Police dog 'Kaiser' stabbed while apprehending suspect returns to duty

Police said Kaiser was lucky to be alive following the attack

Police dog Kaiser has returned to duty after being stabbed in the head (Metropolitan Police/PA)

A police dog has returned to duty just two months after being stabbed multiple times in the head while on duty.

Kaiser, a Metropolitan police dog was left badly injured after trying to subdue a man in Orpington, south London, in June.

He was on patrol with his handler, PC Mark Woolcott, when they were called to a report of an intruder in the back garden of a house on Luxted Road.

Kaiser was stabbed up to five times on the top of his head and once below his eye.

Despite the attack and being heavily injured he was able to keep control of the man for long enough to allow officers to take hold of him.

Kaiser was taken to the vets where it was found the blows to his head had struck bone, meaning he narrowly avoided lasting injury.

At the time, Superintendent Emma Richards, from the Met's Taskforce, which includes the Dog Support Unit, said Kaiser was "lucky to be alive".

Sharing news of his return to duty on Friday, the Sutton Police Facebook page said: "After being brutally stabbed in June, PD Kaiser and his handler PC Woolcott were welcomed back by our Borough Commander Dave Stringer and The Mayor & Mayoress of Bromley this morning.

"Kaiser was absolutely delighted upon receiving a new toy which was gifted to him by The Mayor for his bravery."