Retirement now looks rosy for Vancouver Police service dog Teak.

Stabbed by a robbery suspect Friday night, Teak was discharged from the Canada West Veterinary Specialists Sunday morning after undergoing life-saving surgery.

It has been determined the injuries will send the veteran police dog into early retirement.

Teak, an eight-year-old German shepherd, underwent surgery Saturday morning after he was stabbed in the neck while collaring a violent robbery suspect.

His handler, Const. Derrick Gibson said seeing his partner badly cut in the line of duty was very difficult.

“I was in shock,” Gibson of the Friday incident. “You don’t expect your partner to be opened up like that.”

Gibson said miraculously Teak escaped any long-term damage and once the scar from the 30 stitches heals, he will be fine. “He wants to go home he is going to be fine,” he said of the police dog who goes out a hero.

Teak, who recently won an award for brave service, was only a few weeks shy of retirement. The incident began Friday evening when police received a call about a robbery at the Esso gas station at Fraser Street and Marine Drive. The suspect fled after he was scared away by an employee.

Teak and his handler tracked the man to the neighbourhood of 52nd Avenue and Main Street. The handler gave the man a chance to give up, but he chose not to,

Teak jumped on the man and a struggle ensued and the robber responded by slashing the dog.

Gibson said they have been in tough situations before, with Teak there for him when he needed it. “He has saved my life more times than I can count,” he said.

Gibson said he initially did not see the knife that was used on Teak. “During the incident I didn’t realize he was being stabbed,” he said.

A 20-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested and faces charges linked to robbery, weapons offences and assaulting a police dog.

Teak, who has worked for the dog squad since 2007, sleeps at Gibson’s home and was to be retired in a few weeks to live with them.

Last year, he was involved in an arrest in Victoria that left him with injuries after the suspect hit him several times on the head. He received an award from the Lieutenant-governor in November.

The Vancouver police dog squad has 18 handler/dog teams. Eight dogs have died on duty in the past

Canada West Veterinary Specialists veterinarian Dr. Alan Kuzma said Teak is one lucky dog.

“Teak is doing fantastic,” he said of the prognosis for a full recovery.

The knife wound was 10 inches long and besides the 30 stitches, a drain has been put in which will be removed in about four days.

And he feels the major wound could have been fatal. “He is a very lucky dog,” he said “He is a very sweet dog but I wouldn’t want to be on the end of those teeth,” he added.