This is the moment animal activists come across a large dog with a crossbow bolt sticking out of its head.

The dog was found disorientated in the suburbs of the city of Ulan-Ude in the Republic of Buryatia in the Russian Far East.

Members of an animal rights group were informed of the incident and arrived on the scene to find the dog with the crossbow bolt protruding from its head.

One group member said the tip had entered a few centimetres under the skin, adding: “The other part of the crossbow bolt (the shaft) broke off when the dog was being taken to the shelter for an operation.”

Animal activists said they pulled the bolt out while travelling to the shelter and that the dog bled from its nose.

A vet checked the animal and carried out a successful operation, and now animal activists are trying to track down the dog’s owners.

They believe the dog is domesticated, as it has been neutered and has a well-groomed coat. However, it was not chipped.

One rescuer said: “You only have to look into the dog’s eyes, he does not understand what happened, he is hurting. The metal tip went in several centimetres deep and another part of the crossbow bolt broke off while we were taking the dog to the shelter for surgery.

“The person who shot the dog lives among us. They sleep in a warm bed, eat nice food, drink plenty, and can just as callously pull the trigger again.”

It is unclear if activists reported the incident to the local authorities.