Two Santacruz residents were arrested on Thursday for killing and eating their neighbour's pet dog. Vakola police identified the accused as Loloroni Imbune, 27 and Mishankh Chinaupram, 20. Police found the dog's skull, bones and skin near the residence of the accused.

The dog's owner, Santosh Shetty, 34, who works with a hospitality firm, said he and his wife Pratibha, a 32-year-old nurse, noticed the disappearance of the dog on Monday. Shetty said that when he made enquiries in the locality, and a neighbour of his spoke of having seen the dog in the company of the accused.

The dog in question, Bruno, was a 20-month-old Labrador retriever, and the couple spoke of it as a dear one.

Meanwhile, news of the grisly feast has shocked the entire neighbourhood. Shetty told dna that stray dogs and cats had disappeared from the locality previously. Locals had thought little of the disappearances until they saw the remains of the Shettys' Labrador. Now they suspect that the stray dogs and cats, too, were eaten by the accused, Shetty said.

Shetty's wife Pratibha has stopped eating after learning of the killing. She is keeping unwell, Shetty said.

"I have no words to say, I am in shock and I cannot believe one can kill a pet dog and eat it," said Pratibha, with tears in her eyes.

Police said the accused named Koko had brought along more friends to share in the feast, but that the other friends are absconding. Only Koko and Nono have been arrested, police said.

"We have arrested them under section 379 (theft) and 429 (mischief by killing or maiming an animal of the value Rs 50 or above), 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code and under section 11(1) (a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The duo has confessed to the crime," said a Vakola police official.