Police warn against hate speech online after a dog died in a car accident on Christchurch Road, New Milton.
The comments appeared after a CCTV picture was shared showing a car that reportedly hit Rex, a Jack Russell terrier, on Christchurch Road on February 9th. Officers responded to the incident that afternoon and took Rex to a local veterinarian, but sadly, Rex was pronounced dead upon arrival.
PCSO Alan McCaffery stated the CCTV image surfaced online from a business on a local community page. McCaffery said this sparked harsh comments as online users expressed hatred for the driver without knowing all the details or evidence.
McCaffery added these comments caused fear, as the driver feared for his family’s safety after becoming aware of them quickly. McCaffery spoke with the driver and Rex’s owner; both parties spoke to each other too, showing support and understanding of the loss.
McCaffery will also educate the business regarding posting the CCTV image online, as Rex was thought to be uncontrolled at the time and it followed an unfortunate chain of events on February 9th. McCaffery offered a final thought for Rex; on behalf of Rex’s family, he wished him a safe journey and asked Rex to be careful.