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Dog found beaten and burned
A PROBE has been launched after the beaten and charred body of a dog was found in a field on the outskirts of Peebles.
The grim discovery was made by a nearby resident – just weeks after a pet was found with its head bashed in and its throat slit at Midlem, near Selkirk.
Staff from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are investigating both horrors, but say at this stage there is nothing to link the deaths.
Inspectors have branded the second death as brutal and have released shock pictures in a bid to trace the killer. They say the dog’s end would have been extremely painful.
The brutalised body of the adult female Staffordshire bull terrier cross was discovered on Saturday in a field on Venlaw Hill.
The spot is behind a row of houses on the town’s Edinburgh Road – and the SSPCA is hoping someone spotted the dog being dumped after it had been killed elsewhere.
Inspector Bill Little told TheSouthern: “We cannot say at this stage whether she was burned before or after she died. We are currently having a post mortem conducted on the body, which will confirm this for us.
“Not only does she have severe and widespread burn marks on her head, body, legs and paws, but she also has an injury to her face where she may have been kicked, punched or struck with an instrument.”
And the inspector blasted: “This was a particularly brutal and sickening attack that would have caused a tremendous amount of pain and suffering to the animal.”
The area where the mutilated pet was found is popular with dog walkers and is in full view of nearby houses. And, although the area is wooded, the SSPCA is hopeful that someone may have spotted something suspicious.
Inspector Little told us: “There were no scorch marks on the ground where the dog lay so we believe that she was burned elsewhere and then someone carried the body here to dump it.
“We are very keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who recognises the dog.”
The SSPCA is still investigating the discovery of an elderly female black Labrador cross which was found on a country track close to the village of Midlem on March 9.
The semi-crippled animal had been struck several times on the head with a heavy blunt instrument before having its throat cut and left to slowly bleed to death.
After that discovery, Superintendent Mike Flynn of the SSPCA said: “It is beyond belief that someone, who is very likely to have kept this dog as a faithful pet for many years, could have allowed or caused it to die in such horrific circumstances.
“It appears that someone decided that this dog’s time was up and has taken it upon themselves to end her life in one of the most traumatic ways possible.”
Following publicity and the offer of a reward by an animal charity, the SSPCA says it received a good number of calls. But a spokeswoman confirmed: “We have not yet received any information that will enable us to identify and charge whoever was responsible. We are still appealing to the public to contact us.
“There is nothing at the moment to indicate the Midlem and the Peebles incidents are linked.”
Animal charities believe that the current cash crisis may be responsible for owners putting their pets down rather than taking them to a vet for a humane killing.
But the SSPCA points out that causing an animal unneccessary suffering can end with a year in jail, a 20,000 fine – or both. Anyone guilty of an animal cruelty offence can also be given a lifetime ban on keeping animals.
Anyone with information on the Peebles or Midlem deaths can contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline: 03000 999 999.
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Weather for Galashiels
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
