A distraught dog-owner today offered a £1,000 reward in a bid to hunt down burglars who killed his pet and dumped the bloodied body over a fence.
Mr Ian Rutledge hit out at thieves who battered his nine-year-old German Shepherd, Shane, when they broke into his home in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.
He said: "I'm shattered by this. Shane must have confronted them and has paid for it."
Mr Rutledge, who lived alone with the dog, was working at his nearby petrol station when the robbers broke into the house at Warren Gardens, Lisburn.
They ransacked the property, stealing cigarettes and phone cards during the raid last night.
But it was the attack on Shane before they escaped in a white Ford Transit van which sickened police and left Mr Rutledge heartbroken.
"There was a lot of blood on the footpath at the rear of the house," he said.
"They had obviously beaten the dog to death and thrown it over the fence to the house next door."
Mr Rutledge vowed to do everything possible to bring the killers to justice.
"These people were completely thoughtless," he said.
"But I am prepared to put up a reward to get them caught. I have decided to offer £1,000 for information that will lead to their apprehension."
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman also called on the public to help. He said: "Anyone who witnessed this brutal incident, or who has any information, is urged to contact detectives in Lisburn."