Dog victim of brutal attack

Press, 1 December 1983, Page 3

Dog victim of brutal attack

A young dog was the victim of a brutal stabbing in Christchurch yesterday. The badly injured dog was found wandering in a dazed state in Olliviers Road, Linwood, late yesterday morning. A knife, with a 13cm blade, was lodged up to the hilt in the dog’s back.

The dog, which is believed to be two or three years old, was found by two women, who took him to a veterinarian, Mr David Marshall.

Mr Marshall said the dog’s injuries were “horrific.” “I could not believe it when I saw him. I have never had anything like this before,” he said.

An X-ray showed the dog was haemorrhaging and had air in the chest. However, the injury was not as bad as

it could have been because the knife entered the dog’s back on an angle. If it had gone straight in it could have penetrated the lungs. Mr Marshall performed surgery to remove the knife early yesterday afternoon. By the evening the dog’s condition had begun to improve and he was able to drink. Mr Marshall said he was expected to recover.

There was no clue to the identity of the dog’s owner or attacker. The dog wore a green studded collar, but did not have a registration tag.

The knife had a very sharp, curved blade and had the number, 3575, stamped on.the handle.

Mr Marshall reported the incident to the police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.