RSPCA launches appeal after dog found buried on East Yorkshire beach
A member of the public made the disturbing find on Tuesday evening, July 29
The RSPCA is appealing for information after the body of a dog was discovered buried in suspicious circumstances on a beach near Withernsea.
A member of the public made the disturbing find on Tuesday evening, July 29, while walking along a quiet stretch of beach off Holmpton Road at Hollym. The dog’s paws were spotted protruding from the sand, prompting the passer-by to contact the RSPCA.
Animal Rescue Officer Emily Lomas attended the scene the following morning to retrieve the body, which was already decomposing. The dog — described as a medium to large, dark grey, wire-haired type — had been wrapped in black fabric and buried. It was microchipped, but the chip had not been registered to an owner.
“There were no obvious signs of injury, but due to the level of decomposition we couldn’t determine the dog’s sex,” said Officer Lomas. “We believe the body had been there for at least three days based on its condition.”
She added: “It was an upsetting discovery for the member of the public, and we’re very grateful to them for coming forward. This is a remote area, but we’re keen to understand how and why this dog ended up buried in such a way.”
The RSPCA is urging anyone who was in the Holmpton or Withernsea area in the days leading up to the discovery and may have seen anything suspicious to get in touch.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference number 01591144.
The RSPCA continues to investigate and reminds the public that microchipping pets — and ensuring contact details are up to date — is vital in helping reunite lost animals with their owners and in cases like this, assist in investigations.