Reward for inormation offered by USPCA after 'barbaric' dog drowing incident

Police said the two dogs – understood to be German shepherds – had been weighted down before being put into water close to Aughnacloy’s Carricklongfield Road.

On Sunday morning, the USPCA said a dumbbell had been used to prevent the dogs escaping from the lake.

Announcing the charity’s decision to put up a £500 reward, USPCA chief executive Nora Smith said: “This is a horrific sickening case of animal cruelty, and we are appalled to see such barbaric abuse. We cannot comprehend the motives of anyone who can carry out such brutal attacks against vulnerable animals like this.

"Unfortunately, this is a stark reminder of the many challenges we are facing with regards to animal welfare in Northern Ireland. We are encouraging anyone with information that may assist the PSNI in their investigation to contact them on the 101 number.”

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine described the cruelty as “abhorrent”.“I feel absolutely sick to my stomach hearing about this incident which took place near Aughnacloy,” she said.“What type of sick and twisted mind would do this to a defenceless dog? Totally abhorrent.”

The DUP representative tweeted: “I really hope those responsible are found and brought to justice for their disgusting actions. If anyone has information please bring it forward to the police or council who are investigating.”

Clogher Valley UUP councillor Meta Graham said she was not aware of such a “terrible” incident occurring in the area in the past.

"No one seems to know anything about it,” she told the News Letter.

"Who on earth would do such a thing? I can’t imagine. There are lots of places for rehoming dogs, why would anybody feel the need to go and drown two dogs?"

Cllr Graham, who lives in Aughnacloy, has urged anyone with any information whatsoever to contact police.

"People sometimes don’t think they know anything [relevant to the police investigation], but they could have seen somebody driving by, or a car they didn’t recognise. No matter how small it is, it could actually be beneficial to the police.”

She said: “I just got a dog a week ago from a rehoming centre, so why would somebody not just take a dog that they didn’t want to a rehoming centre.

“I hope whoever did it is caught and punished appropriately. To make any dog suffer like that, it really is outrageous”.

On Saturday, Inspector Hughes of the PSNI said: “Officers received a report that the dogs were found weighted down in the water shortly after 7pm on Friday, 4 August.

“The dogs were removed from the lake and have been taken to a vet where a post-mortem will be carried out in due course. We are engaging with the local dog warden.”

Insp Hughes added: “Our enquiries are under way and anyone who noticed anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1562 of 04/08/23.”

Information can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/