Heartbroken breeder in call to find puppy’s killer

DUNFERMLINE: Woman says she is ‘shocked to the core’ about what happened to Poppy, the five-month-old spaniel who was kicked to death

A Fife dog breeder has spoken of her heartbreak after one of her puppies was kicked to death.

Yvonne Hannah has appealed for the public’s help in tracing a man who is believed to have fatally injured the fivemonth-old cocker spaniel called Poppy.

“I do hope the message stops another dog from meeting this fate,” she said.

Mrs Hannah described Poppy as an “adorable little girl only finding her way in the world”.

She said she reported the attack to Police Scotland yesterday and urged anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

Poppy’s owner, who has not been named, was walking the pup in the Linburn Road area of Dunfermline last Wednesday afternoon when he crossed paths with a man wearing a black jacket who was walking a black dog, believed to be a labrador.

Mrs Hannah said: “He bent down to clean up after her and in the next moment he heard her screaming.

“He ran over to her and at the same time a man wearing a black jacket and walking a black lab was seen walking quickly away.

“The dog was in shock and had suffered blunt forced trauma, resulting in an internal bleed in her lungs.

“He must have kicked her as there was no one else around and nothing else to cause such injuries.

“If anyone does know who this could be, please report them. Poppy died from internal injuries as a result of his actions.”

She said Poppy was on an extendable

“someone who is capable of kicking a five month-old puppy could have tendencies that are terrifying

lead at the time. She must have ran over to greet or sniff at his dog,” she added.

Mrs Hannah, who is a member of the Kennel Club, describes herself as a hobby breeder.

“This is our first litter so all the more heartbreaking,” she said.

“As the person who bred her, we were shocked to the core to hear about what had happened to her, only days before she turned six months old.

“We kept one of her sisters from the litter so we felt it very strongly since we have a cocker spaniel pup of the same age.”

She added: “Someone who is capable of kicking a five month-old puppy could have tendencies that are terrifying.”

Animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA said it had no record of the incident being reported.

Deputy Chief Superintendent Tom Gatherer from the charity said: “We have not been alerted to any incidents of this nature in Dunfermline.

“We urge anyone concerned about the welfare of any animal to contact our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”

Poppy the spaniel pup and, below, Poppy with her sibling Fleur. Her breeder Yvonne Hannah has made a plea for information after somebody kicked Poppy so hard she died afterwards from her injuries.