Dog found severely burned in Pickering
07/18/2012 | Marcia Chen, CityNews.ca
A Shih Tzu named Rotti was brought to the Humane Society of Durham Region in Whitby on July 10, 2012 with burns to about 50 per cent of his body. ROGERS
Animal welfare officers are investigating after a Shih Tzu was found severely burned behind a supermarket in Pickering last week.
A passerby said he found the dog tied to a garbage can behind the No Frills on Kingston Road and brought him to the Humane Society of Durham Region in Whitby on July 10 covered in bandages.
He had burns to about 50 per cent of his body, which vet Cheryl Birss believes may have been caused by hot liquid.
“He was in a lot of pain as you can imagine having that kind of injury for a few days,” she said.
“We did do surgery … and started bandaging him. We’ve been managing him on pain medication and antibiotics.”
Ontario SPCA officer Debby Houghton said it’s one of the worst cases of animal cruelty she’s seen in her 22 years on the job.
“I can’t believe this dog has survived,” she said.
“It’s a trooper. It’s walking now. It’s eating. It’s incredible — the will animals have sometimes to live.”
The original owner of the dog — who was tracked down using the dog’s microchip implant — said she gave him away to new owners and he had apparently run away from them.
An unknown period of time passed and then the dog, named Rotti, was found in his current condition.
Houghton is asking any witnesses, including the person who brought him in, to call her at 905-665-7430, ext. 225.
“We would like to find the individual that was responsible for this,” she said.
Under the Provincial Animal Welfare Act, anyone who harms an animal could be jailed for two years and fined as much as $60,000.
Dog found severely burned in Pickering - CityNews
Dog recovering after burns to half his body
July 18, 2012
A Shih Tzu is recovering at the humane society in Whitby after receiving burns to half his body and being left next to a dumpster behind a supermarket in Pickering on July 10.
Dog recovering after burns to half his body
