Police are seeking the public’s help in tracking down the driver of a scrambler which badly injured a family’s pet poodle in Derry.
Police described the incident on Tuesday as “terrifying” after the dog named Maud was struck by a blue scrambler which being driven at speed at Creggan Country Park. After striking Maud, the scrambler which also had a passenger stopped briefly before driving off towards Forest Park.
A spokeswoman said: “This was a terrifying incident and the owner is incredibly upset at what happened. The dog, called Maud, is a much loved family pet which has been badly injured and requires extensive treatment, including surgery, for serious injuries.”
The PSNI spokeswoman appealed to any members of the public who helped the man and his dog or who captured footage of the scrambler to come forward.
“When these machines are being driven at speed, creating a nuisance in built-up areas, close to people and homes, this is dangerous and reckless. Not only is there the impact on people’s lives in the community but there are also serious safety concerns,” she said.
She said some scramblers did not comply with legal requirements and should be restricted to off-road use only. This meant they should only be driven on private land with the permission of the landowner.
“To anyone thinking of buying these vehicles, in particular parents for their children, we urge them to first think about where it is going to be used and the legalities surrounding its use,” the spokeswoman said.
