Peterborough dog Ziggy in one-minute crossbow bolt removal operation Published duration 25 October 2014

image caption Ziggy is being cared for in kennels after the crossbow bolt was removed from his head

The delicate operation to remove a crossbow bolt embedded in a dog's head took "just one minute", the RSPCA said.

Staffordshire bull terrier Ziggy was found in remote woodland near Wansford in Peterborough on Wednesday morning.

X-rays showed the weapon had just missed his skull and vital organs.

RSPCA Insp Justin Stubbs helped a vet "slowly, slowly pull the bolt out" of the sedated dog. "It was a heart in the mouth moment but Ziggy is making a fantastic recovery," he said.

The two-year-old dog had been deliberately shot. It was "a very intentional shot at very close range", the RSPCA said.

'Sigh of relief'

It is thought Ziggy only survived by moving his head "at the right time".

image copyright RSPCA image caption Ziggy before and after the operation to remove the crossbow bolt from his head

An examination of his injuries showed Ziggy had been roaming the woods for a few days, "terrified and in complete agony", before being found by two walkers.

Despite having a 50cm (20ins) carbon fibre bolt embedded from one side of his head to the other, Ziggy was still wagging his tail and wanting people to make a fuss of him, Mr Stubbs said.

media caption "The dog is making a miraculous recovery and should be 100% fine very, very soon," the RSPCA said

However, the vet was faced with the task of removing the weapon.

"It had missed Ziggy's brain, ears, eyes and skull bone by millimetres, but X-rays don't show up major blood vessels," Mr Stubbs said.

"It really was a heart in the mouth moment and hoping for the best, but we had everything in place in case anything happened."

image copyright RSPCA image caption X-rays showed the bolt's position, but the vet did not know whether any blood vessels had been severed

When the bolt was slowly inched out, Mr Stubbs, the vet and a nurse realised it had not hit any blood vessels.

image copyright RSPCA image caption Ziggy had been deliberately attacked and left in remote woodland, the RSPCA said

"I don't think anyone took a breath for about a minute. Then there was a collective sigh of relief," Mr Stubbs said.

"It had just gone through soft tissue and didn't even hit muscle."

Ziggy is now being looked after at nearby kennels where he is said to be making "a miraculous recovery".

"He is bounding around as if nothing happened," Mr Stubbs said.

"If ever a dog had a guardian angel, Ziggy had one that day."

The RSPCA is continuing to investigate and has appealed for information about the attack.

image copyright RSPCA image caption The bolt was removed and bagged up for evidence as the RSPCA continues to investigate the attack