This is the horrifying moment a pigeon was found with its head "ripped off" near a Darlington school.
A wildlife rescuer has urged people to help injured animals after making the grim discovery yesterday morning, near where "kids and parents walk home from school".
A volunteer from wildlife rehabilitation group Darlington Bird Rescue said concerns were raised about a young wood pigeon that had been spotted grounded and apparently unwell.
The volunteer attended the scene on September 10 and was left "heartbroken" by what they saw.
The pigeon was dead, its head "ripped off" and its body had been left beside a route used by families and schoolchildren, the volunteer claims.
Writing on social media, Darlington Bird Rescue said: "Whoever did this you are disgusting."
They claim the way the bird was killed "in no way humane".
The rescuer said the bird's injuries did not appear consistent with an attack by a predator.
The rescuer said: "No wounds. No obvious injuries. He was even fat. I don't know why he was down, but I know with what was left he likely had a good chance to recover.
"Who in their right mind thinks that they have the right to kill something because it feels unwell?
"Let alone in this way and then leaving the body in a place where kids and parents are walking home from school."
"I just can't believe this world," the volunteer added.
The rescuer asked why nobody intervened sooner and urged people to get help for injured wildlife instead of deciding its fate themselves.
The post continued: "I am heartbroken, disgusted, and ashamed; ashamed I didn't get there sooner.
"Please, for the love of God, if you find an injured animal, take it with you. If you can't, ask a passerby for help, for their sake."
The incident is understood to have happened close to CCTV cameras, with hopes that footage could help establish exactly what happened.
Supporters reacted strongly, with one calling the incident "abhorrent behaviour" and saying injured animals should be assessed by wildlife rehabilitators or qualified vets, not members of the public trying to "put them out of their misery".
Others called the discovery "sickening" and thanked the volunteer for caring for injured wildlife.
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Another said: "My thoughts are with you, in that you had to endure that. It’s sickening. Why are there such evil people around? Thank you for caring."
"Omg, poor soul, I am so sorry you had to see this," added another.
Just 500 metres away, the rescuer found another young wood pigeon of a similar age alive but injured beneath one wing. The bird was taken into care and is expected to make a full recovery.
The rescue group said: "At least he is healthy and shouldn't be with me [at the bird rescue] long."
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