An investigation into a fatal attack on a swan at The Causeway in Freshwater has been launched, with Police seeking the owner of the dog that killed the King’s bird.
The attack took place shortly before 18:00 yesterday (Good Friday) and saw a young swan killed and another injured.
It’s understood a black dog – which was being walked by a girl – chased the swans, leading to the fatality.
Tragically, witnesses have described seeing the cob nudging the pen to make it move, but it was lifeless.
Rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“We have received reports of a black dog chasing after swans and killing one of them on open land near Afton Road in Freshwater between 5.30pm and 6pm yesterday (7 April).
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the dog and its owners.
Article continues below this advertisement “Anyone with information or video footage which can aid our investigation can report this to us via 101 or online, quoting 44230137683.”
Swans are considered Royal birds and property of the Crown.
What a coward, not to ‘fess up. Poor young swan (and family).
How does one contact the King to inform him?
Why do we allow anyone to own a dog without vetting, if some people can’t even control their kids, why should they be allowed to own dogs??..
Hang on! We have a tradition of keeping animals, you’d want to take that right away from us? Commie
By your twisted logic, If they can’t control their kids then why should they be allowed to have kids and dogs and were you actually there at the time or are you just commenting because you like to stir things up
Keep your horrible dogs on their leads!
Most dogs are not horrible and neither are their owners but you are the horrible one and making stupid comments helps no one.
Here little doggy, fancy a sausage.
I don’t think it’s the dogs fault. If trained responsably it would not have happened. Most animals instincts is to chase and kill. There is a notice to say keep dogs on leads dogs can not read but owners can. To be fair A morjoriaty of dog owners ignor keep on lead sign. I know this as a fact as I see it everyday. Dog owners should be vetted and a lot of owners definitely should not own dogs ie dogs playing on beaches, leaving dog poo behind, dog bags chucked anywhere. Thankfully most owners are responsible intelligent owners which equates to happy dog happy poeople
Hope the dog ok not lol
Omg dumb and dumber you too need to get a life pair of cleaners get a real job losers
These too can’t evening clean there teeth , one tooth David and Chris i strut toon much
It is time for the killing spree caused by dogs and their owners to stop.
All dogs should be tagged to enable the authorities to identify the killers and then fine the
owners and put the dog down.
So what law do you want changed, or introduced?
The current law states that you must make sure your dog is fitted with a microchip by the time it’s 8 weeks old.
You can be fined up to £500 if your dog is not microchipped.
Unless the dog was actually caught in the act how would tagging help??
Domestic cats kill more birds than any other animal in the UK, even causing the extinction of certain species. If you want restriction or regulation, it’s cats you should be targeting.
Dog person eh?
Fair play, Daniel. Cat’s aren’t native animals anyway, dogs are. I doubt His Majesty will lose sleep. Sad for the swan, but a nipper out romping with a hound is hardly the carnage of Mariupol now is it? Perspective people… A bit of countryside common sense for locals and invaders alike, I fancy, is needed here.
Damn it. This is really bad news, I do hope they track this irresponsible dog owner and throw the book at them.
You used to have to have a license a few years ago if you owned a dog that law needs to be brought back in, and also the dog be chipped and registered to it’s owner. Also a law that the dog is on lead at all times when around other people or animals. All recent attacks on both have been because the dog is not under proper control on not on a lead. Too many low life with vicious dogs as a status symbol attacking things as well. Any dog not under proper control that injures people or kills wild life is dangerous and should be destroyed
So many idiots do not keep their dogs on a lead.
On the spot fines should be issued to owners who do not
control their dogs.
Such a shame for the innocent Swan.
The biggest idiot on here is you
I keep my dog on a lead, unlike idiots like yourself.
You need to be on a lead u idiot
Bring back dog licence’s.
And register all dogs.
No just put the mutt down respect are swans
A dog licence was a meaningless piece of paper
The current law states that you must make sure your dog is fitted with a microchip by the time it’s 8 weeks old.
You can be fined up to £500 if your dog is not microchipped.
Obviously, you have no idea what you are talking about.
And how will a licence help catch a perpetrator?
And all puppies have to be microchipped before they are 8 weeks old, by law.So they are registered.
Damn self entitled dog owners and their stinking slobbering mutts.
Are we waiting until a human is killed by a dog? Or is action going to be taken?
For the most part peoples sentiment is that of being fed up with dogs and the owners.
My sentiment is that you need putting on a lead. Not all dogs are stinking, slobbering mutts and not all dog owners are self entitled. You say, “For the most part peoples sentiment is that of being fed up with dogs and the owners.” Are you speaking for yourself or a made up community?
Dogs kill more people than cyclists. Let’s ban cyclists.
Have you ever read a newspaper or watched/listened to the news? Obviously not, or you would be aware that people are killed every year by out of control dogs
You should be on a lead because by the sounds of it, you’re a slobbering little mutt. You shouldn’t tar every dog owner with the same brush. This dog and more importantly it’s owner are very much responsible and should be punished harshly to put a message out there to other owners but please, don’t be a tool.
I’m sick of reading comments slating dog owners – possibly posted by drug drivers/drink drivers/loud motorcycle owners/cat owners/drunk fighters/horse owners/noisy parrot owners/parents of reckless screaming crying kids that annoy neighbours etc etc etc. I’m a lover of wildlife and am very saddened by news of death of a swan. Also recent news of sheep worrying. And news of dogs getting stuck in mud or running off cliffs. I HATE poo left around and CANNOT understand those who do ‘half the job’ (excuse the pun) and bag it up BUT then hang it in trees/throw it on a hedge!! I often pick up other dogs’ poo as can’t bear it. Perhaps I’m in the minority but please all commenters don’t slate all dog owners the same as others.
loads get killed by dogs ..nothing happens.
So many comments from ‘triggered ‘ dog owners, fantastic, the truth obviously hurts.
You are an ar*****hole as your comment only starts wars between responsible dog owners, of which are the majority, and stupid people like yourself who have nothing better to do. Get real.
It’s never the poor dogs fault, it’s the idiot owners.
So many persons have dogs who cannot look after themself,
yet alone look after a dog.
Isn’t King Charles the owner of all Swans.
Catch the owner of the dog and send them to the Tower
Animal lover as I am and feel for the swan etc..Have moved from London to isle and if this is the headlines for the news on the island get real..Dog kills Swan.. come on.You guys don’t know how lucky you are!!
Hopefully the dog owner will be found and prosecuated ,they should be made to give the dog a lethal injection, !!!!,& be stopped from ever owning a animal again
how’s that the kings bird i thought camilla was his bird…