The death of Freddie Mercury

[samhexum]

A popular seal nicknamed Freddie Mercury — who took up residence and drew adoring fans along the Thames in London — was reportedly mauled to death by an unleashed dog owned by a top city lawyer.

 

Oxford-educated Rebecca Sabben-Clare, 49, and four passers-by, including a veterinarian, tried to pry her cross-breed pooch’s jaws off Freddie during the vicious attack near the Hammersmith Bridge on Sunday, The Sun reported.

 

A photographer who was snapping pictures of Freddie when the attack happened said it was “vicious.”

 

“The dog just wouldn’t let go,” Duncan Phillips, 55, told MyLondon. “It wouldn’t let go despite repeated attempts by members of the public to separate the animals.”

 

After trying to save Freddie’s life, vets had to put him down on Monday, saying the “only ethical and fair option we have is to end his suffering” after he was left with a fractured flipper and an infected wound, according to The Guardian.

 

On Tuesday, police said they were investigating the death and were looking to speak with Sabben-Clare, who was later apparently told that no offense had been committed, The Sun reported.

 

The woman, who studied at New College Oxford and is now a specialist in commercial law, was named a leading English silk – a term that refers to a lawyer who achieves that status of queen’s counsel — in the 2021 Legal 500 Directory, according to the outlet.

 

“What happened to Freddie the seal is heartbreaking,” a spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told The Sun.

 

“Dog owners should act responsibly and keep their pets on leads around wild animals to ensure incidents like this are prevented. It is never OK to allow dogs to harass and attack a wild animal,” the rep said.

 

“We understand how upsetting this incident was for anyone who witnessed it and we hope we can spread the message encouraging dog owners to keep their dog on a lead if wildlife is around,” the spokesman added.

 

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue described the efforts to save Freddie’s life at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

 

“Unfortunately, after an X-ray this afternoon, our worst fears were confirmed, and the seal not only sustained a broken bone, but also a dislocation, damage to his joint, ligaments and nerves that made it impossible to treat and return him to the wild,” it said on Facebook.

 

Heartbroken Britons took to social media to express their grief about Freddie’s demise.

 

“We contacted a number of marine mammal veterinarians in the UK and the Netherlands, including an orthopaedic surgeon, and sadly based on their experiences the decision is that he needed to be euthanased for his welfare,” BDMLR continued.

 

“We would be unable to release a seal back into the wild with one flipper, if amputation was an option, as we have a firm policy on not putting animals into captivity, and the seal’s welfare must be put first and foremost,” it added.

 

Since arriving to the Thames a few weeks ago, the beloved 10-month-old seal – nicknamed after the famed British singer in the rock band Queen – had been a mainstay where he garnered legions of adoring fans.

 

He gained public attention in February when he was rescued from Teddington Lock after a fishing lure became stuck in his mouth.

 

Heartbroken Britons took to social media to express their grief about Freddie’s demise.

 

“RIP #freddietheseal people who own dogs that attack people/wildlife should be banned from owning pets for life, first a dear in Richmond park, now a poor seal in Hammersmith, when will it stop?” Josh Fraser said in a tweet.

 

 

 

 

[samhexum]

The UK lawyer whose dog attacked Freddie Mercury — who then had to be put down due to his injuries — has apologized over the tragedy and said she was left “heartbroken” by his death.

 

Oxford-educated commercial lawyer Rebecca Sabben-Clare told the Evening Standard that she wished to “apologize unreservedly” for the “terrible accident” in London on Sunday.

 

The high-flying legal eagle also said she wished she had kept her pooch on a leash.

 

The 10-month-old seal could not be saved after it was mauled by Sabben-Clare’s dog near the Hammersmith Bridge on the Thames. It is unclear what breed the dog is.

 

“As an animal lover, I fully understand the dismay that has been expressed. I apologize unreservedly for what happened. In hindsight, I wish, of course, that the dog had been on a lead but at the time that did not seem necessary,” she said.

 

“I am hugely grateful to all those who helped at the scene. They were heroic. I left for my own safety and that of my dog, believing that there was nothing that I could do to help as the seal was being looked after by a vet and help had been called. I offered my contact details to the vet before leaving,” the embattled woman added.

 

Sabben-Clare — who lives in an $8 million home with her husband – said she had reached out to authorities after leaving the gruesome scene.

 

”Early yesterday morning I contacted the police to speak to them about the incident and was directed to the RSPCA,” she said.

 

“The RSPCA interviewed me and confirmed that they were happy that no offense had been committed. I tried to contact the police again repeatedly yesterday afternoon, in response to a statement from them that they wished to identify me and speak to me. They have still not been in contact,” Sabben-Clare continued.

 

“I have made a donation to the Wildlife Hospital which treated the seal. What wonderful work it does,” she added.

 

The law does not require dogs to be leashed in open spaces, but it is illegal for them to be “dangerously out of control” anywhere, according to the Standard, which cited possible penalties of up to six months in the slammer.

 

The RSCPA said it can only investigate offenses under the Animal Welfare Act, which involves cruelty to animals, The Sun reported.

 

“We are deeply saddened by what happened to Freddie and this highlights why it is important to keep dogs on leads around wild animals,” the animal welfare agency said.

 

“Dog attacks on animals would become an animal welfare offense if it was done deliberately. If no offenses have been committed under the Animal Welfare Act we are unable to take incidents further,” it said, adding that incidents involving out-of-control dogs are investigated by police.

 

The Met Police said they would not be launching an investigation into the tragedy.

 

“Following the investigation there will be no further criminal investigation or action taken by police in regards to this matter. The owner of the dog has been informed,” it said, The Sun reported.

[Phil_musc]

Let's hope the donation was sizably substantial. Maybe she should do some volunteer work in an animal shelter in addition?

[gallahadesquire]

Did they put her dog down yet?

Have they put her down yet?

[+ Lucky]

.......oh, Sam! Why did you do it again? Sigh.