A B.C. dog owner is under investigation after a German shepherd puppy was discovered tied up in a yard with a collar so tight it had become deeply embedded inside a smelly, gaping wound in her neck.
Ten-month-old Wilma was rushed to Island Veterinary Hospital to undergo emergency surgery after SPCA animal cruelty officers rescued her from a Nanaimo property. According to the SPCA, Wilma's 33-centimetre collar was at least 10 centimetres too short for her body.
To view an image of the wound, click here. Warning: This photo is graphic and may be upsetting to some.
"Based on how deeply the collar was embedded into her flesh it would have taken months to reach that stage and the smell of the gaping wound would have been obvious to anyone who came within a few feet of this poor animal," Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations, said in a release.
"It is inconceivable that someone would not have noticed the collar growing into her flesh."
Wilma is now recuperating in the SPCA's Nanaimo shelter, where staff members are describing her as an incredibly loving animal.
"When she arrived into our care she smelled of rotting flesh and blood and was dirty and emaciated," branch manager Leon Davis said in a release.
"You would expect a dog in her condition to be fearful and possibly defensive, but she greeted us with a wagging tail and covered our faces with kisses. She was just so glad to get some attention."
The SPCA is recommending animal cruelty charges against Wilma's owner under the Criminal Code.
Anyone interested in helping pay for Wilma's medical costs can donate through the BC SPCA's website. The young dog will be put up for adoption when she has recovered fully.
