Having a pet go missing is stressful enough, but a Nanaimo woman’s worst fears came true when her lost dog was found with bullets embedded in his body.

Tracy Janvier’s dog Jack got loose from her yard and had been missing for five days until Sunday, when a neighbour reported hearing gunshots and the sound of a dog yelping.

The neighbour found the pit bull and brought him to a veterinary clinic with bullet wounds to his neck and the back of his head.

“I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe that somebody out there could be so cruel just to shoot him, like he’s nothing,” Janvier said.

The veterinarian who treated the dog said he sustained entry wounds as well as punctures that could have been inflicted by another dog.

He speculated that somebody may have been trying to break up a dog fight by firing shots.

“Something with enough calibre, and I guess the concern is that’s not a way to break up a dog fight if that’s in fact what happened,” said Dr. Ken Langelier of Island Veterinary Hospital. “Certainly he didn’t have a good day with his multiple punctures, bullet wounds – and yet he was such a sweet dog.”

Jack is now on medication as scar tissue heals over the still-embedded bullet fragments.

“Unfortunately for this dog he’s going to go through a lot of pain and suffering,” Langelier said.

Police are now trying to track down the person who fired the gun.

“We did hear from certain neighbours that there had been two pit bulls,” said Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong of Nanaimo RCMP. “It’s very important that if you do have any information that you do contact the RCMP, as we take these situations very seriously.”

Janvier said she's now stuck with a $700 veterinary bill which she’s unable to pay for.

Anyone who wants to help help can contact the Nanaimo branch of the BC SPCA.

For now, Janvier is just happy to have her best friend back at home.

Though Jack is still skittish after what happened, she said the situation could’ve been much worse.

“I just want to say thank you for those who called and those who were able to help, especially the BC SPCA and the Island Vet,” she said.

As for the person who fired shots at her dog, Janvier had strong words.

“I just want you to know that you shot part of my family, and you should really think about what you do,” she said. “You could’ve taken his life. For whatever excuse you have, there’s no excuse for shooting an animal.”

Those with information on the shooting are asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.