A three-year-old dog is recovering from emergency surgery after being found bound, stabbed and horrifically beaten in Surrey.
Ryan Westaway said his black Lab Ryder went missing from their property in the Chimney Heights neighbourhood Saturday, after his young son let their pet out into the yard.
Despite a report he was seen close to a nearby school, efforts to find him were unsuccessful.
“We drove around the neighbourhood and we couldn’t find him. We called the SPCA, we called the humane society. We thought he may find his way back,” Westaway told CTV News.
Surrey RCMP say they found the dog at a home on 146 Street after receiving a 911 call very early Sunday morning claiming a woman had been attacked by a dog.
Mounties say they arrived at the home’s basement suite to find a woman covered in blood, but realized quickly it was the canine’s, not hers.
“We found that the dog didn’t attack her, but more the other way around. We were able to link that female to the injuries suffered by the dog,” said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Bert Paquet.
Ryder was found inside the suite beaten, and it appeared the dog was stabbed in the face and eyes.
“The dog showed obvious signs of injuries, having been stabbed multiple times,” said Paquet.
Mounties say jewelry had been shoved into its eye sockets and eyelids. The dog suffered many cuts on the inside of its throat, injuries consistent with someone forcibly shoving items into its stomach.
A 24-year-old woman was taken into custody and is now undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. A four-year-old girl inside the suite was removed and is now in the care of the ministry of families.
After an x-ray revealed a plethora of items inside his stomach, Ryder underwent emergency surgery.
His stomach contents included four lighters, a fish hook, USB card, a coin, multiple metal jewelry pendants and several raisins, which can be toxic for dogs.
Westaway, who only moved to Surrey several weeks ago, said he’s relieved his beloved dog is found, but he’s still in shock that someone could inflict such horrific injuries.
“I was shocked beyond belief. It’s unbelievable what was in his stomach,” he said. “Who would do this? Who is this person?”
He said Ryder recognized him instantly when he arrived at the vet clinic, but that the dog was in acute pain.
“When he heard me he instantly came to me, but his eyes were swollen shut. He was in such bad shape,” he said.
“He had a wedding ring inserted into – jammed into – his eyelid. He had lacerations with a knife through his throat.”
No criminal charges have been laid, and the woman does not have a criminal background.
The BC SPCA said it will recommend animal cruelty charges to the Crown.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Scott Hurst
