Police probe '˜deliberate' drowning of dog in river

Police and the RSPCA have launched an investigation after a dog was thought to have been deliberately drowned in a river while weighted down in a carrier bag.

The River Garnock. Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Rosser1954

The dead animal was found in the River Garnock, near Kilwinning in North Ayrshire with a rock tied round its neck, according to reports quoting eyewitnesses.

An onlooker contacted the police after finding the dog last Thursday, with the force in turn contacting the SSPCA.

SSPCA Inspector Laura McIntyre told STV: “We have been alerted to an incident in Kilwinning regarding a dead dog. Our enquiries are currently ongoing.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm we received a call at around 5pm on Thursday, February 8 after a member of the public discovered a dead dog at the River Garnock.

“This has now been passed to the SSPCA who are dealing with this.”

Members of the public with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999.