A popular seal nicknamed Freddie Mercury – who took up residence and attracted passionate fans along the Thames in London – was reportedly beaten to death by a loose dog owned by a leading city lawyer.
Oxford-educated Rebecca Sabben-Clare, 49, and four passers-by, including a veterinarian, tried to pull Freddie’s jaws out during the onslaught near the Hammersmith Bridge on Sunday, The Sun reported.
A photographer who was taking pictures of Freddie when the attack happened said it was “cruel”.
“The dog just wouldn’t let go,” Duncan Phillips, 55, told MyLondon. “He would not give up, despite repeated public attempts to separate the animals.”
After trying to save Freddie’s life, the vets had to put him down on Monday, saying that “the only ethical and fair option we have is to end his suffering” after he was left with a fractured fin and a infected wound, according to The Guardian.
On Tuesday, police said they were investigating the death and wanted to speak to Sabben-Clare, who was later informed that no crime had been committed, The Sun reported.
The woman, who studied at New College Oxford and is now a specialist in commercial law, was named an important English silk – a term that refers to a lawyer who attains the status of the queen’s lawyer – at 2021 Legal 500 Directory, according to the exit.
“What happened to the seal Freddie is heartbreaking,” a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told The Sun.
“Dog owners must act responsibly and keep their pets under surveillance around wild animals to ensure that incidents like this are avoided. It is never normal to allow dogs to harass and attack a wild animal ”, said the representative.
“We understand how upsetting this incident was for anyone who witnessed it and hope to spread the message by encouraging dog owners to keep them on a leash if wildlife is nearby,” added the spokesman.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue described Freddie’s life-saving efforts at South Essex Wildlife Hospital.
“Unfortunately, after an X-ray this afternoon, our worst fears were confirmed, and the seal not only sustained a broken bone, but also a dislocation, damage to its joint, ligaments and nerves that made it impossible to treat and return it to. it to the wild, ”he said on Facebook.
“We contacted several marine mammal veterinarians in the UK and the Netherlands, including an orthopedic surgeon, and unfortunately, based on their experiences, the decision is that he needed to be sacrificed for his well-being,” continued BDMLR.
“We would not be able to release a seal back in the wild with a fin if amputation were an option, as we have a firm policy of not putting animals in captivity and the seal’s well-being should be placed first,” he added. . .
Since arriving at the Thames a few weeks ago, the beloved 10-month seal – dubbed after the famous British singer from the rock band Queen – has been a mainstay where he has conquered legions of passionate fans.
He gained public attention in February, when he was rescued from Teddington Lock after a fishing lure was stuck in his mouth.
Heartbroken Britons turned to social media to express their sadness over Freddie’s death.
“RIP #freddietheseal people who own dogs that attack people / wild animals should be banned from owning pets for life, first a dear in Richmond Park, now a poor seal in Hammersmith, when will it stop?” Josh Fraser said in a tweet.