ITV Emmerdale fans switch off as Tom King runs over Belle’s dog in harrowing scenes

Emmerdale fans slammed the soap for “going too far” as Tom King ran Piper the dog over in harrowing scenes last night.

Viewers of the ITV soap threatened to switch the programme off tonight when Tom turned even more violent and ran over Belle’s dog Piper to try and control his estranged wife. Earlier today, soap bosses warned that some big scenes were ahead – but insisted no dog was harmed in the making of the harrowing scenes where Tom turns on his own pet.

In the horrific scenes, Tom is seen driving towards Piper and is later seen carrying the dog wrapped in the cloth into the surgery and telling Belle he will try and save her as a way of bringing them back together.

Taking to Twitter to share their thoughts, one wrote: “#Emmerdale Tom running the dog over. What a horrible little man. Belle needs to get as far away him as possible,” whilst a second added: “Seriously Emmerdale AGAIN with the animal cruelty SHAME ON YOU.” A third penned: “When you start by warning of animal cruelty it’s a switch off from me #emmerdale.”

“WHY is there animal cruelty storylines in Emmerdale?? Absolutely ridiculous!!!! Disturbing viewing why?! @emmerdale Awful!! #emmerdale #horriblestoryline @ITV @Ofcom,” a fourth wrote, with a fifth sharing: “That was horrid… why #emmerdale why??? Poor piper. She best survive. @emmerdale.” A sixth person took to Twitter and wrote: “I don’t want to be watching this s*** while eating my dinner.. they’ve made there point with this storyline, no need to keep dragging it out.. going way to far now. #Emmerdale.”

Actor James Chase – who plays evil Tom – has explained his character’s reasoning behind what he did. He said: “Tom is well aware of the control he can exert by using his dog in his abuse of Belle. This deliberate act, although horrifying, is Tom’s way of getting back in Belle’s life. He knows her reaction to Piper being injured will mean he can then be the one to comfort her and get close to her again. It’s a desperate act, but Tom is clutching at anything at this time.”

Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw added: “Working with the charities and hearing first hand stories from domestic abuse survivors it’s clearly all too common that domestic abusers will use the family pet as a weapon. In upcoming scenes Viewers will see Tom go to desperate measures to try and keep control of his imploding marriage to Belle, which puts Piper in great jeopardy. Could this terrible act be the motivation that finally urges Belle to report her husband as an abuser?”