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Pet dog found hanging from washing line in Omagh

Thursday, 25 March 2010

A rare-breed pedigree dog that was hung by the neck from a washing line and left to die in Omagh.

Lola, a 17-month-old French mastiff dog, was found hanging in the rear garden of a house at Meelmore Drive in Omagh.

The dog was still alive when she was strung up, and marks on her body illustrate how she struggled for life.

Police have described the dog’s death as a “cruel and vicious crime”.

Lola’s heartbroken owner Niall Kilpatrick said he couldn’t understand why anyone could kill his beloved dog.

“There has to be something wrong with the person's head, has to be,” he said.

“I've never heard anything like this — the lengths that someone went to to hang the dog. It's disgusting.”

The dog was killed while Mr Kilpatrick was out last Thursday night. A neighbour found the dead animal and phoned to tell him.

“She was a really playful dog. I can't see why anyone would do it,” he told UTV.

“Anytime she was out on a walk you could let her off the lead. She's never, ever went up to anyone or even growled at anyone. If it's something against me then I'd rather the people come up, be man about it and say it to my face.”

A PSNI spokesman said: “This was a particularly cruel and vicious crime and we would like to hear from anyone who can help us identify and prosecute the culprit.”

Anyone with information should contact officers on 0845 600 8000.

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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Posted by Patricia | 26.03.10, 19:26 GMT

In a society where human life is not respected, why should we be surprised at this?
Unfortunately, next time it might not be an animal. And there will be a next time, unless justice is served.

Posted by Edward | 25.03.10, 18:23 GMT

Oh my lord I cannot begin to say how i feel about this sick sick treatment of a poor animal ,the people / person no thats not right can't even call them animals because animals wouldn't do this to each other, they have more morals than some humans...to the owners and the pain they are going through, (its not much but), i am thinking of you and hope the thugs are caught

Posted by kate | 25.03.10, 17:45 GMT

billyboy - 1st sensible comment you have ever made !!

Posted by silly billyboy | 25.03.10, 13:32 GMT

Someone somewhere knows who did this and if they don't speak out, then they are every bit as warped and evil as the person(s) who did it.
The law needs to be changed regarding animal cruelty and welfare. I will gladly vote for a party who makes this a priority.

Posted by D Crothers | 25.03.10, 13:22 GMT

You have hit the nail on the head Billyboy - if a person can do this to a defenseless animal they will do it to another human being - the law must be changed - this is the ideal opportunity to stop a murder/savage attack before it happens.

Posted by Grainne | 25.03.10, 12:54 GMT

I am reading this from Melbourne Australia and cannot believe that anyone could be so cruel to a poor defensive animal. We can only hope that the perpetrator is caught and given the full force of the law. As a dog lover/owner they give you unconditional love,RIP dear Lola in doggy heaven.

Posted by cathy/melbourne | 25.03.10, 11:17 GMT

Sickening act of cruelty to an animal that has every right to be here as the rest of us. I really hope they catch the evil person(s) who did this. They will be judged at some point whether in this life or the next! RIP Lola

Posted by Angry | 25.03.10, 11:06 GMT

Posted by cathy/melbourne | 25.03.10, 11:05 GMT

I am so sorry for Lola's owner(s). Only a sick person would do such a thing to an animal. (Those people are also more likely to murder people in the future!) I hope some justice is served for Lola despite the fact that it will never be enough!

Posted by Amanda | 25.03.10, 10:45 GMT

Is it just me or are there a worrying number of animal cruelty stories in NI (and UK and ROI come to that)? There is no real punishment for the perpetrators, that's why it happens. A strange situation, as the culprits are obviously not the full shilling but are allowed to walk freely amongst us. I'm not happy about sharing the same air with them, let alone the same country. If we're going to punish them with community service, for example, make it a few years, not a week.

Posted by DM | 25.03.10, 10:35 GMT

Scum. When they are caught (if ever) we will hear the usual nonsense of a broken home, drunk ma and da, etc. Always excuses make for scumbags, no matter what their age is. These evil people need to be caught, because the record shows they usually go on to kill or torture human beings.

Posted by billyboy | 25.03.10, 10:22 GMT

There are some very sick people out there. The people that do this often have suffered physical abuse themselves and this can progress from animals to people. You only have to erad the background of amny serial or mass killers and find out that they use to torture animals in their youth.
We need tougher aninal cruelty laws in this country.

Posted by Ulsterman | 25.03.10, 10:19 GMT

This happened to a dog in my area about 15 years ago and I just cannot understand why someone would do this. The person(s) responsible need to be caught because they are a danger to other human beings and they need to be severely punished.

People usually refer to the culprits of these crimes as "animals" but I think that is unfair on the animals that live in our world. These people are nothing more than filth.

Posted by Liam | 25.03.10, 09:27 GMT

This has reduced me to tears. The scum who did this should be hanged from a washing line left to die. I will never understand how people can abuse innocent defenceless animals like this poor dog. I really feel for the owner. I hope the PSNI find the low life who did this even though they would probably only get a few hours community service for this crime.

Posted by Karen | 25.03.10, 09:22 GMT

Poor Lola, I hope she didn't suffer too much.

Yet another deeply distressing report of animal abuse and torture in NI. Seems to be every other day there is a report and those are only the tip of the iceberg. Nation of animal lovers? What a joke. I hope the vile cowardly excuse for a human who did this is caught and exposed quickly.

Posted by Alf | 25.03.10, 09:17 GMT

And they are known as humans. Inhumane would be more appropriate name for these perpetrators.

Posted by robbo | 25.03.10, 08:40 GMT

I barely slept last night for thinking about this. I hope whoever is responsible is caught and made an example of but I doubt that very much. Our laws regarding animal welfare stink. We are a national disgrace.
Poor dog.

Posted by P. Downey | 25.03.10, 08:04 GMT