Pet dog shot through the head
Event rider Flora Harris has appealed for information after her pet dog was shot dead.
The 26-year-old, who is based at Woodland St Mary, was devastated to learn her four-year-old whippet named Willow had been shot through the head with a .22 bullet just outside her garden.
The horror happened on Thursday, March 19, when Ms Harris was competing in the Fontainbleau horse trials in France.
She had left her dogs with a friend who let them out for exercise on the fateful morning.
All but Willow returned after a few minutes and, upon investigation, the friend discovered the dog’s body around 8.30pm.
Ms Harris said: “It was literally at the end of our garden. There would be no reason for anyone to be on that land.
“You’d need a firearms licence to have a rifle like that – I just want to know what has happened.
“Someone has shot my dog, she was my pet, and I want someone to be held responsible.”
After the news was announced on social media, Ms Harris added: “I cannot express enough how touched I am by the unbelievable support I have received surrounding the death of my lovely whippet Willow.
“People are clearly just as outraged and upset as I am at this horrific act of callous violence.
“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for every ‘share’, ‘like’, Facebook message, tweet and text. I am happy that Willow has had so much love and support.”
She added: “Please can I ask, however, that people do not stop sharing and retweeting: I desperately want to keep some momentum going.
“Someone knows something and people will talk. Please could people express their concerns to Thames Valley Police directly, and the RSPCA.
“If there is a sick individual walking around shooting dogs, or if this is just a terrible mistake, we must find some answers.
“Someone is responsible and they need to be held accountable.”
Illegal lamping and rabbitting is known to be a problem in the area.
Anyone who has information should contact Thames Valley Police via the 101 number.
Alternatively, the independent Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
