A Sooke psychiatrist has been charged after his dog was allegedly found dead with a necrotic fetus lodged in its birthing canal.

Dr. Philip Ney, 82, faces a charge of causing an animal to continue to be in distress after the death of his six-year-old mixed-breed dog Star.

According to the BC SPCA, Star gave birth to a litter of 14 puppies in January, but Ney told investigators only five survived while the rest likely died from exposure to the elements.

Following the births, Ney took Star into an emergency clinic where veterinarians told him the dog still had a necrotic fetus inside her, and would need surgery to remove it or she could possibly die.

“Ney disregarded the advice of the veterinarian and took Star home without further diagnostics or effective treatment,” said Erika Paul, a BC SPCA senior animal protection officer.

A volunteer search group found the dog dead five days later on a remote, rural property in Sooke.

The results of a subsequent necropsy confirmed she died with a necrotic fetus still stuck in her birthing canal.

The dog’s abdomen was also found to be full of pus and her uterus had ruptured.

Experts say it’s likely she suffered an “extremely painful death” without the necessary treatment.

Ney, who currently maintains a 3.66 out of 5-star rating on the website RateMDs.com, has practiced as a psychiatrist in the Capital Region and ran in several federal elections as an independent, the most recent being in 2008 in the Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca riding.

He received 309 votes in that election, coming fourth out of five candidates.

He’ll make his first court appearance on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. in Western Communities Courthouse in Colwood.