A pet owner watched in horror as his beloved dog was eaten – by a seal.
Matthew Will, 21, had taken his labrador called Fly to the beach.
He was shooting ducks and Fly was dashing into the water to fetch them.
But suddenly the three-year-old pooch was dragged under the water – by a seal.
Matthew then watched in horror as his dog was mauled by the large grey creature.
He ran into the water to try and save him but it was too late and Fly had suffered fatal injuries.
The dog died after he was attacked in the North Sea near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.
Matthew, of Inverugie, Peterhead, said: ”There was a sudden and terrific thrashing and howling in the water.
“I shone my torch towards where Fly had gone in to bring out the duck.
“But this huge seal, more than twice the size of the dog, was clinging Fly around and pulling him under the water. I was horrified. The seal was enormous.
”Both his hind legs were completely crushed and mangled, his rib cage smashed and his left eye torn out. He was pouring with blood and in spasms of agony.
”I’m still trying to come to terms with it all. Now I just want to warn other dog-owners of the danger so that they won’t have to face the same anguish and horror that I have.”
Fly was killed by the seal on Friday evening after running into the water at the mouth of the Tarty Burn river,
Local environmentalist Bob Davis said attacks by seals were very rare and unusual.
He said: “Seals are fish-eaters, and the attack on the dog may have been a defensive response.”
Local fishery manager Audrey Forbes-Clarke said warning signs had now been installed.
