STOCKTON (CBS13) – In a disturbing story of animal cruelty in Stockton, someone strapped an explosive to a dog and detonated it.

The dog survived the Wednesday morning blast and is being taken care of at Family Pet Hospital. While the veterinarian said the dog was extremely shaken, he said he does expect the dog to recover. CBS13 visited the dog, now named Rocket, on Thursday.

This dog survived after someone in Stockton strapped an M-80 around his neck and lit the explosive. (credit: CBS13)

“This morning we received a call of an animal that was injured in the area of Bianchi and Townehome,” said Stockton Police Officer Joseph Silva on Wednesday.

When officers arrived at Townehome Drive and Bianchi Road at about 11:15 a.m., they found more than just an animal in trouble. It was a dog still smoldering after an explosive device was strapped to its body and lit.

“It’s being described as an M-80 type of device that was strapped to the dog,” Silva said.

The M-80 did not kill the small Daschund mix, but witnesses say the stunned and scorched pooch could hardly move.

“It was a very large open wound with burns, a lot of damage was done,” said Vet Tech Madison Phawn.
Two suspects, a man and a woman, ran from the scene.

Vets stitched a nearly-foot long wound.

“It was a very traumatic experience,” said Phawn.

The explosive charred Rocket’s coat and doctor’s say the explosion may have damaged his hearing.

After an emergency surgery Wednesday night, Rocket is doing better than anyone expected.

“Very sweet and loving, even when he fist arrived he was pretty lovable,” said Phawn.

Police say the dog appears to be a stray with no tags.

The suspects are described as a black man, 25-30 years old, last seen wearing a white t-shirt and gray-black jeans, and a black woman, 20 years old, last seen wearing a gray tank top and blue jeans.

The Stockton Police Department is asking that anyone with information on this crime call the department at (209) 937-8377 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.

RedRover, a national nonprofit animal protection organization based in Sacramento, is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible.

A dog who has been named Rocket is recovering at an animal hospital after someone in Stockton strapped an M-80 around him and lit the explosive. (credit: CBS13)