As if the first version wasn't bad enough...

Nala · 27-09-2004 9:45am #1

The puppy who was allegedly "kicked to death" actually suffered the injuries from her owner.

From thesun.co.uk:

TATTOOED Paul Foreman LIED when he claimed he rescued a tortured puppy — because it was HIS.

The whimpering mite had to be put down after suffering terrible injuries in HIS house.

But asked about the six-week-old labrador yesterday, he said: “Stuff the dog.”

Foreman, 31, had claimed he saved the pet from a gang of teenage thugs who were kicking and throwing it like a football.

But he was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to an animal after a tip-off.

The tragic puppy — blind in one eye and brain-damaged — had to be destroyed.

Pictures taken in a carer’s arms shortly before her death broke the nation’s hearts last week.

The 31-year-old dad has now admitted to police that he LIED about seeing three teenagers tormenting the dog — and LIED about rescuing it.

He then claimed the injuries had been caused during a “domestic incident” while a very young child played with the pup in his home in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, ten days ago.

Foreman, who has a four-year-old son, took the dog to an animal rescue centre - making up the story about three 13-year-old torturers.

He said he lied because he was worried what the centre would think. Police freed Foreman after questioning on Tuesday.

They said they would not be charging him but the file is being passed to the RSPCA. They are now considering whether to mount their own investigation.

Foreman, 31, refused to talk about the puppy yesterday, except for his “stuff the dog” remark.

Earlier when confronted by The Sun, Foreman said: “Paul who? There’s no Paul lives here.

“I’m not Paul Foreman and I don’t know him. I don’t know anything about a puppy. That one which died did not belong to me. I’ve not had a dog.”

Staff at St Francis Animal Rescue centre, yards from his front door, were incredulous yesterday.

Manager Anne Kirton said: “I am shocked and mystified. Why did he lie? This has really sickened me.

“We see this man every day because he lives close by and we trusted him.

“Everybody’s time has been wasted. A lot of police effort was put into trying to trace the children he claimed abused the puppy.

“I am absolutely disgusted. I feel sick to my stomach. I’d like to know what really happened. When she was put to sleep everyone was devastated.”

She said she had to comfort colleague Linda Mercer — who cuddled the pup for the last picture — as “she found it too much to take.”

Inspector Simon Charlton of South Shields police said yesterday: “A 31-year-old man was arrested and admitted he owned the dog.

“The injuries to the dog resulted from a domestic incident inside the house.”

robbie1876 · 27-09-2004 11:47am

neev wrote:

From thesun.co.uk:

TATTOOED Paul Foreman LIED

:rolleyes:

Jim · 27-09-2004 11:50am

robbie1876 wrote:

:rolleyes:

Was just about to say the same thing.

segadreamcast · 27-09-2004 12:00pm

Jimeatsmenu wrote:

Was just about to say the same thing.

Pretty disgusting. Lots of CAPITAL LETTERS to emphasise the MESSAGE to people who don't read stories, just skim random words out of things. But it is 'The Sun' after all, what else could I expect?