A dead dog found on a Vancouver Island beach bound in twine and tied to a rock was euthanized days before and given a burial at sea, according to the SPCA.

The male dog, an older, small blonde and grey terrier, was found washed ashore by beachcombers walking along a stretch of shoreline in Lantzville, near Nanaimo, on Sunday.

The animal was wearing a red body harness and its hind legs were bound to a large rock weighing just under four pounds, according to investigators.

But what appeared to be a horrific case of animal cruelty was actually just the result of an improper burial, according to the SPCA.

Investigators were able to track down the dog's owner, who confirmed the pet had been euthanized by a veterinarian days earlier for old age.

Veterinary records supported the owner's claim, senior animal protection officer Tina Heary said.

The owner said they were giving the dog a burial at sea, and claimed to have no knowledge of proper burial techniques.

Heary said though the investigation has been concluded and no charges will be laid, the SPCA "highly discourages" the public from giving animals a water burial.

"Dogs are injected with a substance that causes death," she said. "In the event that the remains of the pet come into contact with other animals, they are then at risk of harm.”