'What kind of people would do this?' says Cork girl after family pet found with throat cut

The owner of a family dog who had its throat cut has today told of how she had to break the news to one of her daughters.

Five-year-old Jack Russell Marvin died after being attacked in Cork last weekend.

"I said you have to go into the kitchen I've something to tell you about Marvin, and she said: 'Mam, don't tell me he's dead?'," said Sylvia McCarthy.

"I told her, I said his throat is cut and I said he's out the back - we brought him to the vet and they did the best they could do".

"It was the shock that killed him in the end, really, and she started roaring crying and she said: 'Who would do this? What kind of people would do this?'."

Gardaí are hunting those behind the torture and killing of the animal.

He was found in a ditch in Ballinderry Park in the city having suffered extensive injuries, including a cut to his throat.

A €5,000 reward is being offered for information on those who carried out the attack.

"I don't care what it is - I have to find out who did it, we have to," said Sylvia.

"He was murdered - there's cruelty to animals and there's what happened him (which) was just unbelievable".

Speaking to Eoin English of the Irish Examiner yesterday, the Lord of Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O’Leary, branded it a “senseless act of abuse on a poor pet”, and described those responsible as “sick and mindless”, saying “I hope they rot in hell for doing such an evil thing”.