A severely neglected Border Collie suffering from chronic abdominal pain was left tied to a gate outside a dogs’ charity premises and left to die.
The animal was discovered by a member of staff at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Finglas, Dublin, earlier this month. It was in such distress and pain that staff made what they said was the difficult decision to euthanise it.
The charity, which released two images it said showed a man tying the dog to the gate and then driving off leaving the dog collapsed on the ground, said the in cident happened at about 6am on Friday July 5th.
Dogs Trust centre manager Catriona Birt said: "A staff member heard crying and was horrified to find this beautiful lady lying down outside tied to the gates of the centre."
She said CCTV footage revealed “a man dressed in a suit, drive a dark coloured Peugeot 607 up to the external fence of the centre in broad daylight, whereupon he tied the female dog to the gate”.
“The unfortunate dog fell to her feet almost straight away and remained in that position until the member of staff discovered her.”
The dog was immediately seen by the Dogs Trust vet team and pain relief was administered.
“The poor dog was in excruciating pain having been severely neglected, there was severe hair loss on her rear possibly from being left in her own faeces for long periods of time,” Ms Birt said.
“She had renal failure and no mobility. She was taken to an external vet to be sedated for an x-ray. The difficult decision to euthanise the dog under sedation was made by the vet as she was past the point of recovery and in unbearable pain. We are all terribly upset.”
Executive director of the charity, Mark Beazley, said the incident had shocked all the staff at the charity.
“It is difficult to understand how people can mistreat and abandon a dog in such pain.”
“We would encourage people to seek information about the proper way to deal with such a situation. However, in this instance, the dog should have been taken to a vet for emergency care,” Mr Beazley said.
The organisation was open to anyone who wished to seek advice about rehoming a dog or any other aspect of dog welfare.
Mr Beazley asked that anyone who believed an animal was being cruelly treated or neglected should call the ISPCA national animal cruelty helpline on 1890 515515 or their local Garda station.
Dogs Trust said it had reported the “appalling incident” to its local Garda station in Finglas. It appealed for anybody with more information to contact the station at 01- 666 7500.