A manhunt has been launched for a person who shot a puppy with a crossbow and then chained her up on the side of the road.
The ten-month-old Belgian Shepherd – called Nala – was found with the bolt in her leg by a passerby by the side of a road last week.
She was rushed to a vet and survived after the bolt was removed. She continues to make good recovery.
The pup was found at the junction of the Sibsey Road and Pilleys Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire last week when the RSCPA were alerted.
Animal rescue officer Dan Holman said: ‘She is a very friendly dog and it is heartbreaking that she has gone through such a horrific experience.
‘We just don’t know why someone would do this to an innocent animal. The vets removed the bolt from her leg and she is making a good recovery.’
‘Despite what she’s been through, she is a friendly dog and loves being told she is a good girl. She absolutely adores head and ear scratches too,’ he added.
Her microchip revealed her name was Nala. The RSPCA has followed up the details on the chip but haven’t been able to find the owner.
Mr Holman added: ‘Because we don’t know where she came from, we’re appealing to the public for help.
‘If you have dashboard footage from the area from that day we’d be grateful if you got in touch. She was found at around 7.30am on September 17, next to the river on the road, near to the golf course.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA’s appeals line.
Weapon attacks on animals have become more common – with the RSPCA seeing a 23% uptick in reports about the number of animals targeted last year, compared with 2022.
Last year, the RSPCA received reports about 370 animals being targeted by weapons, up from 300 in 2022.
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