A Paterson police officer has finally been reunited with his dog after 10 months of being apart.

Jose Galvan's dog Gabbana bit off the tip of a postal carrier’s finger last year at his Vernon Township home.

The dog was ordered to be put down but was given a last-minute reprieve if Galvan made efforts to keep Gabbana from harming others.

An inspector finally approved the pen that Galvan built after several inspections and said that it was OK for Gabbana to return.

The officer says that he is happy that the dog can come home, but says that this whole situation could have been avoided.

“It could’ve been settled back in September when the first court appearance was [held] but animal control wanted right away to put the dog down,” Galvan says. “Then we could’ve settled it when we went to Wantage and they wanted to put the dog down.”

Galvan says that he has spent nearly $50,000 on the ordeal. A lawsuit is still pending.