Appeal after dog ‘picked up by its ears and slapped’

AN animal welfare charity is investigating reports that a Yorkshire terrier was picked up by the ears and slapped in the face in a Dundee park.

Yvonne Mannion, 55, was walking her husky near to the tennis courts at Camperdown Park with her husband when she claims the incident took place.

The fawn terrier had crossed a road within the park before one of the party shouted on it to come back, Yvonne said.

A man wearing a white T-shirt then picked the terrier up by its ears and proceeded to slap it across the face, she added.

She said four men and a little girl who were with the terrier were about to enjoy a barbecue near to the tennis courts in the park as the incident took place.

Yvonne said: “I was absolutely sickened by what I’d seen.

“There was no reason for that reaction — after he struck the dog, you could hear it yelp.

“The owner forced it up on its back legs and forced it up against a picnic table. “The dog looked terrified. “I did say something to the owner but the group had foreign accents and I don’t think they fully understood what I was saying.”

Yvonne said she contacted the Scottish SPCA before putting a post on social media to try to track down the owner.

She added: “There were four men and a little girl — it appeared they were j ust setting up f or a barbecue when I contacted the Scottish SPCA.

“None of the rest of the group batted an eyelid when the man struck the dog.

“In my opinion, based on what this person did, he shouldn’t have a dog — there was no reason to warrant that reaction.

“If the owner is tracked down, that dog should be taken away from him.

“When I put the post up online, some people asked why I didn’t pick the dog up, but I didn’t want to put myself in danger.”

Inspector Alastair Adams from the Scottish SPCA confirmed the charity is investigating the report.

He said: “We were alerted to an incident regarding a Yorkshire terrier at Camperdown Park on Sunday.

“We have been unable to trace the owner involved and ask anyone with information to contact our animal help line on 03000 999 999.”