A woman admitted to the police that she tried to drown her dog in a freezing cold river by tying a rock around her neck.
The incident came to light after the dog was rescued from a freezing cold river with a rock tied around her lead.
The Belgian Shepherd, who has been identified as Bella, was found in the River Trent up to her neck in water with a carrier bag.
The bag had a heavy rock tethered to her lead.
Jane Harper, a heroic passer, saved her.
The kind woman dived straight into the ice-cold water.
According to reports, the incident happened this Year.
Jane, who is from Newark in Nottinghamshire, said that she is initially thought that the pooch was dead, but when the little one blinked, she was relieved.
After realizing that she was alive, the woman just dived into the water.
She was left shocked when she realized that there was a bag with a rock inside.
During a talk with the cops, Jane said:
I looked and I thought ‘that’s a dead dog’ – then she blinked. The water was so murky, I couldn’t pull her out. I got my arm underneath her and tried to lift her up. I imagine she literally fought to get her head above water and managed to rest it on a step. I don’t know how long she had been in the water but I don’t think she could have survived much longer. It was just so cruel.
The police were called to the scene by Jane.
Bella was identified through a microchip, confirmed the authorities that were investigating the horrible incident.
The poor little pooch was rushed to the vets and she received treatment right away.
She is now doing well.
31-year-old Charlene Latham, the owner of Bella, who is also from Newark, was presented at the Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 23 November for carrying out such a horrific act.
The woman pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
She tried to drown the dog, which could have resulted in the dog passing away and suffer in extremely cold water temperatures.
Latham was released on bail.
The next court hearing is on March 8, 2021.
A 32-year-old man denied the same charge.
Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, released a statement about the incident, where they said:
This was a highly emotive incident that was understandably very shocking to the public. Thankfully Bella is reported to be doing well and is in very good hands. Animal cruelty is totally unacceptable and we will always support our colleagues in the RSPCA in whatever we can in their investigations.
No further information about the incident was shared with the public.
Let’s hope justice will be served to Bella.
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