Brave Oscar’s lucky escape

Police dog Oscar’s concerned handler, Const Mnqobi Gabela, kneels by his canine partner after the dog was shot in the upper jaw by a suspect the police dog was chasing on Tuesday morning

Empangeni Dog Unit’s prize Rottweiler, Oscar, narrowly escaped death on Tuesday when the suspect he was chasing fired a bullet straight at the canine’s head. The bullet entered the dog’s upper jaw and lodged in the bone below his eye. ‘Oscar is lucky to be alive,’ said Zululand Veterinary Hospital vet, Leoti Morkel. According to SAPS Spokesperson for the Empangeni District, Capt Mbongeni Mdlalose, the incident occurred on a farm just outside Empangeni where workers had chased and cornered three suspected armed robbers in the sugar cane. Police were called in to root out the suspects. During the chase a suspect shot at Oscar before disappearing into the cane. The dog was rushed to a local vet for emergency treatment. Returning to the scene a few hours later, members of the Dog Unit spotted one of the suspects. ‘The suspect opened fire, which was returned by police. The suspect was shot in the leg and arrested. ‘He will appear on charges of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious injury to property (for the shooting of Oscar), and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition,’ said Capt Mdlalose. Oscar stayed at the Zululand Veterinary Hospital overnight and was discharged on Wednesday in good health.