Dogs are one of the most devoted creatures, capable of showering you with unconditional love. They are not only loyal to, but also protective of the families in which they live.

A German Shepherd recently saved its owner from robbery and nearly lost him in the process. The incident occurred in South Africa when Gino Wensel went for a walk with his dog, Duke, according to Mail Online.

A few minutes later, however, he noticed a man approaching him with a knife in his hand. When Duke saw the robber, he started growling at him. To stop it, the robber stabbed Duke in the head, seriously injuring it.

Duke, on the other hand, did not back down and kept barking at the robber, scaring him away before collapsing in a pool of blood. Wensel thought he’d lost his dog until he noticed the warrior was still alive.

With the assistance of a friend, he drove Duke to the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWSSA). The knife’s blade miraculously missed Duke’s brain by millimetres, and the vet at the clinic saved him. Duke’s treatment was free of charge because Wensel was unemployed and had very little money.

“Their bond is so special, and to be able to save Duke and give him back to Gino was just wonderful,” said the hospital’s doctors.

Here’s a cute video of the Duke and Wensel reuniting: