Owner of chihuahua Gizmo targeted by ‘hateful and spiteful’ trolls after pet was snatched by SEAGULL
THE owner of a chihuahua snatched by a seagull has been left traumatised after being targeted by "hateful and spiteful" trolls.
Becca Hill, 24, was distraught after the bird swooped and carried off four-year-old miniature chihuahua Gizmo in its beak yesterday afternoon.
Becca’s partner was hanging out the washing when he saw the seagull attack the pet in Paignton, Devon, she said in a Facebook appeal.
But she has been forced to remove the post after being abused by trolls making light of her torment.
UAV Lost Dog Search & Rescue, who are assisting the hunt for Gizmo, said: "She removed the post due to unnecessary trolling and hateful and spiteful comments where people were making a joke of the situation.
"She is very upset by the events and took the decision to remove the post."
Becca was too traumatised to speak outside her home today but did say the "real ordeal" had "all got way too much".
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'MY BABY IS STILL MISSING'
Becca posted an update on Facebook today, saying: "My baby is still missing. Doesn't feel right not waking up to him licking my face."
She hit back at trolls who suggested the incident hadn't happened.
The mum-of-one wrote: "Are you all f*****g stupid, my partner has seen (sic) a seagull swoop down and take him! It’s happened before."
Becca is hoping Gizmo is still unharmed and can be reunited with the family and their two other dogs, reports.
'EXTREMELY UPSETTING'
Writing about the ordeal, she said: "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."
Becca also revealed her young daughter was distraught over missing Gizmo in a desperate plea to find her dog.
She wrote: "Please, please, please, anyone finds a chihuaua he's mine a seagull has took him from my garden. Bottom of Maridon Road, Paignton. Have a really upset 6 year old missing her dog."
The RSPCA told The Sun Online: "Our hearts go out to Gizmo's family and we hope he is found soon and is OK.
"This must be extremely upsetting for the dog's owner.
"Fortunately these types of incidents are very rare and not typical gull behaviour."
Experts have now been drafted in to help find the missing pooch - with rescuers searching rooftops, garage roofs and trees in the area.
PREVIOUS GULL ATTACKS
While seagull attacks on dogs are not unheard of they are still rare.
In August 2015 a seagull attacked and tried to carry off a Jack Russell near the Port of Dover.
Dene Robertson rushed out of his kitchen after hearing his dog, which weighed 16lbs, yelp, only to find the bird had the two-year-old by the neck and was trying to lift him into the air.
Last month, a savage great black-backed seagull was spotted feasting on a poor bunny on the island of Skokholm, Wales.
Gull 'could have been protecting its young'
Bird experts have said it is rare for seagulls to attack dogs or other animals, but that it is possible for one of the birds to lift a small dog and fly away.
Tony Whitehead a gull expert at the RSPB said: "There are two things that could have caused this, the first one is that there's been a young gull recently fledged landing in an enclosed back garden where the dog is, and there's been some conflict, so the parents will have swept down to remove the bird.
"It's possible it's simply predation. Gulls are great opportunists, they aren't going to distinguish between a particularly small dog and a small bird.
"What I would say is, especially at this time of year where adult birds are particularly protective of their youngsters, if you have a very small dog, keep an eye on it."
Peter Rock, an ornithologist at the University of Bristol told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "These gulls are very large and as you know, if you've been around gulls, you'll know they're very large and are quite capable of picking up small animals, quite commonly they will kill pigeons that look a little bit under the weather.
"If you have a very tiny little dog I suggest you don't let it run around on your garden as it might well become a meal. It would have to be very tiny like this one was."
In July 2015 a flock of Herring gulls pecked to death Roo, a Yorkshire Terrier, witnessed by Emily Vincent’s three-year-old son Jace.
Roo suffered a wound to his head and brain damage after the attack.
The eight-year-old pet was rushed to the vet but had to be put down after failing to respond to treatment.
In May of the same year Niki Wayne found her Chihuahua puppy being pecked to death by seagulls.
While Niki had been taking a shower the pup had managed to push open a door and get out.
It comes as a leading bird expert warned a seagull could be "tempted" to attack a baby if it was in the garden.
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Peter Rock told BBC Radio 4: "If there's a nest on the roof and perhaps one of the nestlings has fallen down into that back garden then yes there is half a chance that might happen.
"I mean the gulls themselves are not actually interested in being aggressive, all they want to do is protect their offspring and if they have to attack they will.
"Although if they're going to attack, they risk damage to themselves so they don't really want to attack."
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