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Pet dog's killers 'scum' - owner Pet dog's killers 'scum' - owner
(about 5 hours later)
A woman has said the killing of her family's pet boxer dog has been "absolutely heartbreaking".A woman has said the killing of her family's pet boxer dog has been "absolutely heartbreaking".
Three-year-old Brannigan was beaten to death and mutilated close to Carnlough in County Antrim.Three-year-old Brannigan was beaten to death and mutilated close to Carnlough in County Antrim.
The dog had been missing from its home in Carnlough for more than a week. Its remains were found in a field close to the village on Monday night.The dog had been missing from its home in Carnlough for more than a week. Its remains were found in a field close to the village on Monday night.
Jodie Jones said Brannigan had been treated like another child in the house and described the killers as "scum".Jodie Jones said Brannigan had been treated like another child in the house and described the killers as "scum".
"That's even too good a word for them. They're evil," Ms Jones said."That's even too good a word for them. They're evil," Ms Jones said.
"That's like taking a child because that's what that dog was in this house.""That's like taking a child because that's what that dog was in this house."
Brannigan had been missing from his owners' home for eight days, however a port-mortem revealed he had been dead for just 72 hours. Brannigan had been missing from his owners' home for eight days, however a post-mortem revealed he had been dead for just 72 hours.
"There's a lot of time missing that we'll probably never know (what happened)," Ms Jones said."There's a lot of time missing that we'll probably never know (what happened)," Ms Jones said.
The family initially thought another dog had been responsible.The family initially thought another dog had been responsible.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed Brannigan had been savagely beaten to death and mutilated with a blade. The animal's front leg was also hacked off.However, a post-mortem examination revealed Brannigan had been savagely beaten to death and mutilated with a blade. The animal's front leg was also hacked off.
This sheer barbarity cannot be allowed to go unpunished Stephen Philpott, USPCAThis sheer barbarity cannot be allowed to go unpunished Stephen Philpott, USPCA
Ms Jones said her children would particularly miss the pet.Ms Jones said her children would particularly miss the pet.
"We have a wee 10-year-old here who has Asperger Syndrome and he loved Brannigan to pieces and he related so well to Brannigan," she said."We have a wee 10-year-old here who has Asperger Syndrome and he loved Brannigan to pieces and he related so well to Brannigan," she said.
Stephen Philpott of the USPCA said the attack was savage.Stephen Philpott of the USPCA said the attack was savage.
"This sheer barbarity cannot be allowed to go unpunished," he said."This sheer barbarity cannot be allowed to go unpunished," he said.
"The identity of those guilty must be made known to the USPCA, to Crimestoppers or the PSNI before they can commit such vile acts in the future.""The identity of those guilty must be made known to the USPCA, to Crimestoppers or the PSNI before they can commit such vile acts in the future."
The family say they have no idea who would have carried out the attack.The family say they have no idea who would have carried out the attack.
They have offered a reward of £500 for any information which leads to the attackers being caught and prosecuted.They have offered a reward of £500 for any information which leads to the attackers being caught and prosecuted.