An injured dog pulled on the heartstrings of people across Derry and beyond this week.

Thankfully the dog had been rescued and is on his way to a vet for treatment.

The dog had been set upon by several hunting dogs and an extensive search was underway to locate the injured dog for urgent treatment.

The attack has reignited calls for a ban on hunting with dogs, after a Private Members Bill on the matter was thrown out of Stormont at the end of last year.

On a post on their Facebook page, Pet FBI said: “We received a message from a member of the public who was woken by a commotion at 3.30.

“This poor dog had been set upon by 4 to 5 out of control hunting dogs and was being torn to shreds.

“This person witnessed that it took the owner of the dogs 15 minutes to free the retriever from their grasp.

“It’s thoroughly disheartening that the opportunity to outlaw hunting with dogs was overruled by our main political parties. This type of catastrophic event is not an isolated incident.

“This is a criminal matter for Derry City and Strabane District Council and any information we are provided with will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.”

The region remains the only part of the UK where hunting wild mammals with dogs is still permitted.

The Private Members’ Bill, which was brought by Alliance MLA John Blair, was thrown out of the Assembly.

Sinn Féin voted against the Private Members’ Bill while DUP MLAs got a free vote with some backing the bill while others voted against.

The injured dog was rescued from the back garden of a member of the public who contacted Pet FBI and is being treated for his injuries in Drumahoe vets.

Pet FBI has asked that those who wish to help with the funds needed to help this injured dog’s treatment donate here.

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