A one-day-old seal pup which was attacked by a dog on a beach left rescue staff battling to save its life.
The seal, named Fizzy Pop, was found on an undisclosed beach in Norfolk by the Friends of Horsey seals last month, being “harassed” by the dog.
With swollen and bloody wounds to the head, she was rushed to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre for life-saving treatment, where she received antibiotics.
The seal was believed to be just one day old and abandoned by her mother following the attack.
Evangelos Achilleos, centre manager, said: “This is such a heartbreaking story because this could have been easily prevented.
“She was likely only a day old when she was attacked, and being so young and without her mum, her chances of survival were small, and she was critical.
“We really weren’t sure if she would make it, but she’s a fighter.”
Fizzy Pop is currently being fed a diet of liquidised mackerel every few hours – but the road to recovery is long, and she could now be with the team for at least five months.
The centre has issued a warning to dog owners to keep their pets on leads around wildlife.
“These types of incidents are a concern, especially as they could be easily prevented by the public keeping their dogs on leads when near seals and not allowing them to get too close,” Mr Achilleos said.
“We know that seals in the wild are an incredible sight to see, but people must remember that these are wild animals.
“We share our beaches with seals and must learn to respect nature and enjoy from a distance, and we should never interfere or get too close to them. The public is putting themselves and the seals at risk from this kind of activity.
“Adult seals are incredibly powerful wild animals and can give a very nasty bite, which could become infected by the bacteria that live in a seal’s mouth.”
It is common for pups to be left alone by their mother while they are off getting food. However, anyone who becomes concerned about a seal is being asked to report it to a nearby warden and never attempt to rescue one themselves.
Alternatively, groups such as Friends of Horsey Seals, Marine and Wildlife Rescue, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, or the RSPCA can be contacted for advice.
