A DEFENCELESS puppy died of internal bleeding after being kicked in Dunfermline.

Five-month-old Poppy was attacked in the Linburn Road area when her owner’s back was turned.

The attacker is believed to be a man who was wearing a black jacket and walking a black labrador at around 2.30pm on Wednesday, February 7.

Dog breeder Yvonne Hannah was left devastated after hearing one of her cocker spaniel puppies was kicked to death.

She said: “One of the owners was walking her when he bent down to scoop up a poop.

“The puppy was wondering about on her extending lead as she normally did, as she would pick up a leaf or stick to take home with her.

“The next moment the dog screamed out in pain and as the owner turned around he saw a man walking away.

“The dog suffered blunt force trauma and died of internal bleeding in her lungs, so he must have kicked her and hard.

“He didn’t respond to the screams from the dog or ask if she was okay, he continued walking away quickly.”

Yvonne added that the owners are “very upset” following Poppy’s death.

The incident has now been reported to Police Scotland.

When contacted by the Press, animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA said they had no record of an attack in the Dunfermline area at the time.