A PUPPY who scared off a knife-wielding burglar, despite being repeatedly stabbed, has been given a medal for heroism.

Toby the labrador is a ‘playful companion who wouldn’t harm a fly’, according to his owners Jonathan and Samantha Morton, of Lower East Avenue, Barnoldswick.

But when an intruder broke into their home, in the early hours, Toby snapped and chased away the burglar.

During the incident, the eight-month-old pup was stabbed in the chest and legs by the burglar, with one blow puncturing a lung.

But despite his injuries, Toby held his ground. When Jonathan arrived downstairs, a still-bloody Toby had his paws on the back fence, barking as the would-be thief fled into the night.

Toby collapsed immediat-ely after the confrontation and needed emergency surg-ery. He was left to recuperate at a veterinary hospital for just under a week before being allowed home Jonathan said: “We are just happy to have Toby. Norm-ally he would not harm a fly and he is great with children.

“But I think something on this night must have upset him. He has recovered now, but will still wake up at the least little thing.”

Jonathan, 23, an engineer with Skipton-based Silver-cross Prams, said: “The lad who broke in told police later that he didn’t know what was coming at him. He just lashed out. I’m just thankful it was not one of us. I looked out of the bed-room window and I could see a lad climbing over the fence, so I ran downstairs.

“When I got downstairs I just saw blood on the walls, and all the way down the carpet, then went outside to find Toby with his paws on the back fence, still trying to get him.”

Following the botched burglary, which happened when the couple were stay-ing in Leconsfield Barracks, near Beverley, North York-shire, the intruder later returned and tried to steal a neighbour’s car. He was detained by Jonathan, after a struggle, until police arrived to arrest him.

Later the man was jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of aggravated burglary at the Morton’s home in June 2007.

Police were so impressed by the dog’s bravery they later nominated Toby for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals’ gold award, which he and the Mortons collected in a ceremony in Blackpool yesterday.

The couple, who now have a five-month-old daughter, Megan, invited their whole family to share in Toby’s big day.