The vet who was forced to put down a dog after it was the victim of an acid attack said that it was "the worst case of animal cruelty" he had ever come across.

Liam Fitzsimons of Newry Veterinary Centre was speaking after the dog, believed to have been a family pet known as 'Patch', was brought to his practice on Tuesday evening.

The dog was found by a local woman with severe injuries in the Pound Road area of Newry on Tuesday evening.

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Police confirmed that the dog had to be put down due to the "severity of its injuries". They have launched an investigation into the incident.

Mr Fitzsimons said the dog had been doused with acid and the only option was to put it down.

"You could smell the burning off the animal and the skin was falling away, the dog's tongue was ulcerated as it was licking the acid off of its skin," he told the BBC.

"In thirty years of practice, I have never seen anything like this."

The vet said that the sight of the injured Staffordshire terrier had brought a veterinary nurse to tears.

"I will take this case to my grave," Mr Fitzsimons said.

Expand Close Vet Liam Fitzsimons. Credit: BBC / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vet Liam Fitzsimons. Credit: BBC

"There is a monster on the loose in Newry. If they can do this to a dog, they can do it to a human."

Local independent councillor Gavin Malone visited the woman who found the dog and said that she had been "devastated" by the incident.

"There has been ongoing problems in the area with anti-social behaviour," he said.

" I don't think there was a vindictive motive. I think it was down to sheer badness."

Belfast Telegraph