A Surrey, B.C. woman has been charged with animal cruelty after a labrador retriever was stabbed, beaten, tortured, and left for dead.
The three-year-old dog named Ryder went missing from his owners' home in the Chimney Heights area in February. RCMP found him a day later in a Surrey basement.
Ryder had his mouth taped shut, and was badly beaten.
A veterinarian's exam uncovered that the dog had been repeatedly stabbed in the face with scissors, and jewelry shoved and pierced into his eyes, according to his owner Ryan Westaway.
Lighters, a fish hook, and other objects were removed from Ryder's stomach during surgery.
At the time, police found Lindsey Susan Hirtreiter covered in the dog's blood and took her into custody for a psychiatric evaluation. A four-year-old girl was also removed from the house by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the BC SPCA said in a media release this week.
Hirtreiter faces two counts of animal cruelty. If found guilty, she faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $75,000, and a lifetime ban on owning animals.
Ryder is said to be recovering well after the attack, but he's still on medication, reported CTV News.
An online fundraising campaign collected $30,000 to help with the dog's medical bills.
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