Family's horror when 'heartless' police dig up late dog's body - and dump him 'upside down in wheelie bin'

Antony Evans was horrified when he learned his brother James' elderly dog had been exhumed by police just hours after the pet was peacefully buried in his favourite place. The 50-year-old said labrador Flint was a 'big part of the family' - and had a happy send-off in a forest near Newtown, Wales, after his death last month. However, the dad-of-two soon learned Flint had been 'dug up' after Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of a man with a 'large dumper bag' spotted 'kneeling over with a spade' in the woods and 'thought it could be a dead body'.

Antony, who lives in Newtown, Powys, Wales, knew immediately this was Flint - and contacted local police about collecting their late pet. But the former overhead powerline worker was disgusted when he went to pick up Flint's remains from the police station and found him 'upside down in a wheelie bin'. The grandad-of-three said police showed no consideration for the family or Flint - and is calling for a formal apology from police.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed they attended due to concerns that a man had been seen 'burying a body in the woods'. They admitted it was 'unfortunate' that there was 'no facility at the police station to store the dog in a way in which they would have liked'.

Antony said: "When I went to the station, they wheeled a bin out with tape over it and Flint was lying in there. We thought he'd be in a freezer, turns out he was in a blue waste bin upside down. It's been an absolute nightmare. We found him in the wheelie bin, bleeding from his mouth. They said it was too expensive to keep him in the freezer. They had no consideration for the family or how they treated the corpse. It's just been brushed under the table. They don't care. It meant nothing to them. They weren't sympathetic at all, which is what annoyed me."

Flint began falling ill earlier this summer after struggling to walk around in the house. So when he died in August, the family agreed to bury him in his favourite place - a local woodland in mid-Wales.

Antony said: "Flint used to talk to us. He used to answer us when we talked to him. James has only ever had Flint - it was only them two. He's on his own. Everybody loved the dog. He had more friends in the town than we did. He was James' best friend. They used to sleep together every night.

"He was coughing a lot and started to struggle going down steps. He lived such a happy life. His death really affected James.

"James and Flint used to go walking in the woods all the time. He had a happy send off in the forest. I dug a hole while they went to the vets and we put him in and James kissed him. We filled it in and James put a cross there and he was happy."

However, the family soon learned that police officers had turned up at the woods following a call over concerns that a 'dead body' had been buried in the forest.

Distraught, Antony rang the police to explain the situation - and enquire about where their beloved family pooch was. Antony said: "Next thing you know, we heard the police turned up at the woods and they'd unearthed him. Everyone around here knew Flint and knew he had died. I said to the officer on the phone 'I don't murder that many people to be fair'. There's no crime here - we're in mid-Wales. It's the safest county in Wales."

After submitting a complaint, Antony received a letter from Dyfed-Powys Police explaining why various measures were taken place. The letter states that there was 'no facility' at the station to store Flint in the freezer and made 'unsuccessful enquiries' to contact the owner. They apologised for any distress caused but said the dog was treated with the 'utmost respect'.

Antony said: "I'm really disappointed in the police. It doesn't feel right. You don't do that, desecrating a grave. There's much more they could be getting on with. I kept James from it because he would've been more upset than he already is. I'd like an apology from them in Flint's memory."

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: "Police received a call at 8pm on the 3rd September, from a member of the public raising concern that a man may have been burying a body in woodlands. Officers attended the location due to the concerns raised and located a dog wrapped in a bag.

"Officers made initial enquiries to identity the owner but were unsuccessful. The dog was not left at the location due to attempts already being made to dig it up prior to police attendance. Unfortunately, there was no facility at the police station to store the dog in a way in which we would have liked.

"Further enquiries were due to be undertaken the next day however the dog was handed over prior to this. We understand that the owner was unhappy with how the dog was handed over. The dog was treated with the utmost respect and with a natural feeling of sadness as many officers are dog owners themselves."