A Milford family have demanded justice after their pet dog was shot in the head at point blank range.
Duke was blasted in the head at point-blank range
Nicola Budd was left devastated when she heard a loud bang and found their pet Duke dead in a field just one hundred yards from their home.
At first the family thought three year old Duke had been knocked down.
But on closer inspection they soon realised he had been gunned down.
Nicola revealed “What happened next will haunt me for the rest of my life.
“ I found our sweet, gentle soppy dog with half his face hanging off, his jaw severed, and his face peppered with blood-seeping shotgun pellet holes.
“Duke was rushed to the vet, was sedated, and laid on a table, we stroked him, whispered to him, reassured him.
The vet advised us that nothing more could be done for him due to the extent of his injuries, it was confirmed by the vet that Duke had been shot, and had been shot at virtual point blank range, we were advised to report it to the Guards immediately. And so, after a quick painless injection, Duke breathed his final breath,” revealed Nicola.
Over the next two hours Nicola said she cleaned up, scrubbing the blood from the steps and around the house.
Nicola says she rushed to do so as two of her children were at school and she did not want them to see the manner in which Duke died.
”We also dug a grave for Duke in our garden, so the children would not ask to see him as to witness his face would have haunted their heads for some time,” said Nicola.
She added “Telling the children that afternoon was the hardest thing we have ever had to do, watching there faces as they tried to comprehend what we was telling them, trying to comfort them as they broke down into tears, watching them run around the house calling out for their brother, trying, and failing to give them answers, listening to them say sweet prayers around his grave.”
Nicola reported Duke’s killing to local Gardai who confirmed they are carrying out an investigation into the incident.
A number of people have also been informally questioned about the killing of the family pet.
Nicola says that ten days after the horrific incident, her family’s life has been changed forever.
But she says she will continue to search for answers and is determined to find out who killed Duke and why they did so.
“Duke has gone and there is a emptiness in the house, we miss him dearly, and still in many ways act as if he is still around each morning.
“I go into the utility room to wish him good morning, each time the dishes need washing I scrape the remains onto a plate to give to Duke only then to remember that he is no longer with us.
“ Time has stood still, his food bowls are in his cupboard, his collar too. We are in limbo and want answers, we want justice, Justice for Duke.
“The cold reality is this someone held a gun to our dogs head, acting outside the confines of the law and pulled the trigger, Duke is now dead and no one has claimed responsibility.
“ A member of our family, animal, dog, pet whatever label you wish to use, has been killed and we want justice,” fumed Nicola.
A Facebook Page ‘Justice For Duke’ has been set up and a number of people have already left comments.