Hunt Continues For Biker Who Killed Dog

The RSPCA is still trying to find a man who deliberately hit and killed a dog with his motorbike in Hampshire.

They've traced the owner of the bike and found out it was stolen - the owner's been eliminated from their enquiries. In a statement, the RSPCA said:

"The RSPCA is very grateful to everyone who has come forward with information so far.

"We are no longer interested in tracing the owner of the bike, as a young man from the Farnham area has come forward and identified it as his and has been totally exonerated from our enquiries.

"The bike in question, was stolen the night before the incident with the dog took place and it was reported to the police at that time.

"However, we are still very keen to hear from anyone who recognises the young man who was riding the bike on Thursday 16 August 2012 or who has information about where it is now."

On the 16th of August, a man was walking his ten-year-old German Shepherd Zena, when a man appeared on a road-legal type motorcross bike, sped up and drove straight at the dog.

The impact of the collision with the bike threw Zena 25 feet across the ground causing multiple injuries and her heart stopped beating minutes later.

It happened at around 1.30pm on heathland owned by the Ministry of Defence, in Aldershot.

The area is like a disused quarry and is known locally as Caesar's Camp, an area popular with walkers.

The dog owner heard the motorbike in the distance and put Zena on her lead for safety but although the biker appeared to stop in the distance and stare right at the dog walker, who was in plain sight, he still headed straight towards him.

Zena's owner, who lives in Farnham, Surrey, said: "It was a nice day and we were in full view with lots of space around us but the man on the bike seemed to stop, look right at me and then he speeded up to around 60 miles per hour and headed flat out towards us - I honestly thought I was going to die but instead he hit my beautiful dog.

"As she lay on the ground dying, he carried on riding his bike around and around the area and eventually when I shouted that my dog was dead and then got my camera out to take a picture of the man, he eventually rode off."

The dog owner immediately reported it to Hampshire and Surrey police and later to the MOD police and RSPCA.

Zena's owner, who had had her since she was 11-months-old, said:

"I have gone over it in my mind, I know he could see us, he even stopped as though he was trying to intimidate me and then he rode at full speed in our direction.

"There was plenty of space for him to swerve or slow down if he wanted - it was no accident.

"I cannot even imagine what would cause anyone to behave in such a way and I am stunned, I have lost my companion and my friend, she was such a lovely dog."

RSPCA chief inspector, Dave Fox said:

"Doing this job you get used to all manner of cruel things being done to animals but I can honestly say that this unbelievable act of cruelty is one of the worst I have seen.

"Not only did it cause no end of suffering to a much loved pet but what the poor owner went through is horrendous."

The man on the bike never removed his helmet but from his frame and the way he was dressed, he is thought to be a younger man. The bike he was riding was a KTM EXC/Super Moto. This is a road legal bike (unlike a normal Moto Cross bike) as it's fitted with lights and indicators so could be ridden on the road subject to the necessary road tax and insurance.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, anyone found guilty of causing deliberate suffering to an animal can face up to six months in prison and/or a £20,000 fine.

Anyone who recognises the man on the motorbike or has information about this incident is urged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for inspector England who is investigating. Calls are in confidence.