Youths pound nails into dog’s stomach
A group of about 12 children were discovered pounding nails into the stomach of a 10-month old female lurcher, a type of dog that usually has a greyhound as one of its parents.
Niamh Allen, a member of Limerick Animal Welfare who came upon the attack in Southill, believes it was the intention of the gang to kill the dog.
“This is the worst we have ever seen. The dog was shaking with pain when we got there. They had driven nails into her back and stomach. She was too weak to defend herself from these people.
“They were literally pounding nails into her when we arrived,” she said.
One of the gang, who were as young as 10, said they intended to get a brick to kill the animal. Some of those involved told Animal Welfare workers they had killed pups they found with the lurcher.
The dog, which the welfare workers have named Angel, had been subjected to long-term abuse.
“We do not know what colour she was as she lost all her coat from mange, abuse and neglect.
“I have been at this for 30 years, but I have never seen anything like this.
“It is so sad and distressing,” said chairperson of Limerick Animal Welfare Marion Fitzgibbon.
Only last week Ms Fitzgibbon warned that acts of cruelty against animals in Limerick were escalating, often as the result of drugs.
She said the organisation, which covers the city, county and parts of Clare, is forced to pay out over €3,000 each week on veterinary, kennel and care bills for dogs they have rescued.
“We had to pay out €27,500 in October because of the huge number of incidents of animals being terrorised by having bangers tied to their legs.
“Many animals also suffered burn injuries.”
She said children as young as eight were inflicting horrendous torture on animals using knives and other implements.
Ms Fitzgibbon said she would not report the incident to gardaí as the youths were too young to be dealt with under law.
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