A cat was shot with a screw in the latest sickening attack on animals in the Cavan area.

A dog had to be put to sleep yesterday after vets discovered why he was walking around in circles — a scan revealed he had 17 pellets lodged in his head.

Concerned animal welfare groups are being left to take care of ‘lost’ beagles and lurchers which had been part of either a legal hunt or, in some cases, poaching teams.

It literally was a dog’s life for this hound, who has just been saved from spending another bitter winter living on the streets.