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The suffering Staffordshire bull terrier, named Patch, was led away from her home before the abuse was inflicted, and cops are urgently hunting the perpetrator.

She was discovered by a local woman, who called the cops before local voluntary animal rescue services also arrive.

A local vet later said he cried at the sight – the worst case of animal cruelty he had seen in decades – with the dog's mouth blistered, skin peeling, and a smell of burning flesh.

Patch was found in the Pound Road area of the Newry, Co Down, at around 6pm on Tuesday, the Northern Irish Police Service told Daily Star Online.

"The animal was taken to a local vet, however, due to the severity of its injuries the dog had to be euthanized,” the force added.

(Image: Facebook/@Doggy911rescue)

(Image: Facebook/@Doggy911rescue)

Doggy 911 Rescue South Down shared images of the animal on Facebook and made an appeal for information.

“Little patch was taken away from her home in Newry and possibly attacked with acid Patch later passed away due to her severe injuries.

“We do not tolerate animal abuse of any kind in Northern Ireland her family have been left completely devastated and heartbroken due to the actions some evil scumbag has committed against innocent patch.

“We as a rescue page based in County Down Northern Ireland are asking anyone with information or knows of anything what so ever to please come forward and speak to a member of rescue or By contacting PSNI on 101 in newry Co.down

(Image: LIAM FITZSIMONS/BBC)

“To the low life thug that has committed this kind of cruelty against an animal I hope you can sleep tonight knowing that a family have been left deeply shocked and devastated that there beloved pet dog has been taken from there lives due to your evil actions”.

Liam Fitzsimons, of Newry Veterinary Centre, received the dog at his clinic on Tuesday and said "there was only one option" when she arrived.

He told the BBC: "You could smell the burning off the animal and the skin was falling away," he added.

(Image: GOOGLE) (Image: GOOGLE)

"The dog's tongue was ulcerated as it was licking the acid off of its skin.

"In thirty years of practice, I have never seen anything like this. This is the worst case of animal cruelty I have ever come across."

The vet said that the sight of the abuse made him cry and he would remember it for a long time to come.

"I will take this case to my grave," he said. "There is a monster on the loose in Newry. If they can do this to a dog, they can do it to a human."