A dog which was stabbed in the neck has tragically been put to sleep after becoming aggressive towards rescue centre staff.
Aslan the Johnston Bull Terrier underwent emergency surgery after he was found with a 26cm blade lodged in his neck in Edinburgh on January 7.
He was in a stable condition and responded well to treatment but, after being moved to a SSPCA rehoming centre in Cardonald, became aggressive towards staff.
It became “impossible” for the charity’s most experienced team members to interact with the four-year-old dog and he became increasingly out-of-control.
The SSPCA has now put Aslan to sleep after concluding he was dangerous and would not be able to “join the loving home every animal deserves”.
In a statement, the charity said: “At the Scottish SPCA we are proud of our commitment to never put a healthy animal to sleep and every year we successfully help thousands of animals rehabilitate, both physically and mentally, and join loving homes. No matter how long it takes.
“In a very small number of cases we are, however, not able to achieve this happy outcome.
“In these difficult situations we have a responsibility to make the right decision for an animal’s welfare and for the people with whom he or she comes into contact.
“To confine an animal to a kennel for the rest of its life, with little to no interaction with people, is no life at all. This would have been the future Aslan faced.
“It is with a heavy heart that, following consultation with very experienced members of our animal welfare team and our chief veterinary officer, we have had to take the difficult decision to end Aslan’s struggle in life.”
The charity has said it is continuing to investigate what led to Aslan being stabbed in the first place and has appealed for information from the public.
They added: “We know Aslan’s story has touched many people, including our own team, and we are determined that his story does not end here.
“In his time with us, it became clear that he was at his most relaxed in our sensory garden. We are set to expand the garden soon and we will come up with an appropriate, fitting way to honour the memory of Aslan and other animals who find themselves in such a tragic position.
“Although this is heartbreakingly sad, please do remember that Aslan is an exception to the norm. In the vast majority of cases we help animals rediscover their love, confidence and trust in people.
“In the instances when that is not possible, it never gets any easier to accept that euthanasia is the right and proper thing to do.”
by Adrian Hearn