Plea to control dogs after swan killed on beach

Whatdo youthink?

A TAYSIDE woman has urged dog owners to keep their animals under control after witnessing the horrific sight of a swan being savaged on a busy local beach.

Cath Young and her husband Everett could only watch helplessly from their seafront home as the large dog attacked the protected bird on Monifieth beach, leaving it to be carried away on the tide.

Police have been informed about the incident and Mrs Young said the gruesome spectacle had been a “vicious, nasty attack”.

She said the dog, a large, tan-coloured hound-type animal, ran into the large number of swans that are around the area at present and attacked its victim before eventually returning to its owner’s command.

The female owner did not approach the dead or injured bird, according to the witness.

Mrs Young said: “There are such a lot of swans down there just now, probably more than 100 at times.

“We were on our balcony and the dog just ran right in there and got the swan.

“The owner saw what the dog was doing. She called it back and it eventually returned, and then she just walked off.”

The couple called police but the carcass of the dead bird had already been washed out to sea.

“I don’t know if it was killed on the beach or if it died in the water because of the attack but it was a terrible thing to see,” said Mrs Young.

“I’ve seen it happen before with other dogs but this was a par ticularly vicious, nasty attack.

“I just want to make people aware that this can happen.

“It’s a very busy area but if they are out walking their dogs and they think this might happen then they should not let them off the lead.”