Hunt is on for man after this picture emerges
Reporter RSPCA investigators are appealing for help after this horrifying picture emerged of a man apparently throwing a greyhound into the North Sea.
The picture taken on Thursday, October 26 by a horrified passer-by appears to show a man throwing a dog into the choppy sea at Steetley Beach, Hartlepool.
The RSPCA is making enquiries into the report and is investigating separate claims men were seen using a rope to drag nine greyhounds through the water on Thursday, November 2.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “We are still making enquiries after we received a report that a group of men with a number of dogs were seen in Hartlepool repeatedly throwing one of the dogs - a greyhound - into the water last Thursday, November 2.
“An inspector attended the scene but the group were no longer there.
“Since then we have been contacted by a member of the public who provided photos of what appears to be a man throwing a greyhound into the water the week before, on Thursday October 26.
“Anyone who may have witnessed either of these incidents, or may have more information, should con- tact us on 0300 1234 999.”
The witness who saw the men pulling dogs through the sea with ropes said: “I spotted the blokes and there were about seven to nine dogs on leads.
“Then as we got nearer I saw there was a big red rope.
“He then walked the dog down the pier, picked it up, got to the end, lifted it up and put it in the water.
“We were just in shock – you hear of people getting rid of greyhounds that way.
“He didn’t pull the dog along, he kept the rope level so the dog had to swim for itself.
“I wanted to say something but my two dogs were with me. He never took his eyes off us.”
Her account was posted on Facebook and sparked shock, although some commenting on the posts believe the dogs could be undergoing a form of hydrotherapy, but the woman found that hard to believe.
She said: “To put dogs in the sea for hydrotherapy – I can understand that.
“I can understand them doing it on a sunny day.
“But I said to my son-in-law that the sea was awful that day.
“I’d never seen the sea so close to the dunes.
“I don’t know how they didn’t get washed off.” EYE WITNESS