Const. Darren Smith and city police dog Cora, who was stabbed in December, prepare for her first day back at work Wednesday. (CANDICE WARD/QMI Agency)

EDMONTON -- Memo to would-be criminals: She’s back.

Not even two serious stab wounds to her head could keep Edmonton police dog Cora from continuing to do what she does best — taking a bite out of crime.

The purebred German shepherd, stabbed twice after catching up to a suspected truck thief in late December, returned to work Wednesday with her partner, Const. Darren Smith.

“She’s back on the street, ready to go,” said Smith, 37.

“Psychologically, she shows no indication that anything even happened.”

The only reminders of the attack are a three-centimetre scar between Cora’s left eye and left ear, and another scar on the side of her muzzle.

A five-year veteran of the Edmonton Police Service, Cora was stabbed around 8:10 p.m. Dec. 28 after chasing down a suspected truck thief.

Prior to the attack, police attempted to pull over the vehicle near St. Albert Trail and Yellowhead Trail, but it sped away. The pursuit was called off for safety reasons.

The driver continued barrelling through the city until he lost control of the truck and smashed into two light standards near St. Albert Trail and 118 Avenue. Cora eventually caught up to the man on foot.

But after she locked onto his arm, she was stabbed twice with a screwdriver-type tool, police said at the time.

The crime-fighting canine spent a night at the veterinarian’s office, where she received stitches. She rested at Smith’s Edmonton home for a couple weeks and then returned to the EPS kennels.

Thomas Charles Bull, 27, was charged with dangerous driving, criminal flight, possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of a dangerous weapon and driving while disqualified.

Bull was also charged with wilfully causing suffering or injury to an animal.

cary.castagna@sunmedia.ca