The dog collapsed in the street

Frantic members of the public tried in vain to save dog’s life with water.

Police and animal welfare officers are hunting a man who dragged a bleeding dog down the street before running off when it collapsed and died.

The American bulldog was found by members of the public with wounds to her back feet and bleeding pads after the man had sold her to another man in Perkin Close, Sudbury, on Saturday July 21.

Witnesses reported that the brown and white female appeared to be panting and having breathing difficulties as the man dragged her along the street minutes before he sold her.

As money exchanged hand, the man ran off towards a bus stop at which point the exhausted animal fell to the ground. Police arrived shortly after but the man had disappeared.

Laura Evans, an RSPCA inspector, said: “The dog collapsed seconds after his disappearance and despite efforts to cool the dog down with water by the dog’s new owner and members of public from the nearby Swan pub, the dog later died on the way to the vets due to heat exhaustion/overheating.”

The dog’s temperature was taken at the vets and her temperature was several degrees above the normal temperature for the breed.

Ms Evans said: “This is blatant animal cruelty and the dog has been subject to extreme unnecessary suffering.”

The man who sold the dog is described as a black man, 18-19-years-old, 6ft tall with short hair wearing a black vest and light blue jeans.

Anyone with information should contact PC Fionnuala Kennedy on 020 8721 2969 or the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 123 4999.