HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A senior police officer with the Houston Police Department credit coaching he discovered from Memorial Hermann Life Flight crews for saving the lifetime of his K9 accomplice.

K9 officer Nate was injured when a theft suspect stabbed him throughout a chase on Jan. 22.

“I was thinking, ‘I can’t lose him. I don’t want to lose him,'” stated senior HPD officer Paul Foster.

Foster stated the suspect, later recognized as Ryan Smith, stabbed Nate whereas he was working away from legislation enforcement.

That blade went into Nate’s chest, hitting a number of arteries, however amazingly not hitting any important organs.

Foster used coaching from paramedics at Memorial Hermann’s Life Flight to assist management Nate’s blood loss instantly after the assault.

“I knew I had to slow down the bleeding, knew it probably wasn’t possible to stop the bleeding because of the arterial bleeds that he had. I had to slow it down enough to get him to the vet,” stated Foster.

Foster ultimately received Nate into his police cruiser and rushed him to an emergency veterinarian for surgical procedure.

Now per week later, Nate continues to be recovering however is feeling nicely sufficient to take pleasure in a day within the park. Foster stated Nate is taking it sluggish and can proceed his restoration for a minimum of a month and a half.

“It has been an adjustment, us not waking up early, jumping in the backseat of the car. He knows something is up. He wants to go to work, still has that mentality,” Foster stated.

Foster instructed ABC13 Nate is at the moment strolling about half a mile per day, and he is happy with his restoration thus far.

“This whole incident. I truly believe he saved an officer’s life that day. Without him, who knows what the outcome would have been,” Foster stated.

As far because the suspect, Smith was later launched on bond on these theft fees.

Prosecutors stated Smith was later arrested once more, this time in Austin County, and charged with the homicide of his father, Cameron, whose physique was discovered contained in the household’s storage.

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Investigators suppose that homicide occurred after Smith was launched on bond.