After being shot and abandoned near Lytton, Leroy the dog is recovering in Victoria

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WATCH: After being shot and abandoned at the side of the highway, a dog is now recovering at a vet clinic in Victoria. Though he is no longer in an immediate danger, Leroy is facing a long road to recovery. Mary Griffin reports. Warning: this story does contain some graphic images.

Dr. Christie MacIntyre slowly walked a dog around the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital’s reception area on Wednesday.

“He’s a mix, yeah. Heinz 57,” MacIntyre said while describing him.

The dog is Leroy, who was a little unsteady following his second surgery this week.

“He has wounds over his neck that are consistent with trauma of some kind,” MacIntyre said about Leroy’s condition.

Found near the highway close to Lytton in B.C.’s interior on Monday, Leroy had a heavy chain embedded around his neck. But that wasn’t the worst of it, according to Penny Stone, executive director of the Victoria Humane Society.

“He was probably taken out there on a chain and shot and left for dead. And unfortunately, it’s not the first time we’ve seen this,” Stone said.

X-rays revealed the extent of the damage, including shrapnel visible all over his neck, and shoulders.

“The wounds are consistent with some sort of trauma around the neck. And there is definitely fragments of metallic material around his skin. Multiple pieces, which are consistent with either pellet or buckshot,” McIntyre said.

“Definitely his wounds show at least five days had gone by prior to him being found, and getting into our care.”

According to the SPCA, it’s not illegal to shoot a dog in B.C. But it has to be done humanely. While the circumstances around Leroy may never be known, he faces a long road to recovery.

“He’s on some pretty heavy duty pain medications. He is quite painful. We don’t know what kind of experiences he’s had in the past so he’s fearful with us handling him at this point. Time will tell as he gets more comfortable with the people who are around him,” MacIntyre said.

The Victoria Humane Society is footing the bill that already is into the thousands. Once his condition improves, foster care is next for Leroy, and then, hopefully, on to his forever home.

Mary GriffinMary Griffin

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