A DOG was thrown into the River Thames with a rock tied to her neck in a suspected drowning incident that has been described as cruel and distressing.
The RSPCA is now appealing for help for its investigation, and said it is possible the dog was pregnant.
She was spotted in the River Thames off Ferry Lane in Wargrave around 4pm on Tuesday, July 25.
RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Holly Walker attended the scene and helped remove the dog’s body from the river.
She said: “This was an extremely distressing find. The poor dog appears to have been cruelly and deliberately drowned with a rock tied around her neck. We don’t know if she was dead before being thrown in the water but the circumstances with the rock tied to her make it suspicious.
“Looking at the decomposition of her body, she doesn’t appear to have been there for very long. Her front feet may also have been bound up as they were tangled in ropes, though we aren’t sure if that happened in the river.
“She was very bloated and there is a chance she may have been pregnant.”
Ms Walker said the public’s help in this case will be vital as the dog was not microchipped meaning they cannot easily identify who threw the animal into the river.
“It’s an unspeakable act of cruelty and I hate to think how this poor pet suffered in the final moments of her life. We hope someone may recognise the dog from the photographs,” she said.
The charity has launched its summer Cancel Out Cruelty campaign to highlight the increase in abuse and abandonments of pets at this time of year. RSPCA figures show the number of animals killed in ‘suspicious circumstances’ increased by 15% last year – 891 in 2022, compared to 775 in 2021.
“This case highlights why the RSPCA has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign which calls on the public to help our frontline staff investigate horrendous acts like this and raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good,” Ms Walker said.
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018. To help support the RSPCA, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/cruelty
The RSPCA has released images of the dog, but Wokingham Today has chosen not to use them.
