A distraught mother has spoken of her ‘horror and heartbreak’ after an intruder kicked her daughter’s tiny chihuahua so viciously that he had to be put down.
Evangeline Ecclestone, of Rising Brook, Stafford, said the family has been left distraught after Reggie was found yelping in pain and with his jaw ‘hanging off’ following the unprovoked assault on the diminutive dog.
The distressing incident happened after a man entered the back garden of her daughter’s home at around 4.30pm on December 29.
Reggie was rushed to a veterinary hospital in nearby Penkridge, where vets discovered the tiny pet had fractured both his jaws and nothing more could be done.
Stafford Borough Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and have issued an appeal for information.
Ms Ecclestone has also posted details about the attack on her social media in the hope of finding the person responsible.
A day after the attack she wrote: ‘With absolute horror and heartbreak I’m reaching out for help.
‘Last night at around 4.30pm someone entered my daughter’s garden, through neighbouring gardens we are guessing, over fences.
‘Unfortunately just as she was letting her two small dogs out. Couple of minutes went by and the smallest of her dogs Reggie let out a loud yelp!
‘He had been kicked that hard in the face it had fractured both jaws, his bottom jaw was hanging off.
‘On rushing him into the veterinary hospital in Penkridge, after scans and an X-ray sadly there was nothing at all that could be done.’
In an update shared on New Year’s Eve, the heartbroken mother said: ‘Police attended location of brutal attack. They have contacted vets for a report on dogs injuries.
‘We all have a feeling that police have an idea who’s capable of basically, trespassing with a view to robbery. Kicking a dog to death.
‘We are desperate for tip off of a name, ideally footage for any property between the garage and the Royal Oak public house between 4.15pm and 5.15pm on Sunday, December 29.’
A statement from Stafford Borough Police read: ‘We’re appealing for information after a dog sadly died after suffering an injury in Stafford.
‘At around 4.30pm on Sunday (29 December) at a house on Rising Brook, it is believed that an unknown person went into the back garden of the address at the same time that two dogs had been let out.
‘The owner of a Chihuahua heard the dog yelp. When the dog came back inside, it had suffered serious injuries to his face and was rushed to a vet.
‘Sadly, nothing could be done to save the dog and he was later put to sleep.
‘It is believed that the unknown person in the back garden assaulted the dog before leaving the area.
‘We’re continuing to carry out enquiries in the area as part of our investigation to find out what happened to the dog and we’re keen to speak to anyone with any information that can help us.’
Anyone with information can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident 635 of 29 December.