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More on KentOnline
Two boys pelted RSPCA officers with rocks as they desperately tried to save a seal.
Grace Harris-Bridge and Tina Nash were walking across a bridge which leads to Shakespeare beach in Dover when they heard a large bang.
To their horror, they saw a rock had appeared a short distance in front of them.
The shocked rescuers looked up and saw their attackers standing on the nearby cliff face - the direction from where the large rock had been thrown.
Ms Harris-Bridge said the attack was "quite scary".
"They had thrown the rock from quite a distance up - and so if it had hit us from that height I really don’t know if we would have survived the force of impact and that’s terrifying to think about," she said.
"We did shout at the boys as did some members of the public who had heard what had happened and I was feeling paranoid about carrying on along the bridge in case they threw more at us.
"We carried on though and went to assess the seal to see if she needed removing from the location and we made arrangements for our colleagues who had the appropriate equipment to collect her the following day.
"The RSPCA is like other frontline services and is still working during this crisis and doing what we can to help animals in need during these very difficult days and weeks."
The seal, one of last year’s pups, was assessed and had an injury to her eye and flipper. Arrangements were made for colleagues to collect her the next morning as at that point the tide was already starting to come in.
It was taken to Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre for treatment but sadly after a thorough examination an X-ray found that she was suffering from a deformed spine.
"They had thrown the rock from quite a distance up - and so if it had hit us from that height I really don’t know if we would have survived the force of impact..."
This was restricting her movement and likely causing nerve damage which had led to infected wounds around her back end and rear flippers.
She also had limited vision due to an ulcerated wounded eye.
The heartbreaking decision was made to put her to sleep to prevent her suffering any further.
The incident involving the boys was reported to the police by members of the public who had seen it happen and officers attended the location.
Police have been contacted for comment following the incident last Wednesday.
To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals like these and keep animal hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment, donate here. www.rspca.org.uk/covid
