Dogs are one of the most faithful animals, capable of filling you with unconditional affection. They are not only loyal, but also protective of the families in which they live.

A German shepherd recently rescued his owner from a robbery and almost killed him in the process. The event happened 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 guy approaching him with a knife in his hand. When Duke noticed the thief, he began to scold him. To stop him, the robber stabbed Duke in the head, seriously injuring him.

Duke, on the other hand, refused to back down, barking at the thief and scared him off before dying in a pool of blood. Wensel took his dog for dead until he noticed that the warrior was still alive.

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

“Their love is so important, and to be able to save Duke and give him back to Gino was absolutely great,” said specialists from the hospital.