A POLICE dog who was forced into retirement after being attacked in the line of duty has been put down after injuring an officer who adopted him.

Max, a Belgian Shepherd, worked across Lancashire for five years where he traced burglars, searched for missing people and tracked down stolen property However earlier this year, while helping to catch two burglars, he was set on by a pit bull terrier, which bit his leg and neck and left him frightened of meeting new people.

On June 5, Max injured his new owner, a serving community police officer from Chorley, leaving them requiring hospital treatment for a facial injury.

Speaking after the dog was forced to retire, his long term handler, PC Jon Kelly described his despair on how the incident had affected his canine partner.

He, said: “While he was helping to catch two burglars, he was set on by a pit bull terrier, which bit his leg and neck.

“I am heartbroken that Max's working life has been cut short by such a violent and horrific attack.

“Max was simply doing his job and without any reservation, if he had not been present, I would have sustained lifechanging injuries. As his handler, I was Max’s world. He was 100 per cent a one-man dog.

“We formed an extremely close bond, working together every day for five years.

Max had worked on jobs including the EDL protest in Blackburn in 2011.

PC Kelly added he hoped to raise money for the Retired Police Dogs Benevolent Fund.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “We can confirm that an off-duty police officer was bitten by a retired police dog in their care.

“The dog had been adopted as a family pet.

“The officer required hospital treatment for an injury to the face and is currently off work.

“The dog has now been destroyed.”