Man charged after female dog beaten with a kerb stone and buried alive in Ballyarnett Country Park cried tears before being put to sleep in arms of a dog rescue volunteer

The four-year-old American Bulldog, named Luna, was found in Ballyarnett Country Park in Londonderry on Wednesday evening.

She had suspected broken ribs, broken teeth, swelling on her head with brain trauma and signs or one of both lungs being collapsed.

Vivien Kelly, centre manager at Pet FBI Rescue in Londonderry, said the dog had been repeatedly beaten with a kerbstone and then buried alive under rocks to stop her escaping. However, a member of the public discovered the dog and dug it out.

Vivien said: "She was skeletal. I took her to my own vet and she was skin and bones - there was nothing to her.”

Appealing for information, police said that two men were seen in the area at around the time the dog was found. One was approximately 5'10 tall, well-built and wore a distinctive camouflage hooded top with the hood pulled up.

The second man was of a similar height, of a slim build with black hair and wore a dark blue tracksuit. They left in the direction of Cornshell Fields, police said.

Vivien has since been sent photos of Luna - with matching markings - around Christmas time with a litter of ten pups that were being advertised for sale on Facebook.

"Luna is an American Bulldog breed. People will pay an awful lot of money for them. You are probably talking £1000-£1200 for each pup."

She has been advised that at least two litters have come out of Luna, meaning she could have earned someone around £24,000.

"There were also injuries on her relating to dog fighting or being used for bait in dog fighting.

"I saw the marks on her. I took her to the vet and it was him that pointed out the teeth marks on her."

The dog was not chipped, despite it being a legal requirement.

"Alot of people deliberately don't chip it so that if it doesn[t work out and they abandon the dog there is no way of tracing it back to the owner."

Luna was in so much pain that she snapped when being lifted out of the taxi to the vets, so a muzzle was placed on her.

But she never made a sound after her rescue.

"She lifted her head and she looked at me and I remember her face. Her eyes were just full of sadness and pain. Coming down one of her eyes there was just a constant drip of water - it was just like she was crying."

Dogs are able to cry tears if they are in severe distress, she says.

"It has been so traumatic - to put a dog through that. It is the most traumatic end for any animal."

The man who found her took her to a vet who administered pain relief. But as there was no owner the only option was euthanisa.

Pet FBI Rescue were notified and took Luna to their own vet to try and save her, but her injuries were far too severe.

Vivien was holding Luna when she was peacefully put to sleep.

"It was traumatic but you just switch onto automatic and do what needs to be done. Then you deal with everything else that comes afterwards."

The PSNI said a 29-year-old man has been charged to appear in court with offences including causing unnecessary suffering to animals, and four counts of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal.

He is scheduled to appear before Dungannon Magistrates' Court today.

Police said the charges relate to a report of animal cruelty in which a dog was found injured and partially buried in Ballyarnett Country Park on Wednesday.