A family has been left heartbroken and looking for answers after their elderly dog went missing and was later found wrapped in wire and nailed to a tree.
The Kingston family of Mountrath, Ireland, learned their dog, Hutch, had died after a couple found him on a riverbank and rescued him.
Hutch was still alive when the couple cut him down and called for help. He died in the arms of the woman who found him as she comforted him in his last moments.
John Kingston posted the news of Hutch on Facebook and wrote:
“This is our family pet that was found in Mountrath in the last few days. He suffered a horrendous death after been wired and nailed up to a tree. It broke his leg and other horrible injuries.
“He is always kept in a walled off yard and garden but on this occasion he was let out for a few minutes and he strayed off. He was elderly now in dog years. We have had him over 12 years.
“Some evil people must have came across him and did this. WHY? we do not know.”
Kingston has since taken down the post and photos so his children won’t see them, but the Mountrath Development Association also shared the story in an effort to help find the person(s) responsible for the horrific crime. They wrote:
“A poor dog was found on Sunday morning nailed to a tree and wrapped in wire on the riverbank in Mountrath between the Quakers graveyard and Rushin Road. He had been there for some time.
“Hutch’s family are distraught, he was a beloved family pet who was missing for a few days but he was so badly injured that he had to go to eternal sleep.
“He slipped away in the loving arms of the lady who found him with her teardrops falling on his head and being snuggled by her dog who sensed something was wrong and was comforting him.
“Thank you so much to the kind couple who cut him down, called the vet and stayed with him and comforted him in his last moments.”
They added: “The person who did this is living in our town, the entire community of Mountrath should be incensed at this outrageous cruelty. Gardai are investigating and a lot of people have come forward with information”.
Note: the photos below are graphic and may be distressing to some readers.
Mountrath Development Association
The Irish Mirror confirmed that the Irish police (gardai) are investigating Hutch’s death and that the family is offering a reward for any information on who may have done the horrific crime.
A fundraising campaign on GoFundMe has also been started to help Hutch’s family raise money towards the reward. The Mountrath Development Association says that all money collected will be used to: 1. Provide a reward for information leading to the conviction of the culprits. 2. Cara Rescue Dogs. 3. Build a Dog Park in Mountrath.
Over €2,800 has been raised so far by the campaign.
The groups involved in mobilizing the community are hoping for the perpetrators to be caught, saying, “Our aim is that Hutch’s torturers will be brought to justice and that something good for the community will come out of this shocking act.”
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