Emmerdale fans rumble shock twist in Tom and Belle storyline after dog murder

Emmerdale fans have rumbled a huge twist in the Tom King and Belle Dingle storyline.

Fans were horrified when their pet dog Piper was confirmed to have died after vile Tom ran the little pooch over to try and get Belle’s attention and affection following their split. In shocking scenes, fans threatened to switch off as Tom made his feelings clear about the pet and his desperation to win his estranged wife back when buying her a car didn’t work.

However, fans of the ITV soap are convinced they’ve rumbled a huge shock twist with it all – and they believe that Piper is actually very much alive and he has just told Belle the pet is dead to try and get her close again.

One fan wrote: “Is Piper really dead tho or is he playing more games #Emmerdale,” whilst a second added: “Will Tom pretend Piper’s dead and do a burial without showing Belle the body? They won’t kill the dog #Emmerdale.” A third penned: “Is the dog really dead though or is Tom making things worse for Belle to win her back?”

Tom turned to targeting their pet dog Piper ( Image: ITV)

James Chase – who plays Tom King – warned recently that Tom is using Piper to get back in Belle’s life.

“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,” he said.

Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw added of the heartbreaking scenes: “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?”

Will Belle report Tom or has he managed to convince her that he’s trying to help her?