A PAIR of swans have been put down by vets following a savage attack by two dogs.
Scottish SPCA officers rushed to the horrific scene after receiving reports that two greyhound-type dogs were attacking the swans and their cygnets.
The male bird had to be put down just hours after the attack and the female was examined the following day but was also put down after suffering horrendous injuries.
Animal welfare officers have appealed for witnesses to the bloody attack which happened near to the Waterside Inn restaurant in Haddington, East Lothian around 3pm on Monday.
Mairi Stewart, a Scottish SPCA ambulance driver, said: “When I arrived the female swan and her cygnets had taken off in fright.
“The male swan remained on the river bank, covered in blood from puncture wounds to his wing. I took him to the vets but his injuries were so severe that there was no option but to put him to sleep.
“I returned to the scene and was able to recover the female swan the following morning. She had a deep tear to her body from which she would have lost a great deal of blood.
“After a vet examination it was confirmed that it was not possible to save her life.”
Injuries on swans were “terrible”
The almost-fully grown cygnets were unharmed by the dog attack and are thought to be old enough to fend for themselves without their parents.
The animal welfare charity, which has described the injuries inflicted on the swans as “terrible” warned the dogs’ owner they could be prosecuted under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for failing to keep their pets under control in a public place.
Ms Stewart added: “The swans had made this area their home and were successfully breeding and rearing their young here.
“We also know that many local people enjoyed coming down to the river bank and watching this family, so it’s very sad that this has happened.
“We are keen to speak to the owner of the dogs involved.”
