The RSPCA has acknowledged a social media video that appeared to show a dog trying to escape a chain in a yard in Swinton, Salford. The clip, shared by dog trainer and animal welfare campaigner Sammy Wilkinson on Thursday, July 2, showed a white dog repeatedly struggling and wrestling with its collar and chain. Wilkinson wrote: "I've just watched with my own eyes this dog nearly choke himself to death trying to escape the chain." The post garnered hundreds of responses and comments.
Background of the Incident
The footage, filmed in Swinton, zoomed in on the animal appearing to attempt to wriggle out of the collar. Claims were made that the dog was 'kept chained up at a scrapyard.' Wilkinson reported the incident to the RSPCA. In a later update, he stated that the owners had 'agreed to let the dog go if we can find a suitable home for him.'
RSPCA's Official Response
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We are aware of this situation but unfortunately we’re unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may have been taken. We understand how frustrating that is for animal lovers but releasing information could prejudice a future investigation or lead to us being fined.” The charity encouraged the public to report any concerns about animal welfare to its cruelty and advice line.
Legal Context
The Manchester Evening News understands that the type of swivel-chain used is not illegal. According to the RSPCA website, tethering a dog outside is not automatically a criminal offence if the animal lives in an environment that meets dog welfare guidelines. No details about any welfare visits or action by the RSPCA or Greater Manchester Police have been confirmed.
The RSPCA added: “We’re really grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare. We always encourage anyone with information that suggests the law may have been breached, to contact our cruelty and advice line so they can review the situation further. This includes video footage and new information about an ongoing concern. A lot of the time issues will be dealt with by advice and education and it is not always appropriate to publicise this information for legal reasons.”
