Dog WAS thrown to its death says eyewitness after Wigan shopping centre plunge horror

A Staffordshire bull terrier plunged 30ft to its death from the roof of The Galleries shopping centre car park, at around 1.30pm on Monday, February 3.

Shoppers watched in horror as the dog landed in the open air market below, but not before hitting a 79-year-old woman during the fall, who was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Early suggestions were that the dog had been thrown, but the dog’s owner reportedly told the police that the pet jumped.

But a Wigan man, who saw the incident unfold, made bold claims that the initial rumours were closer to the mark than later reports.

He told the Wigan Post: “It’s a load of rubbish. There were about 20 people there, I was one of them. I saw them throw the dog.

“No dog would jump from that balcony. They are too intelligent, especially Staffies.”

The man also alleged that the dog’s owner and another person were taking drugs in the car park, and may have given the animal an illicit substance too.

“And it wasn’t just the dog that could’ve died - that lady could have been killed as well. They would have had to arrest them then, but they’re not interested.”

Frustrated with the lack of information he received when he asked the police for an update on the investigation, the man says he made some inquiries of his own, which did not add up with the official line that the dog may have jumped.

“I wandered around for a couple of days, and spoke to a few people, who were homeless drug users. Some had Staffies,” he said.

“I asked them, and they said they knew (the people in the car park), and that they were on spice and heroin. They said they’d told them they’d thrown it off.”

An RSPCA spokesman said: “The dog’s owner was on the roof with a friend when the incident happened.

“He said the Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog jumped onto the three-foot wall around the roof and fell about 30 feet below.

“Our inspector rushed the dog to an RSPCA animal hospital with horrific injuries.

“She was found to have a broken spine, broken femur, broken ankle and was suffering from internal bleeding.”

The spokesman added: “Sadly the vet made the decision to put the dog to sleep to end her suffering.”

Simon Tucker, centre manager, said: “We were made aware that a dog had fallen from the car park area into the open air market.

“This is adjacent to the entrance of the Leigh Arcade.

“The dog’s owner was at the scene.

“The dog has somehow gone over the wall which is around all levels of the car park, and we think it might have jumped.

“The owner of the dog was with it at all times and came to help it after what happened.”

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.