Veterinarian 'optimistic' for puppy hurt in troubling video

A puppy that a man tossed into the air and onto pavement in a remote central Manitoba communityis sore and scaredbut recovering, a Winnipeg vet says.

"I'm optimistic for her," Dr. CoreyBartleyof Winnipeg's Dakota Veterinary Hospital said on Thursday before kissing Asha, the puppy, on the head.

Manitoba Underdogs Rescue initially believed Asha was paralyzed after members of the groupdrove more than four hours on Wednesday to Easterville to rescue the dog.

"She came in and she was clearly very unhappy and unwilling to walk When she did try to walk, she was limping on both her right front leg and her left hind leg," Bartley said.

X-rays have since determinedAsha has no major fractures.

"But she certainly does have a lot of soft tissue injury at this point," Bartley said.

And those injuries could mean complications in the future.

"She has a lot of bone growth that still has to happen so her growth plates are still open There is the concern that there may have been some damage to the growth plates that may affect the growth later on," Bartley said.

Young man in custody

RCMParrested an 18-year-old man after a video circulated on Facebookof a manthrowing the puppyinto the air and onto the ground in the community, located 464 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

He has been charged withcausing unnecessary pain and injury to a dog and breach of undertaking, RCMP said Thursday. He remains in custody andis scheduled to appear in court in The Pas on Aug. 6.

Disturbing online video shows a man throwing a puppy

8 years ago

Duration 0:24

Disturbing online video shows a man throwing a puppy RCMP arrested an 18-year-old man after a video circulated on Facebook of a man throwing Asha, a young female dog, into the air and onto the ground in Easterville, Man.

Trust and resilience

Bartley saysAsha'sstory shows that puppies are easy targets for abuse.

"She's a really good example abouthow trusting puppies are and how easy it is to abuse the trust that a puppy will have in people," Bartley said.

"But it's also a really good example of how resilient puppies like this can be."

Puppy hurt in video now on the mend (courtesy: Manitoba Underdogs)

8 years ago

Duration 0:11

A puppy that was tossed into the air and onto the pavement is still rattled by the experience, but is also in better shape than expected.