Shocking footage has been released showing a 'heartless' owner making his dog run behind his car for 'exercise'. When confronted by a concerned onlooker the callous owner turned aggressive and stated that he was just 'walking his dog', reports the Liverpool Echo.
The alleged incident occurred earlier this week near Liverpool, with a clip showing a small dog running down the middle of the road behind a moving car. The vehicle can be seen intermittently flashing its brake lights as the pooch desperately tries to catch up with it.
A anonymous witness to the incident, which allegedly occurred on November 16, says it began when she saw a Volkswagen driving towards her with its hazards on. She stopped her vehicle to let the car past and was stunned at what she saw behind the vehicle.
The woman said: “I noticed a car driving towards me with its hazard lights on, so I stopped to let it past. Then I saw a small greyish French Bulldog running behind it.
"Initially I thought the driver didn't know it was there, so I turned around to follow him and flashed my lights to alert him to stop. When he finally pulled over, I got out to ask what was going on and asked him did he know a dog was running behind the car.
"And he told me ‘yea I always exercise her like this’ and ‘what's it got to do with you?’.
The witness claims at this point the driver turned aggressive, hurled abuse at her and gestured as thought he was going to punch her. She said: “I told him that type of flat faced dog wasn't meant to run fast like that and it wasn't being exercised, it was just trying to keep up with its owner, who had put it out on a public road and driven off.
"Obviously it was going to keep running after him.”
After his alleged abusive tirade the owner then got back into his car 'laughing' claims the witness. She reported the incident to the police and the RSPCA.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We are appealing for information following a report of an assault in Maghull on Wednesday 16 th November. At around 2.45pm, it was reported that a woman saw a dog running behind a car on Green Lane.
"After the woman challenged the male driver, it was reported that he got out of the car and tried to punch the woman but made no contact. The male has then left the area in the vehicle.
"If you have any information about this incident, you can contact our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook with reference 22000841798."
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