Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Youths attack ugly dog contest winner

 

Ella Pickover
Wednesday 19 August 2009 12:55 BST
Comments

One of Britain's ugliest dogs is recovering today after he was attacked by a gang of youths who pulled out his only clump of hair, his owner said.

Mugly, who was named Britain's Ugliest Dog by a national newspaper in 2005, was set on by a gang of teenagers after he went missing from his home in Peterborough, Cambs.

The five-year-old Shitzu-Chinese Crested cross was rescued by a passer-by who saved him from the teenagers who were punching and kicking him in a nearby park.

"They even pulled out his clump of hair," said owner Bev Nicholson, 46. "It was the only hair he had."

She said: "Mugly leapt out of the lounge window last Thursday. He must have seen someone outside because he is a real 'people dog'.

"We searched high and low for hours and put posters up around the neighbourhood.

"I was convinced he had ended up under a car.

"About five hours after he went missing I got a phone call from a lady saying: 'I think I found your dog in a park, but don't get too excited because I had to pry him away from five 11-15-year-olds who were kicking him, punching him and hitting him with a stick'."

Mrs Nicholson said she took Mugly to the vets where he was treated for bruises and a couple of sores.

She added: "I just can't understand why people would do that. If it were my children they'd have brought him straight home - not attacked him."

"Mugly's bruises are really coming out now. He is a little jumpy but in the circumstances he is doing really well.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in