A MAN is being hunted after he was seen drowning a dog in Canvey.

A member of the public tried to intervene when the man was spotted holding a small ginger terrier under the water beneath a jetty at Hole Haven Point.

The RSPCA is now appealing for witnesses to come forward after the shocking incident on Monday, April 8.

Despite expressing their distress to the man about what he was doing, the passer-by was chased off and immediately contacted the RSPCA about what they had seen.

Inspectors were told the man held the dog under the water for at least eight minutes.

Matthew Gough, RSPCA inspector, has praised the person for attempting to help, but is calling for anyone else with information to come forward.

He said: “We have not been able to find the body of the dog and do not know whether there is an owner out there desperately searching for their pet.

“Unfortunately it is not an area covered by CCTV cameras, but we have a good description of the person who did this and I am hopeful someone will realise that a man like this is suddenly without his pet.

“It is an area popular with dog walkers and someone may have seen him getting into a car with the body of his dog.”

It is not known who owns the dog, but a spokeswoman for the charity said if it emerges the pet in fact belonged to someone else, a criminal offence would have been committed and Essex Police would be called in to investigate.

“It is a very terrible thing to do to an animal. Most people are inhibited to do anything that dreadful, however there are individuals in society who don’t have those inhibitions.”

The man is described as in his 50s with grey hair and is stocky. He was wearing a dark navy jacket with light blue jeans and blue shoes.

Anyone with information is urged to call the inspector information line on 0300 123 0188 in confidence.