A warning to avoid a section of the River Tay in Perth has been re-emphasised after a pet owner became covered in blood when rushing his dog to the vet after her paw was “severed” by a shard of glass.
Phil Hull, who has had to pay £800 in vet bills so far following the incident, was on a walk with one-and-a-half-year-old cockapoo Hallie on Sunday, July 24 at the North Inch as his kids played at the park nearby.
Wandering along the path between the grass and the river Hallie sought refuge from the warm weather with a dip in the waterway by the northernmost viewing platform.
A few moments later as Hallie was leaving the river Phil heard her make a high-pitched “yelp” in pain after stepping on broken glass submerged below the water’s surface.
Phil (pictured right with blood on his coat) said: “She was bleeding profusely and she had severed two pads on her paw. They were hanging on by a thread.
“I looked and it was quite a bad cut. I carried her and was running to the car and I was covered in blood from the water and from her.
“I think it looked quite graphic as some people came over to me.
“I called the emergency vet and took her to Tay Valley Veterinary Centre who put her under and stitched her up.”
He added: “This definitely didn’t need to happen. There is a lot of rubbish there and it looked like people had been partying there in the nice weather.
“It was the same weekend as Rewind and maybe some had been smashing bottles. It is quite a lot to go through for somebody not to pick up their rubbish and it really is a lack of respect.
“That could have been people’s children and it is your main walking area for children and the elderly.”
Hallie is due to see the vet again today (August 5) - the fourth time since her traumatic ordeal - for follow-up stitching, re-bandaging and checks for infection as she is on antibiotics.
“The bill at the moment is about £800,” Phil revealed.
“I have insurance but I am not sure how much it will cover. She is not allowed to be walked as she recovers. It is three weeks of no walking as well, which for a spaniel is not good.
“The first day she just slept all day after the anesthetic. The couple of days after that she didn’t move. The bandage was over two of her joints so it is quite awkward for her to walk on.
“But the vet is pleased with her progress and she is quite happy now.”
The PA reported a similar incident in the same area in October where Staffordshire Terrier Archie’s paw was left “almost hanging off” after being slashed by broken glass on the river bank.
Owner James Moss contacted Perth and Kinross Council, asking them to clear the glass fearing it could endanger pets and children.
Katie McCandless-Thomas of Missing Pets Perth and Kinross also sounded a warning at the time to avoid the area, adding that the glass bottles appeared to have been smashed and placed “deliberately upwards to cause harm”.
“There are plenty of bins put there by the council to get rid of stuff,” Phil added.
“It is people being stupid as the council can check up on the area and then somebody can throw a bottle away. I would say to people to be cautious.”
“I don’t want to ruin people’s fun but be cautious in that area or avoid it.”
