Dog beaten in horrific attack

08.02.10

We have launched an investigation after a dog was found so badly beaten that its skull had been smashed.

The female Staffordshire bull terrier cross was discovered dumped in a field near East Bridgford, near Nottingham, last Thursday morning (4 February). She appeared to have been bludgeoned with a blunt weapon, before being callously thrown over a hedge to suffer a slow and painful death.

RSPCA Inspector Mike Scargill found the dog fighting for life and unable to move when he arrived at the scene, off Kneeton Road shortly before 10.30am. He took the distressed animal to a nearby vet, who made the decision to put the dog to sleep to prevent her further suffering.

A shocking attack

Inspector Scargill said: "You get a couple of cases every year that are so disturbing you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about them. This is definitely one of those cases.

"I managed to take the dog to a vet, but to see her struggling to move in the state she was in was extremely upsetting. Even the police officer who was with me was visibly shocked by what we found.

"A post mortem showed there were no scuff marks on her paws or body, which would suggest she hadn’t been hit by a vehicle. Instead it showed massive trauma to the left hand side of the head, consistent with her being battered by a blunt weapon, like a cricket bat."

The dog was white and tan in colour and thought to be about seven years old. She was discovered by a member of the public who spotted the dog lying next to a hedgerow. They managed to cover her with a blanket, before the police and RSPCA arrived.

Inspector Scargill said there weren’t any footprints around the dog, so it looked like someone had just come along, thrown her over the hedge and then driven off.
 

He added:

If someone can’t keep a dog, for whatever reason, there are plenty of outlets for them to turn to for help.

Can you help?

Inspector Scargill called for the public’s help to find whoever is responsible, saying:

If anybody saw anything, or thinks they know who might have carried out this horrific attack, I would urge them to call the RSPCA immediately and in confidence on 0300 1234 999.

 
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum sentence for causing unnecessary suffering is six months in custody, a ban on keeping animals and/or a fine of £20,000.