A popular label nicknamed Freddie Mercury – who established his residence and attracted adoring fans along the Thames in London – was killed by an unleashed dog owned by a city lawyer.
Oxford-educated Rebecca Sabben-Clare, 49, and four passers-by, including a veterinarian, tried to rip off the jaws of her Freddie scoundrel during the cruel attack near Hammersmith Bridge on Sunday, the Sun reported.
A photographer who was taking pictures of Freddie when the attack occurred said he was “cruel”.
“The dog wouldn’t let go,” Duncan Phillips, 55, told MyLondon. “It would not be let go despite repeated attempts by members of the public to separate the animals.”
After trying to save Freddie’s life, veterinarians had to stop him 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 an infected wound. , according to The Guardian.
On Tuesday, police said he was investigating the death and was looking to speak with Sabben-Clare, who was later told no crime had been committed, Sun reported.
The woman, who studied at New College in Oxford and is now a specialist in commercial law, was named one of the leading English silks, a term referring to a lawyer who achieves this status as the queen’s lawyer, in Legal Directory 500 of 2021, according to the output.
“What happened to Freddie the seal is heartbreaking,” a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told the Sun.
“Dog owners should act responsibly and keep their pets in contact with wild animals to ensure that incidents like this can be avoided. It is never okay to allow dogs to harass and attack a wild animal,” the representative said. .
“We understand the upheaval this incident had for anyone who witnessed it and we look forward to spreading the message by encouraging dog owners to keep their dog in their head if there is wildlife,” the spokesman added.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue described efforts to save Freddie’s life at South Essex Wildlife Hospital.
“Unfortunately, after an x-ray this afternoon, our worst fears were confirmed and the seal not only suffered a broken bone, but also a dislocation, damage to the joint, ligaments and nerves that caused it would not be possible to treat him and return him to the savage, ”he said on Facebook.
“We contacted several marine mammal veterinarians in the UK and the Netherlands, including an orthopedic surgeon, and sadly, based on their experiences, the decision is that they needed to be euthanized for their well-being,” BDMLR continued.
“We would be unable to re-release a seal in the wild with a single pinball machine, if amputation were an option, as we have a firm policy of not putting animals in captivity and we need to put the welfare of the seal first,” he said. add. .
Since arriving on the Thames a few weeks ago, the beloved ten-month label, named after the famous British singer of the rock band Queen, had been a mainstay, gaining legions of adoring fans.
He gained public attention in February when he was rescued from Teddington Lock after a fishing bait got stuck in his mouth.
The heartbroken British went to social media to express their grief over Freddie’s disappearance.
“Should RIP #freddietheseal people who own attacking dogs / wildlife be banned from having pets for life, first a loved one in Richmond Park, now a poor seal in Hammersmith, when will it stop?” Josh Fraser said in a tweet.