Emmerdale viewers outraged by distressing animal cruelty scenes

Viewers threaten to 'switch off' after harrowing scenes

Emmerdale viewers are expressing their outrage and distress after recent episodes showed Tom King abusing his dog Piper in an attempt to control his wife Belle Dingle. The vile vet, portrayed by actor James Chase, subjected Piper to harsh treatment, leaving the dog outside in all weathers without access to water in deeply upsetting scenes.

Backlash and threats to turn away

As Belle finally managed to escape Tom's abusive grip, viewers found themselves unable to bear the scenes of animal cruelty. Many took to social media to express their anger and threaten to stop watching the show. One viewer tweeted, "#Emmerdale Banishing Piper is ONE. STEP. TOO. FAR. Switching over as we speak."

Viewer complaints and regulator involvement

Previous instances of animal abuse on the show caused an uproar, leading to 876 viewers contacting the television regulator to express their concerns. The distressing moment of Tom King looming over Piper with a syringe in hand left many viewers shaken. Show producers had to reassure viewers that the dog actor, Minnie (aka Piper), was unharmed and well taken care of on set.