Photos showing seagulls attacking beach-goers have been doing the rounds following the shocking news that one bird swooped down and made off with a chihuahua.
With Britain currently enjoying (or enduring, depending on how you feel) a heatwave, people have flocked to beaches to make the most, but one beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset, had an influx of aggressive seagulls going for people while they tried to relax in the sun.
The snaps were taken just days after Rebecca Hill claimed her dog Gizmo was snatched by a bird in her garden in Paignton, Devon.
Heart-broken Hill, 24, told Devon Live: "It carried Gizmo a fair way as we couldn't see him anymore. I have no idea if he was dropped or where he is now."
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Adding: "I've seen them take ducklings from a pond and swallow them whole, and that was just so upsetting."
She urged people to check their roofs, in case the bird has dropped the pooch, but as yet no one has come forward with any information about Gizmo.
Taking to Facebook, she wrote: "Please, please, please, anyone finds a chihuahua he's mine, a seagull took him from my garden.
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"Have a really upset 6-year-old missing her dog."
Peter Rock, an expert on urban seagulls told the Sun that the birds will eat anything they can get down their throats, which anyone who has been to the seaside can vouch for, to be fair.
He explained: "If they can get something down their throats then they will eat it.
"I've heard of pigeons and rabbits being eaten whole and they are capable of pulling them apart.
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"Given the chance they will eat anything and this poor dog sounds about the size of a rabbit, but I do hope she gets him back."
However, thankfully incidents such as this are rare, the RSPCA told the newspaper: "Our hearts go out to Gizmo's family and we hope he is found soon and is OK.
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"This must be extremely upsetting for the dog's owner.
"Fortunately, these types of incidents are very rare and not typical gull behaviour."
Featured Image Credit: Apex NewsTopics: UK News