A SWAN had to be put down after a possible dog attack in Worcester as the founder of a community group caring for the birds appealed to people to keep their pets on leads.

Marilyn McCarthy, founder of the Swan Food Project, shared the appeal on Facebook after the young swan was injured in Bromwich Parade in Worcester and urged others to pass on the message. Although she said she could not be entirely certain how the bird was injured, dog attacks on swans had occurred previously in the city.

Mrs McCarthy urged people to keep their dogs on leads as a precaution to protect the swans which she said were ‘the heart of Worcester.’ The swan was put down at the Vale Wildlife Hospital in Beckford near Evesham.

Mrs McCarthy, speaking on Thursday, said: “Today a young swan from the sanctuary was put to sleep following an open fracture of his leg - right up at the top.

“The bone was sticking out. We don’t know what happened, but I do know that dogs off leads race along Bromwich Parade, and sometimes down the boathouse steps, sending the swans scattering in alarm.

“This is not amusing. Swans are clumsy out of water. Some of the sanctuary swans are elderly, or have only one wing, so they cannot use their wings to balance. In a couple of months all the swans will moult their wing feathers. They won’t be able to half-fly down the steps to escape. They’ll be at even greater risk.

“I beg you, put your dog on a lead between the cathedral and the gate to Bromwich Parade. Even if your dog is very old, very obedient, or walks to heel - and I agree that lots of dogs walk by without problems - put him on a lead to set a good example to owners of young and boisterous dogs.

“The swans have very few places to get out of the water - which they need to do to be able to preen their feathers. Please do respect the little space they have.”

The aim of the Project is to make it easy for the community to come together to look after swans that come to Worcester to stay (the older or less able swans), to come and go, or to pass through. The Swan Food Project began in April 2014 with the sale of bags of swan food from the bulk purchase of Ark Wildlife floating swan pellets.

The Project also sells 15kg sacks of pellets to local people who want to feed the swans regularly.