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14
Aug
Police open investigation into claims dog hit with shovel on Harrogate line
British Transport Police has launched an investigation into claims a Network Rail employee hit a dog with a shovel on the Harrogate line last month.
The force confirmed it was in the process of gathering information after it emerged the dog involved in the incident died.
The Stray Ferret broke the news after being given a description of the alleged incident by a source.
They said the dog was “struck over the head with a metal shovel in front of a train filled with passengers and the train driver” when it got on the line at Weeton Station on July 14.
The witness described it as an "horrendous act of violence".
A second source then got in touch to say they too witnessed it.
In a statement today, British Transport Police said:
We are aware of an incident involving a dog that occurred at Weeton railway station on July 14.
Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 405040 quoting reference 614 of 25 July.
'We understand how distressing it is to lose a pet'
Network Rail, the public body that owns the rail network, issued a statement about the dangers of animals getting on the railway when we approached it about the incident last month.
It added it was “carrying out an internal investigation into an animal-related incident on the Harrogate line” and would not comment further as it was an internal matter.
However, after we approached Network Rail for comment on the police investigation, a spokesperson said today:
We understand how distressing it is to lose a beloved pet and we’re sorry this has happened on the railway. Our own investigations are continuing into this upsetting incident.
We are in contact with the British Transport Police and will assist them during their separate investigation into exactly what happened.
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