possibility that the animal may have been poisoned. And last night the dog's owner made an emotional appeal for information to track down the culprits who slayed her pet.

Buddy, a cross breed, was found by its owner hanging by its own rope from an outside wall of an apartment at Tribe Road No. 1, Pembroke, on Monday night.

The devastated woman, who did not want to be named, said: "I just don't know how someone could want to do something so terrible.

"I am just appealing for anyone who saw anything, heard anything, maybe heard someone talking about it.

"The last time I saw him was at about 9 a.m. when I fed him and played with him.

"He wasn't aggressive in any way -- he just wanted lots of love and attention. If you went over to him straight away he would role over and try and get you to play with him.

"If he was nervous about you he would growl and let you know that he felt uneasy. He was territorial but he was never a noisy dog.'' The probe into Buddy's death has moved on following an autopsy carried out by Government Vet Jonathan Nisbett.

ANIMALS ALS