Police dog Oliver recovering at home, expected to return to duty

Oliver is the rookie dog on the Saskatoon police force, but he has the battle scars of a veteran.

The police service dog is on the mend after being stabbed following a chase Wednesday.

“Oliver has been discharged from hospital and is at home recovering with his handler,” Deputy Chief Mitch Yuzdepski said Thursday on the Brent Loucks Show.

“For the next 36 to 48 hours, he’s going to require around-the-clock care. That care will be provided by his handler, but he is expected to make a full recovery and return to active duty.”

The chase, involving a stolen truck, ended near Highway 16 and Dalmeny.

After the truck got stuck, the driver fled and was found in deep snow, where he stabbed Oliver multiple times in the face.

Oliver was rushed to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan for emergency treatment.

Yuzdepski said it could have been worse had Oliver not been wearing a Kevlar vest.

“The handler initially thought the person was simply punching at the dog because he couldn’t see a knife in his hand,” Yuzdepski said. “The person was stabbing the dog and (Oliver) suffered a number of facial injuries.

“It did appear that there was at least a couple of attempts. From looking at the vest, (there were) a couple of strikes and that vest likely prevented further injury.”

Oliver and his handler are a new canine team on the street, having just finished their training in August.

As a former handler, Yuzdepski knows the emotional toll an experience like this can have on an officer.

“The bond is incredibly close,” he said. “My first dog I actually had to put down for medical reasons and it was really one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the force for me.”

The 32-year-old driver of the vehicle is facing numerous charges, including possession of a dangerous weapon, dangerous driving and a charge under Section 445 of the Criminal Code called Quanto’s Law, which prohibits the killing or wounding of animals that have been trained and are being used to help law enforcement officers.

That offence carries a mandatory minimum six-month prison term.

A 31-year-old woman was also taken into custody. Police did not say if she was facing charges.