Dog kicked to death after elderly owner stumbles into car

A dog died after it was kicked "into the air" by a man who was angry after its pensioner owner stumbled into a car, the police said yesterday.

The tan-coloured miniature pinscher, which was being walked by a 72-year-old man, was attacked in Woodley, near Reading in Berkshire, Thames Valley police said.

The owner had been walking the dog on Saturday at 9.20pm when he stumbled and fell into a car which was parked on the pavement in Colemans Moor Lane.

Two men got out of the car and one of them, described as a black man in his 20s, swore at the pensioner and kicked his dog into the air, police said. A witness took the man and his dog to a local vet where the animal later died.

Pc Chris Pinder, of Reading Police, said: "This has obviously been very distressing for the victim. The vehicle these two men were in is described as a small vehicle, dark in colour.

"The RSPCA were informed and have been assisting us with the investigation."