Edward’s vicious attack on his dog
HEARTLESS Prince Edward lashed out at a defenceless dog with a walking stick during a royal shooting party yesterday.
The Prince lost his temper and whacked one of two gun dogs as they fought over a dead pheasant at the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. [>
Edward, 44, ran to the scene of the tug-of-war and raised his 4ft walking stick. Once the dogs were separated he then lunged at one cowering animal for a second time. [>
The scene has distressed animal lovers, who rounded on Edward last night. [>
Barry Hugill, spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “I would not be at all surprised about Prince Edward mistreating a dog. This is a man who has been brought up to regard it as his right to slaughter and mistreat animals for pleasure.” [>
Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid, said: “It’s about time the Royals got the message that the public regards the shooting of birds for sport as repellent. The public will be no more tolerant of dogs being picked on because they don’t play their obedient walk-on part in this sick spectacle.” [>
The Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals refused to comment. However, the organisation, which boasts the Queen as its patron, confirmed that any person proven to have caused suffering to an animal could face prosecution. [>
Other Royals on the shoot included Prince William, 26, Prince Andrew, 48, Prince Philip, 87, and Princess Anne’s husband Tim Laurence, 53. [>
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said last night: “It has not been determined that he did strike the dog and it is unlikely that he has.” [>
Edward caused outcry in 2005 when he battered an injured pigeon to death after it was shot. [>
