Reports that a dog was killed in an apparent sacrificial rite in Co Wicklow are being investigate by the Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals.
The incident apparently took place in Enniskerry last week when a dog was deliberately cut and allowed bleed to death.
A spokeswoman for the ISPCA said it was the first reported incident of this kind. She said the investigation would take about a week to complete.
It is believed the animal was killed on a make-shift altar made from stones taken froma river in Knocksink woods.
