A DISTRESSED dog owner has spoken out to warn others after her beloved pet and companion Tiggy was “kicked to death” while walking at Alice Holt Forest.

The 69-year-old Farnham pensioner, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear that the culprit could discover where she lives, was forced to put her “little darling” eight-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier to sleep following the traumatic incident on Wednesday, January 30.

Recounting the painful episode, she told the Herald she was walking Tiggy through the forest at around 2pm, as she did most days, when her dog disappeared out of sight and, unusually, failed to return when called.

After a frantic search, the pensioner found Tiggy lying on the main path leading up to Rowledge “in a state of stress and vastly injured”, with her left hind leg badly dislocated.

The pensioner recalls a “very skinny, tall man” walking away on the path in the distance, but at the time didn’t think anybody could be so cruel to have inflicted such injuries on her dog and so assumed Tiggy had somehow hurt herself.

She told the Herald: “I was devastated, it had happened so quickly, I had heard a loud yelp from her and ahead on the path was a tall thin man with a dark shabby hooded jacket and jeans. There had been no-one in the whole area that day, it was so quiet, so this one man really stood out.”

As she was still some way from St James’ Church, Rowledge, where she had parked her car, and Tiggy was too heavy for her to carry on her own, the poor dog had to limp on.

“I had to lead her very slowly up the path to my car, she was too heavy for me to carry as I have a back problem,” the pensioner continued. “Her injuries were as if she had received very severe and heavy blows to her back, hind legs and undercarriage.”

However, it was only when the pensioner had Tiggy inspected at Vets4Pets in the Farnham Retail Park later that day that she realised the full extent of her devastating internal injuries. According to the owner, these were so bad that the vets could not even probe Tiggy to examine her internally, and so tragically she agreed to put her beloved pet of eight years to sleep.

She continued: “Her left hind leg had been severely wrenched out of place and was hanging right out. This must have caused a terrible wrenching of her muscles and tendons and although her leg went back into place she began to have major problems urinating and began to urinate heavy blood.

“When the vet finally tried to put a probe into her urethra, he was unable to do this due to mass blood and blockage, her organs were smashed and crushed from the severe injuries she had sustained. When he discovered that her insides were so damaged, blocked and pouring with blood, he phoned me and I asked the vet to put her out of her distress and pain and put her to sleep.

“I am so devastated and upset at losing the most wonderful, lively and happy little dog who had been my only companion for eight years and had never harmed anyone and greeted everyone in such a positive and loving way.”

She added the vets confirmed Tiggy’s massive injuries had likely been caused by her dog being kicked in the stomach, and the pensioner is now convinced that the man she saw in the woods must have caused the injuries.

The pensioner is now seeking to warn other dog owners using Alice Holt Forest to be wary “of any men walking alone through the woods”, adding: “People need to know what is now lurking in our wonderful wood near Rowledge and to be wary with their dogs and also their children.”

The Forestry Commission, which owns and maintains Alice Holt Forest, confirmed that it was not informed of the incident and has “no record” of any other similar incidents taking place locally.

A spokesperson for the Forestry Commission said: “We’re sorry to hear about the incident involving Tiggy. Dog walking is very popular at Alice Holt Forest – it’s a great way to enjoy the fresh air and exercise. It’s worth noting that the majority of visitors do respect other people’s enjoyment of the forest. Local Forestry Commission staff advise owners to keep their dogs close by and in sight at all times – if necessary on a lead when walking in the forest.”

The Herald has asked the RSPCA and Vets4Pets to comment.