Stabbed NZ police dog expected to survive NEW Zealand police have carried a police dog through dense bushland for about 1km after the animal was stabbed as officers chased down an armed man. The dog, Gus, suffered a punctured lung in the incident, which happened in bush west of the city of Whangarei, about 4am local time on Thursday. Gus had to be carried through heavy bush and steep hills for about 1km to get treatment, said Inspector Tracy Philips. "Due to his bravery we averted more serious injury on our police officers," she said. Gus was an armed offender squad dog and was trained to protect his handler. He did just that and has paid the price, but thankfully he has survived. Gus has been flown to a veterinary surgery in Auckland and is expected to survive. Police had been chasing a 37-year-old man who had been reported to be armed and in an agitated state. He'd allegedly stolen a quad bike to escape before ditching it on a farm and making it into the bush. The armed offenders squad and a dog team tracked the man through the bush. They found him, but Gus was stabbed during the struggle. The man was taken into custody. He is yet to be charged with any offence.