Christopher Cooke: "The dog's body was butchered"

The bull terrier was in the back yard of its owner's home at Shaw Court, in the Ballymagroraty area, when a number of youths entered with two dogs.

They allowed their dogs to attack the animal and allegedly kicked it to give their dogs an advantage.

The dog's owner, Christopher Cooke, said the youths involved had taken animal cruelty to its limits.

"I was out on Sunday night and I came back home... and I came into the yard and could see the dog in the kennel," he said.

His body was butchered - his back legs looked as if they had been gashed with a knife and his tail was in shreds Christopher Cooke Dog's owner

"I thought he was sleeping. I came out on Monday morning... and realised his head was badly swollen.

"The injuries he had were unbelievable. His left eye was destroyed and his head was swelled up so you wouldn't recognise him.

"His body was butchered. His back legs looked as if they had been gashed with a knife and his tail was in shreds."

Police said the "cruelty" continued for about 90 minutes. The terrier suffered injuries to its head, legs and stomach.

It had to be put down by a vet.

No-one was in the house at the time of the incident which took place at about 2000 BST on Sunday. It was reported to police on Wednesday.