Seagull steals chihuahua from garden

‘It carried Gizmo a fair way as we couldn’t see him anymore,’ says owner

A dog owner is desperately searching for her pet dog after a seagull swooped down and snatched it from her garden.

Becca Hill, 24, from Paignton, Devon, said her six-year-old daughter has been “really upset” and missing Gizmo since the four-year-old miniature chihuahua was taken on Sunday.

Fortunately, the child did not witness the brown and white male dog being taken away.

She told the DevonLive website: “My partner was in the garden putting the washing out at the time and suddenly he saw it swoop down. It carried Gizmo a fair way as we couldn’t see him anymore.

“I have no idea if he was dropped or where he is now.”

Ms Hill, who owns three chihuahuas, also wrote on Facebook: “Please, please, please, anyone finds a chihuahua he’s mine a seagull has took him from my garden.”

Anyone with information on where Gizmo is asked to call 07774 724 797.

There have been several seagull attacks on dogs and other animals in recent years.

In July 2015, Yorkshire terrier Roo was pecked to death in St Columb Minor, Cornwall, by herring gulls which were believed to have been protecting their nest.

Within the same month, a family’s pet tortoise named Stig died after it was attacked by seagulls in Liskeard, Cornwall.

Experts also recently warned that bird attacks on humans are becoming more common as the animals attempt to protect their nests, which are increasingly hard to find because of habitat loss.