Dog stabbed to death in Wheelers Hill backyard

A MAN has described the horror of returning from work to find his dog lying in a pool of blood following a frenzied stabbing attack in his backyard.

UPDATE:

A MAN has described the horror of returning from work to find his pet Labrador lying in a pool of blood following a frenzied stabbing attack in his backyard.

Wilbur, a six-year-old black Labrador, died from 19 cuts and stab wounds in what police say has the look of a personal attack at the property in Wheelers Hill.

Owner Alberto Chavarria was confronted with the grisly scene when he arrived at his Jells Rd home about 6.15pm on Wednesday.

“I don’t know who could do this type of attack. It was a very savage attack,” Mr Chavarria said this morning.

Distraught Wheelers Hill man Alberto Chavarria speaks of the sickening knifing of his black Labrador @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/u1oWhAOudf

— Angus Thompson (@AngusGthompson) December 10, 2015

He said he realised something was wrong when Wilbur didn’t greet him at the door.

“So I looked through the glass door and saw the barbecue was tipped over and Wilbur was lying on the floor.” There were also broken pot plants in the backyard.

Mr Chavarria rushed Wilbur to the vet but his companion of four years was unable to be saved.

He said Wilbur, who trained as an airport sniffer dog, was a loyal and gentle pet.

“Everybody who met him really loved him,” he said.

“He was a really, really good dog to have.”

Detective Senior Constable Warren Atkinson said some of the cuts appeared to have been inflicted with a knife but autopsy results were still to come.

“It’s just vicious, it’s horrible. I have a black lab at home and I hate to think someone could go into someone’s private residence and do this to a family pet,” he said.

Mr Chavarria said he had no suspicions as to who attacked Wilbur and Sen Const Atkinson said police were trying to uncover a motive.

“It does appear to be random, however it occurred in the victim’s backyard, his private backyard, and with the frenzy of the attack it does have the feeling of being somehow personal,” he said.

He said he could only assume someone knew the dog was in the yard.

Police have interviewed neighbours and the RSPCA has also joined the investigation.

RSPCA senior investigator Daniel Bode classed the attack as being in the worst category of animal cruelty and that the perpetrator could spend up to two years in jail.

“To die like this is absolutely horrendous,” Mr Bode said.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au