EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: This story contains graphic images and descriptions that some may find disturbing.
Kori Bourne, manager of the Hay River Animal Shelter, is expressing outrage after two dogs SA国际影视传媒� Prince and Beauty SA国际影视传媒� were recently injured by rubber bullets.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 someone going around shooting dogs with these (things) and basically the dog is left to suffer,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 went and did some research, and those rubber bullets are meant for bears.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 got me concerned,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 got the NWT SPCA concerned and obviously itSA国际影视传媒檚 got the general public a little concerned too.SA国际影视传媒�
On July 22, Bourne received a call from PrinceSA国际影视传媒檚 owner, who suspected their dog had been shot.
After examining Prince, Bourne saw the dog needed immediate medical attention.
SA国际影视传媒淗e really needed to go to the vet because he had a big wound, a big hole in his chest,SA国际影视传媒� she described.
The owner, unable to afford veterinary care, agreed to surrender the dog to the NWT SPCA, which was willing to pay the costly medical bill.
SA国际影视传媒淚 told them if you really want your dog to live, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to have to do this,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourne.
SA国际影视传媒淲e will do it,SA国际影视传媒� she recalled the owner saying. SA国际影视传媒淲e want our dog to live because we really care about him.SA国际影视传媒�
Prince was then medevaced to YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Great Slave Animal Hospital (GSAH), where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet, thanks to Air Tindi, which agreed to fly the dog free of charge.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just had to get it to the airport,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourne.
She said Prince was SA国际影视传媒渉appy and able to walk around,SA国际影视传媒� before being flown out on July 23.
Bourne later responded to the shooting of a second dog, Beauty, who was found injured by a resident on the KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation reserve on July 24.
Bourne brought her back to the shelter and repeated the process of sending the dog to Yellowknife for treatment.
SA国际影视传媒淪he was stable. She was eating, she was drinking, but you could tell she going through a lot of pain,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was a little nervous that she might succumb to her injuries during the evening, but she pulled through.SA国际影视传媒�
After putting out another appeal for someone to give the dog a ride to the hospital, Air Tindi once again agreed to fly the animal free of charge.
Close call
After veterinarians performed emergency surgery, Bourne was told they removed another rubber bullet SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渢he exact same thing as Prince, and it was two centimetres away from her jugular vein,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourne. SA国际影视传媒淪he was close to not making it but they did the surgery and managed to remove the bullet to save her.SA国际影视传媒�
The pooches are now recuperating. In a July 24 update posted by the NWT SPCA, Prince is seen resting.
SA国际影视传媒淭hank you to Dr. Katie Denroche and staff at GSAH for the medical care for this big sweet guy,SA国际影视传媒� the statement reads. SA国际影视传媒淗e is recovering with his foster mom and doing well so far.SA国际影视传媒�
The NWT SPCA also shared an update on Beauty, writing in a post July 26 that she was recovering.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll of us pulled together to get these dogs up to the vet,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourne. SA国际影视传媒淎ir Tindi agreed to fly them so they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to endure a five-hour drive. Someone found them a ride from the airport to the animal hospital up there, all of that was arranged.SA国际影视传媒�
Bourne noted the NWT SPCA is calling for donations to help pay for the medical bills, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause the surgeries are definitely not cheap.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚f you can donate, please do,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Hay River are investigating the incidents, confirmed Insp. Dean Riou, officer in charge of the NWT SA国际影视传媒檚 south district.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Hay River proactively opened a criminal investigation into the matter. We are still gathering information and no charges have been laid yet,SA国际影视传媒� he stated.
When asked what kind of charges a person might face for committing these actions, Riou stated that it is a crime in Canada to injure or kill a dog but that SA国际影视传媒渆ach situation is unique.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚nvestigators would have to review the circumstances of the incident, including the suspectSA国际影视传媒檚 motivations, intent, etc. to determine the appropriate charges,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淕enerally speaking, Section 445(1) of the Criminal Code creates an offence if anyone kills, maims, wounds, poisons or injures dogs, birds or animals kept for a lawful purpose.
SA国际影视传媒淎necdotally, I am friends with the person who is fostering the first dog that was shot,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淚 have been advised it is doing well in its recovery.SA国际影视传媒�
