A German shepherd suffered significant injuries after it fell off the back of a vehicle it was tethered to and was dragged, says B.C. SPCA.

Heidi suffered 鈥渄evastating injuries鈥� due to the incident, the SPCA said in a press release. RCMP were notified of the incident by a witness and found Heidi on the side of the road 鈥渋n critical distress.鈥� The dog was rushed to a veterinary hospital and promptly admitted for emergency surgery. The incident took place Oct. 9 in Duncan, Cpl. Alex B茅rub茅, RCMP Island District spokesperson, told the News Bulletin.

In the press release, Eileen Drever, B.C. SPCA spokesperson, said she was shocked to see the dog鈥檚 injuries as its 鈥減aws and lower leg were worn down to the bone.鈥� The physical and psychological pain would have been 鈥渦nimaginable,鈥� she said.

鈥淭ransport of an unsecured pet in the back of a pickup is illegal, but as Heidi鈥檚 case shows even tethered transport poses serious risks. The best and safest way to transport dogs is always inside the vehicle, preferably with a harness made specifically for travelling in a vehicle,鈥� Drever said in the press release

Heidi is at B.C. SPCA鈥檚 Nanaimo animal centre and is expected to be up for adoption by the middle of December.

Heidi was in hospital for more than three weeks and received medical attention around the clock, noted the press release, with the treatment plan ongoing, changing as injuries heal. Drever said Heidi is warming up to humans again.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy to say, she鈥檚 recovering nicely,鈥� Drever told the News Bulletin. 鈥淧sychologically, it will take some time, but she is coming around.鈥�

Seyed-Amir Jozi faces charges in the incident, including causing injury to animals being conveyed. Jozi is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, Dec. 6, at B.C. provincial court in Duncan, according to B.C. Court Services.

B.C. SPCA is covering all of the costs of Heidi鈥檚 treatment, said the press release. To assist, please go to .

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