Feb. 8, 2007, 1:52AM
Suspect bites New Zealand police dog; dog bites back

WELLINGTON, New Zealand � Man bites dog; dog bites back.

An Alsatian police dog named Edge cornered two suspects on a cliff side after a grocery store robbery in Napier, police said Thursday.

One of the suspects leapt down the slope and landed almost directly into the hands of police officers waiting at the bottom. The other suspect, who was armed with a knife, took on Edge and bit the dog in the struggle.

"He bit the dog first," Detective Sergeant John McGregor told The Associated Press.

Edge was unfazed, sinking his teeth into his attacker.

"The dog did win the fight, the offender ended up with one or two lacerations," McGregor said. "I think he knew he was going to get bitten � so he bit the dog first."

Two men were arrested and appeared in Napier District Court Wednesday, charged with aggravated robbery for the attack on the grocery store on Tuesday, during which the owner was stabbed. They were ordered to remain in police custody until Feb. 21.

Edge underwent emergency surgery last June after an offender stabbed him in the chest with a hunting knife. After surgery and a blood transfusion, the dog made a complete recovery.