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Dog found hanged in bunker
7:19am Friday 13th June 2008
Comments (21)RSPCA inspectors called to an underground lair were shocked to find a dog hanging dead by its lead.
An adult male brown and white springer spaniel was found by a passer-by in a brick-built bunker in woodland, close to Spring Bank Rise in Keighley.
He had been hanged by the neck from a rope lead attached to a choke chain. The lead had been knotted to a bar inside the bunker.
Horrified RSPCA inspectors, who went to investigate, said the dog, which was also suffering a severe skin complaint, would have endured a "slow and painful" death and had been hanging there for about two days.
They were called on Tuesday after a passer-by discovered the body.
It was taken to a vet where a post mortem examination was carried out. The vet confirmed the dog died 48 hours earlier as a result of strangulation.
RSPCA inspector Dave Holgate, who attended the scene, said: "This was a shocking act of cruelty.
"This dog would have undoubtedly endured a slow, painful death and suffered horribly in its final moments. It was a deliberate act - the dogs back legs were touching the ground and it had been supporting itself at the time, so it would not have been a quick death. It would have taken hours to die."
Inspector Holgate warned whoever had carried out the act of cruelty towards the dog could face huge fines of even jail.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a £20,000 fine or both.
Inspector Holgate said: "The dog was not wearing a collar and had a microchip that was not registered so it is impossible to trace an owner at this stage. We're now hoping someone may be able to provide information to help us find who he may have belonged to.
"I urge anyone who saw, heard or knows anything about this disturbing incident to contact us urgently. It is such a ghastly thing.
"I have never come across anything like this in 15 years as an inspector and I hope I never come across anything like this again."
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.
e-mail: marc.meneaud @telegraphandargus.co.uk
Your Say YourBradford Telegraph and Argus
Sassy, Bradford says...
7:29am Fri 13 Jun 08
SB@BD4, bradford says...
8:09am Fri 13 Jun 08
They should be left hanging with just their toes touching the ground beneath them and no means to set themselves free....or is that an infringement on their civil liberties???
Breen, Bradford says...
8:43am Fri 13 Jun 08
Mr T, Bradford says...
9:01am Fri 13 Jun 08
pegger, Bradford says...
9:08am Fri 13 Jun 08
Sue, Bradford says...
10:54am Fri 13 Jun 08
Darren, bradford says...
11:19am Fri 13 Jun 08
pegger wrote:Dog hangings happen all the time in Spain...they also like to throw them out of cars onto motorways, so we aren't that bad yet, I think this is a pretty rare thing for a nation of animal lovers.
what is this country coming to.......... Terrible
albion, west riding says...
11:25am Fri 13 Jun 08
SB@BD4 wrote:It might be, but it would be just deserts.
Sorry, but 3 square meals and a cushy life in jail is too good for the lowlife(s) who inflicted this on a poor defenseless animal. It was obviously going to cost money at the vets if it had a skin problem, so the cheapest option was to 'get rid'. They should be left hanging with just their toes touching the ground beneath them and no means to set themselves free....or is that an infringement on their civil liberties???
Gentleman Jim, Yooohooo over here says...
11:27am Fri 13 Jun 08
Mr T wrote:Whilst not a judgement on you Mr T its a sad indictment that your method is preferable to the despicable act they have committed.
Why couldnt they just abondon it, rather than kill it in such a despicable manner
Bullyrush, Bradford says...
12:27pm Fri 13 Jun 08
blondie, bradford says...
12:54pm Fri 13 Jun 08
mags, bd11 says...
4:36pm Fri 13 Jun 08
prison must really be an easy option for all the monstera out there we need to bring back corporal punishment. all animals and humans alike need respect and to be treat will humanity. god help us!!!!
tinkysmum, BRADFORD says...
5:16pm Fri 13 Jun 08
Bill1, Lancs says...
5:26pm Fri 13 Jun 08
glad 2 b out, yorks says...
5:47pm Fri 13 Jun 08
Bill1 wrote:I agree - the decription is upsetting enough.
Is it really necessary to publish this photo?
Smudge, KEIGHLEY says...
6:50pm Fri 13 Jun 08
Diane Duguid, USA says...
6:57pm Fri 13 Jun 08
SB@BD4, bradford says...
7:16pm Fri 13 Jun 08
glad 2 b out wrote:It is upsetting, but how many people would recognise the breed, whereas seeing the dog is something different. It may just give someone a push in the right direction to shop the lowlife(s), and they may even have other animals which could face the same end. They then deserve to be dragged out from under their stone, face(s) plastered all over the press, prosecuted properly and then be forever looking over their shoulders just in case....some dark night they become the victim of what their unwanted pet got!!!
Bill1 wrote: Is it really necessary to publish this photo?I agree - the decription is upsetting enough.
Respect For All, Keighley says...
8:39pm Fri 13 Jun 08
SB@BD4 wrote:To be fair. It's difficult to tell WHAT breed it is from this photo...i was reading this story this morning with my 4 yr old daughter looking over my shoulder (knowing she can't read). only to be faced with that photo .... she winced and was quite upset by what she saw...it really was uneccessary to actually show the extent of it. to set the scene in words, and show the bar would have been enough.
glad 2 b out wrote:It is upsetting, but how many people would recognise the breed, whereas seeing the dog is something different. It may just give someone a push in the right direction to shop the lowlife(s), and they may even have other animals which could face the same end. They then deserve to be dragged out from under their stone, face(s) plastered all over the press, prosecuted properly and then be forever looking over their shoulders just in case....some dark night they become the victim of what their unwanted pet got!!!Bill1 wrote: Is it really necessary to publish this photo?I agree - the decription is upsetting enough.
glad 2 b out, yorks says...
10:53pm Fri 13 Jun 08
SB@BD4 wrote:And would you recommend a picture of that too?
glad 2 b out wrote:It is upsetting, but how many people would recognise the breed, whereas seeing the dog is something different. It may just give someone a push in the right direction to shop the lowlife(s), and they may even have other animals which could face the same end. They then deserve to be dragged out from under their stone, face(s) plastered all over the press, prosecuted properly and then be forever looking over their shoulders just in case....some dark night they become the victim of what their unwanted pet got!!!Bill1 wrote: Is it really necessary to publish this photo?I agree - the decription is upsetting enough.
The Springer Spaniel that was found dead in the bunker
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Libby T Bodiss, Bradford says...
7:27am Fri 13 Jun 08