West Dorset: Dog in fish hook ordeal on Burton Bradstock beach (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

West Dorset: Dog in fish hook ordeal on Burton Bradstock beach

9:40am Friday 20th April 2012 in Bridport By Rene Gerryts

A NETHERBURY woman was left shaken and upset after her ten-month old border terrier’s nose was impaled by a fish hook.

Celia Oliver was walking her dog on Burton Beach when Bertie was injured.

She had to enlist the help of a couple fishing on the beach to get the hook out of his nose.

She’s making a plea to fishermen to make sure they don’t leave hooks and lines lying around – saying they could easily injure a child badly.

She said: “I was on Burton beach in the morning and my dog got a fishing hook stuck in his nose, it was an awful panic.

“I want it publicised because there are so many fishermen there normally.

“It wasn’t just the hook. It was on a long piece of nylon line with a float thing with spiky wire bits sticking out of it. If a child had stepped on it I dread to think what would have happened.

“Fortunately there was a couple of day trippers from Bridgwater setting up there and they came over and we held him very tight and got the hook out, but I had visions of having to go to the vet.

“It was terrible. It made my legs shake for half an hour.”

She added: “It made me so cross. It was just inside his nostril and I don’t think I could have removed it but this man was obviously good at doing it.”

Vice president of the West Bay Sea Angling Club Maureen Jackson said there was a very strict code of conduct for members and the problem of discarded tackle was taken very seriously.

She said the club was in the process of trying to get special bins for fishing gear – in both West Bexington and on the Jurassic Pier at West Bay – replaced after they were vandalised.

She added: “The angling club are very specific with members about not leaving gear lying around and in fact in competitions if anything is left around they are actually disqualified.

“We are very strict. But we can’t account for the holidaymakers who come down and there is also a problem if lines get broken then washed back.

“If they don’t have a shot leader put on – which is the piece between the line and the hook to hold it stronger – and know how to tie the knot if they come off, you have lead weights as well.

“If people leave bits around it is not right, there are children and animals.

“It is really down to education.”