Dogs unleashed from cage to maul rabbit, say police as three men hunted
One man pulled the rabbit from the dogs' jaws several times before setting the dogs on it again.
Tuesday 9 January 2018 09:03, UK
Three men are being hunted by police after three dogs in a cage were let loose to chase a rabbit before it was killed.
The rabbit was first released from a separate cage at a recreation ground and the greyhounds were allowed to pursue the animal for "several minutes" before catching it.
One man pulled the rabbit from the dogs' jaws several times before setting the dogs on it again.
Witnesses described hearing the rabbit screaming before it was eventually killed.
The trio are thought to have had a child of around seven years old with them when the animal cruelty took place.
Witnesses told police the suspects released a rabbit before setting the dogs, believed to be a cream-coloured adult greyhound and two young greyhounds, on it in Poole.
At around 11.15am on Saturday 6 January, the men were seen at the Broadstone Recreation Ground with two cages of rabbits and three dogs.
The rabbits were believed to be wild, and grey or brown with white tails.
Police said the men were described as white and in their 30s or 40s; one was large and two were slim.
One of the slim men was wearing a navy blue top with red writing on the back.
They are believed to have parked in the car park off Lower Blandford Rd, near Barn Rd.
Anyone with information can contact police by email: [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting incident number 6:129.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.