Police warning after seal pup bitten by dogs

The seal pup is being cared for at Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary

Dog walkers are being warned by police to keep their pets away from seals on beaches after a seal pup was "nipped" by two dogs.

The incident took place at Mablethorpe beach in Lincolnshire at about 05:30 BST last Tuesday.

Lincolnshire Police wildlife crime officer, Det Con Aaron Flint, said the owner was likely to be asked to make a donation to Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary for the cost of the care of the seal, which could be up to £5,000.

He said the seal was not left with visible bite marks, but warned pet owners to keep their dogs on leads if they do not have good recall.

Det Con Flint said: "This happens too often. Operation Seabird is a national operation that deals with this type of incident as it is a real problem.

"The operation wants to provide education about keeping their dogs on leads if they don't have good recall as owners are responsible for what their dogs do.

"In this case, the gentleman didn't have good recall, the dogs were young, but it could have been preventable as if they were on a lead, it would not have happened."

Alford & Mablethorpe Police said the owner managed to get one dog on a lead after the dogs starting nipping at the seal.

However, the second dog, which was wearing a red muzzle, continued to nip and the owner had to stand over the seal to prevent it being injured further.

Police say seals being attacked by dogs is "a real problem"

Dennis Drew, one of the directors at Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary, said the seal had been receiving treatment in hospital and would eventually be released back into the wild.

He said: "It is responding to medication for a mouth infection and it could be with us potentially for several months while it recovers.

"We couldn't see any clear bite marks from the dogs so it may have just been nipped.

"We're advising people to be wary when they're walking on the beach and when they do let them off, to make sure they have a good recall as dogs are just doing what they instinctively know, which is to defend themselves."

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