A German shepherd is recovering after falling out of the bed of a pickup truck and getting dragged on the road.
RCMP were alerted about the incident by a witness and they found the owner and the dog, Heidi, on the side of the road.
BC SPCA says Heidi was in critical distress and was seized and taken to a veterinary hospital where she was immediately admitted for surgery. The dog stayed at the hospital for three and a half weeks, getting around-the-clock bandages and pain management.
BC SPCA senior officer protection and stakeholder relations Eileen Drever says the incident would have caused a lot of psychological pain.
“When I first saw the pictures of Heidi’s injuries, I was shocked. Her paws and lower leg were worn down to the bone. The physical and psychological pain that this kind of tragic event would cause is unimaginable,” said Drever.
“Transport of an unsecured pet in the back of a pick-up is illegal, but as Heidi’s case shows even tethered transport poses serious risks. The best and safest way to transport dogs is always inside the vehicle, preferably with a harness made specifically for travelling in a vehicle.”
Heidi is now at BC SPCA’s Nanaimo animal centre, staff are wishing her a speedy recovery and she will be up for adoption in mid-December.
The BC SPCA covered all the costs of her treatment.
