metres with the knife stuck in his head and collapsed near a primary school.
Gino says he couldn’t believe Duke had survived the attack as the serrated blade was stuck about 5cm in his head.
He immediately called a friend and they rushed Duke to the Animal Welfare Society in Philippi where Duke was treated.
Wednesday, he got to see Duke for the first time after his ordeal.
“When he saw me, he began to cry. He wants to come home because he is a dog that sleeps inside the house and is very gentle,” says an emotional Gino.
BETTER DAYS: Duke, four, before the attack. Photo: SUPPLIED
Allan Perrins, Resource Development and Communications Officer at the Society, says their team did a splendid job in saving Duke’s life.
“Duke arrived around 3pm with a knife deeply embedded in his skull,” Perrins says.
“Seconds seemed like hours and with Duke lapsing in and out of consciousness our Head Veterinarian very quickly concluded that if we were to save him the knife needed to be extracted urgently.”
He says an X-ray was done to see what damage the knife had caused, and how to safely remove it without causing any further damage.
“Our veterinarian was able to safely remove the knife and, much to everyone, and especially Gino’s relief, announced that Duke would be very sore but fine.”
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