A Labrador puppy suffered repeated stab wounds across his body after he tried to protect his owners from a knife-wielding burglar.
Eight-month-old Toby leapt into action after the intruder broke into the home of owners Jonathan and Samantha Morton.
The normally placid dog, who suffered stab wounds across his chest and legs and a punctured lung during the attack, has received a bravery award for his actions.
Mr Morton, of Barnoldswick, Lancs, said: 'I looked out of the bedroom window and I could see a lad climbing over the fence, so I ran downstairs.'
But by the time he ran down, Toby was already attacking the intruder and had been stabbed.
'I just saw blood on the walls and all over the carpet. I went outside to find Toby on his back legs still trying to get at him,' he said.
Toby collapsed minutes later and was rushed to a vet's surgery for emergency surgery, where he remained for a week.
The intruder was later arrested trying to steal a neighbour's car and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of aggravated burglary.
Police were so impressed by Toby's actions that he was awarded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals' gold award at a ceremony in Blackpool on Thursday.
Mr Morton said: 'We are just happy to have Toby. Normally he would not hurt a fly and is great with children.
'But that night something must have upset him and he was protecting his territory. He has fully recovered now, but still wakes up at the least little thing.'
'The lad who broke in told police he didn't know what was coming at him and he just lashed out.'
Mr Morton, who has a five-month-old daughter, Megan, said he was glad the dog was there to protect the family.
'I'm just glad it wasn't one of the family that was stabbed. Toby was certainly looking after us,' he said.
'Without Toby being there that night, who knows what might have happened.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...g-intruder.html
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