Police swoop as seagull dies after being dragged through streets on dog lead
A seagull died after being dragged by the neck with a dog lead by a man who has been branded "extremely vile" by angry locals.
Police were called at about 8pm on Monday evening to reports that a man had pulled a live seagull along the pavement with a rope around its neck.
Lancashire Police said the bird “was taken by a member of the public to a local vet", where they decided it "sadly had to be put down”.
A man in his 50s was arrested for being drunk and disorderly before later being released without charge, as force says it continues to investigate the incident.
Shocking footage has since emerged online of the incident in Blackpool, drawing huge condemnation from social media users.
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The force said no arrests had been made in relation to allegations of animal cruelty but the matter was still being investigated.
Lancashire Police say an investigation into the incident in Blackpool is ongoing (Getty Images)Speaking afterwards, a spokesperson from Blackpool charity Bramble Wildlife Rescues said the bird needed to be euthanised due to its "very poor ill state and neglected condition" after being confiscated by a member of the public.
The charity said they received "distressful to watch" footage of the man "dragging the gull down the street", which they likened to him "almost walking a dog."
"At first, like many people, we thought it may have been a photoshopped image in the form of a prank, however it quickly came to light that it was in fact very real", the spokesperson said
The animal charity were bombarded with floods of commenters reacting strongly to the act online, with one commenter dubbing the man "vile" and someone else calling the gull's treatment "one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen."
Another responded: "I don’t understand how people can be so cruel. It really breaks my heart.
"Night, night little gull, may your wings spread far over the rainbow bridge and you be happy once again xxx"
One tribute said: "Goodnight little gull, may the next world be much kinder."
But not every comment came from animal lovers, and the charity reported a "number of gull haters found the video funny regardless of the gull's condition and stress."
Commenting on the incident, the RSPCA said: “It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable to treat any wild animal in this way.
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“Putting a gull on a leash would be extremely stressful for the bird as it would prevent it from being able to engage in its natural behaviour and could lead to injury or even death”
“Like all wild birds, gulls, their chicks and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“This means it's illegal to intentionally kill, take or injure gulls, take or destroy their eggs, or damage or destroy any gull nests while they're in use or being built - unless you're acting under licence.
“Captive gulls, like this bird, are also protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which means their keeper is required to meet their welfare needs and avoid causing them unnecessary suffering."
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