Calgary police dog will be okay after being stabbed during arrest

Two young men are facing multiple charges, after breaking into a northeast Calgary school, then stabbing a police dog.

It all began shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, when police responded to a break and enter at Grant MacEwan School in Falconridge.

A K9 officer allowed his dog, Jester, to go after the pair.

“The foot chase was very brief,” said Acting Staff Sgt. James Lines. “Both offenders were apprehended very close to the scene, almost immediately.”

But at that point, one suspect started stabbing the dog in the head multiple times.

“Enough that it warranted getting that dog to an emergency veterinary hospital. Thank goodness Jester is going to be fine.”

As Acting Staff Sgt. Lines mentioned Jester is already doing a lot better.

“He is currently been upgraded to stable. He is up, walking around and he’s back with his owner.”

This whole incident is having an impact on the K9 officer, as these animals have a special connection to the force.

“K9s are essentially our partners. So, you know, his partner got stabbed,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Lines. “The K9 handler, I know quite well, and he’s taking it quite hard. But Jester’s going to be fine.”

The suspect who stabbed Jester will face charges under a new section of the Criminal Code, called Quanto’s Law, which concerns attacking a police animal while on duty. That law was created after a police dog was killed in Edmonton, and it’s the first time this charge has been used in Calgary. Under the law, the suspect faces a maximum of five years in jail.

There have been other incidents in the past in Calgary where a police service dog has been injured, but the severity of this case is extremely rare.

One suspect also suffered minor injuries from the dog, but didn’t need to be transported to hospital.

The investigation into the break-in is ongoing, and at this point it is unclear why the suspects went into the elementary school.

Jester is originally from the Netherlands, and according to the Calgary Police Foundation, he attends hundreds of calls like robberies, break and enters, and drug detection.

Acting Staff Sgt. Lines says everyone in the force is pulling for him to get back on the beat.

“We’re hopeful that he returns to full duty.”