Sitting alongside a paralyzed police dog, Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill into law Tuesday that increases penalties, including restitution costs, for people who injure or kill dogs used by public safety agencies.

"An assault on Major is an assault on the integrity of our society and respect for law and order," Dayton said during the ceremony. "Major," he said after signing the law, "you want a pen?"

Major is a seven-year K-9 veteran of teh Roseville Police Department who was stabbed four times on Nov. 12 while responding to a report of a break-in.

Officer John Jorgensen, Major's partner, called Tuesday "a good day, a good day."

Major, a German shepherd, is nearly nine years old "and we hope we'll get a couple more years with him," Jorgensen said. "My family and I are scstatic we still have him."

More than $25,000 has been donated to help cover the costs of Major's care and recuperation, he said, including a two-wheel cart the dog uses to get around.

"He's had the wheels for a couple, three weeks and at first wasn't too sure but figured out this way, he can get longer walks," Jorgensen said. "He still thinks he can get around the way he used to, so he pulls himself on his front legs." It's unlikely Major will ever regain the use of his hind legs, he said.

Dayton had praise for both legislators attending the signing ceremony, and for Major. Referring to the representatives and senators standing behind him, he said he bill is "another example of the bipartisan agreement we can reach." Referring to the dog, he said "Major's doing very well not defacing public property" in the ornate governor's reception room.