Investigation launched into 'suspicious death' after young dog's body pulled from Essex lake

The Wick Country Park
-Credit: (Image: Google Maps)


The RSPCA has appealed for information after the body of a dog was discovered in an Essex lake. The body was recovered at the Wick Country Park lake in Wickford on August 27 this year.

The RSPCA said it was found by a member of the public who alerted the police who were hosting a "Let’s Talk" surgery in the nearby area. The police officers and members of the local environment and educational group Wickford Wombles attended in a bid to locate the dog.

They were joined by a member of Tilly's Angels who helped scan for the dog for a microchip before taking the body to a vet for examination. Initial inquiries found the young dog - a Staffordshire bull terrier type - was called Marley, and black and white in colour.

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The incident was reported to the RSPCA who are now investigating. RSPCA Inspector Emma Baker said: “The circumstances surrounding the discovery of this dog’s body is suspicious.

"We are grateful to everyone who helped in this investigation - it must have been very distressing for those involved, but it’s heartening that so many agencies responded to help Initial inquiries have been made and we’ve been told the dog has been given up by the person who was registered as the owner on the microchip.

“We are therefore appealing to anyone who might recognise the description of the dog or know who the owner might be. The body was decomposed so it is not possible at this stage to establish an exact cause of death.

Anyone with information can call in confidence on 0300 123 8018 quoting incident 0134049. The RSPCA has warned that animal cruelty is on the rise - with the charity receiving 1,208 cruelty reports up to the end of June in Essex alone.