Four teenagers are due in court after an assault involving a man and a dog in Bangor, Co Down on Friday.
The founder of K9 Search and Rescue Ryan Gray and his trained dog Max were attacked by a group of young people on the High Street.
Mr Gray and Max were part of a rescue team sent to Adana, Turkey in 2023 to search for survivors after an earthquake.
A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old-boy have both been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
A boy, also 15, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.
A 16-year-old girl was charged with affray and common assault.
In a statement, the PSNI thanked members of the public who helped them with its investigation.
"The investigation is ongoing and further arrests will be made when the other suspects are identified," it added.
It comes after detectives received a report at around 7.50pm on Friday night of an ongoing fight involving a number of youths and a man.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw a number of young people running off, most of them dressed in dark clothing.
A spokesperson said: "It was reported that, following a verbal exchange with approximately 15 to 20 young people as he was walking up the street, the man was punched to the face multiple times by a number of the youths.
"His dog was also kicked a number of times."
Yesterday, K9 Search and Rescue NI confirmed the pair "were viciously assaulted in Bangor last night whilst off duty and socialising".
"Our member has received treatment at A&E, and the dog has been assessed by a vet," it said in a post on Facebook.
MP for North Down, Alex Easton said he was "absolutely appalled at the vicious and cowardly attack on K9 Search & Rescue NI founder Ryan Gray and his dog Max in Bangor on Friday evening".
Mr Easton said Mr Gray "gives his time selflessly to help others through search and rescue work, often in the most challenging of circumstances".
"For him to be subjected to such a brutal assault, alongside his trained dog, is both shocking and deeply disturbing," he said.
"The fact that Max, a trained search and rescue dog, was also kicked and injured makes this incident all the more sickening," the MP added.
He wished Mr Gray and Max a speedy recovery.
