A BRAVE police dog is lucky to be alive after being stabbed as he helped to apprehend a man allegedly involved in a domestic dispute.

Four-year-old German shepherd Zoltan suffered an 8in deep wound that went through his front right leg and into his body, narrowly missing his lungs and causing him to lose 20 per cent of his blood.

In the first incident in which Cleveland Police have used plastic-bullet guns, Zoltan was injured as he tackled a man reportedly armed with knives, in Russell Street, Stockton, on Wednesday night.

He helped police to arrest 39-year-old John McKenna.

Zoltan was given emergency surgery at Copeland's Vets, in Ingleby Barwick, in the early hours of yesterday.

"It is the most extensive stab wound I have ever seen on a police dog, or any dog," said Derek Copeland, 43, who operated on him. "This is an extremely brave dog - but all the police dogs are."

Zoltan is likely to remain at the surgery for three or four more days.

The incident happened after police were called just before midnight on Wednesday to a domestic dispute at the McKenna household.

Mr McKenna's wife Faye, 38, said yesterday that the incident was sparked by an argument with her son Kenneth, 26 and her husband had intervened.

Her daughter Samantha said: "People were coming out of their houses to see what was going on."

A Cleveland Police spokes-man said: "The man appeared outside the house with the knives and permission was granted for a baton round to be used.

"The round was fired and a police dog deployed. The dog was stabbed in the chest and, shortly afterwards, the man overpowered and arrested."

The Police Complaints Commission has been informed.

Police said last night a man was due to appear before Teesside magistrates this morning charged with affray, animal cruelty and possession of an offensive weapon. A second man will appear before the same court charged with common assault.