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Stabbed Police Dog Awake After Surgery

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A Roseville police dog stabbed Friday morning is feeling a little better Saturday, according to police.

In the course of investigating a rash of car break-ins at a Maplewood business, Major was helping officers look for suspects when he was stabbed.

Major has regained consciousness after surgery and is getting some of his energy back. There is still some air in his chest cavity, so he still has a chest tube in place. He is still in stable but critical condition. It looks like a bladed weapon damaged at least one of his vertebrae, causing partial paralysis.

Maplewood police were investigating car break-ins at the Truck Utilities Company near Highway 36 and English Street. They had set up a "bait car" that would alert police if it were broken into.

Officers were notified of a break-in, arrested two men and called Roseville police for backup.

They believe one of the three men arrested, Roel Perez of Maplewood, had hidden with a crowbar and stabbed Major.

"He was secreted in an area and we think ambushed Major when he came in," said Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig.

Another dog from a different department eventually led police to Perez. That dog had bitten his leg and police believe Perez had bite marks from Major all over his arms.

Major had lacerations on his head, neck and chest and was brought to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital. He had blood and plasma infusions as soon as he arrived.

The other two men were identified as Ryan Dorner of Mahtomedi and James McBain, also of Maplewood.

Major and his handler had just been honored Thursday night with a public safety award from North Memorial Medical Center. A man had tried to drown Major several times in a lake near Roseville in July.

He is a 9-year-old dog and has been with the police department for 7 years.

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