‘He’s more than a working dog, he’s my partner’: Relief as police K9 recovers from traumatic attack

Warrant Officer Damian Theron has breathed a sigh of relief as his loyal police paw pal, K9 Night, recovers after a brutal attack that left the canine officer fighting for his life.

The special bond between handler and dog was put to the ultimate test when Night was violently forced through broken glass during a house robbery arrest, leaving him with severe lacerations to his throat and neck.

“I was overwhelmed with concern. He is more than a working dog; he is my partner,” Theron recalled the moment that he sensed that his partner had been hurt.

For Theron, the incident was about more than just an injured police asset – it was about nearly losing a trusted partner who stands beside him in the face of danger every day.

“This incident only makes a bond stronger between a handler and his K9,” he told The Citizen.

The police K9 is now steadily recovering after helping to apprehend a house robbery suspect in Gqeberha on Monday, in an incident that highlighted both the dangers faced by police dogs and the deep connection they share with their handlers.

House robbery, dangerous midnight confrontation

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, when the Gqeberha K9 unit responded to reports of a break-in at a residence in Providentia around 1.20am.

“On arrival, a private security company had already secured the scene. The members were informed that the owners are out of town, but suspect [gained] entrance at the back of the house where a window was open, they forced the burglar bars open and removed [them],” said police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg.

After receiving permission to enter the premises, Theron issued warnings for any intruders to surrender peacefully.

When no response came, he deployed K9 Night to search the darkened house.

The search operation quickly turned dangerous as officers faced uncertainty about the number of suspects inside and whether they were armed.

“Warrant Officer Theron then utilised his K9 Knight, to search for the suspect. The premises were dark, and at the time, it was also unknown how many suspects were in the house and if they were armed or not,” Janse van Rensburg explained.

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Violent house robbery struggle leads to suspect and K9 injuries

During the search, the 21-year-old suspect suddenly emerged from a hiding place in a cupboard and attempted to escape through a window.

K9 Night quickly moved to apprehend him, but the suspect fought back aggressively.

“The suspect fought with Night, grabbed his choke chain and jumped for a big window,” according to Janse van Rensburg.

“The window broke, the suspect then forced the dog’s head towards the broken glass, resulting in cutting the dog’s throat and neck area.”

Handler’s quick action saves K9 partner

Recognising the severity of the situation, Theron took immediate action to save his canine partner.

“I quickly took control of the situation; I was overwhelmed with concern. I immediately took off my jersey, wrapped it around the wounded area, to minimise the bleeding, and rushed him to Walmer Veterinary Hospital,” Theron recalled.

Janse van Rensburg confirmed that Night sustained two significant lacerations to his throat and neck with puncture wounds.

She said one of his paws was also cut during the confrontation.

Despite these serious injuries, the brave K9 is currently in stable condition and remains under medical monitoring.

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Strong bond between handler and K9

Theron and Night have been working together for just over a year, following the loss of Theron’s previous K9 partner.

“Me and Night are working in the field, for 1 year now. I lost my previous K9 partner, ‘Mufasa’, in 2023 due to cancer.

After the loss of his previous K9, Theron said he went back to Roodeplaat, Pretoria, where he received training for three months in January 2024.

“I was then partnered with my current K9 Night, and from day 1, we formed a strong bond,” Theron shared fondly.

When asked about Night’s return to duty, Theron expressed optimism about his partner’s recovery.

“Yes, I expect him to return to full duty. His recovery has been progressing well. Knowing my ‘Night’, he will be ready and can’t wait himself to return to duty,” he said.

Suspect facing charges

Following the confrontation, the suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of his own injuries before being detained.

“The suspect (21) was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment, where after he was detained at Saps Walmer on charges of housebreaking and trespassing.

He will appear in the Gqeberha magistrate court during the week,” Janse van Rensburg confirmed.

Theron said the courts and the justice department would decide whether the suspect would incur additional charges for intentionally hurting K9 Night.

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Support for K-9 units

K9 officers like Night receive comprehensive support to ensure their effectiveness and safety during operations.

“This includes specialised training for both the handler and dog,” Theron explained.

The Gqeberha K9 unit expressed gratitude to the veterinary team that treated Night.

“Gqeberha K9 want to express their gratitude to Walmer Veterinary Services, Doctor Campher, who acted immediately when he was contacted to assist with the treatment of K9 Night,” said Janse van Rensburg.

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