Duke was blasted in the head at point-blank range
ANGRY readers are offering a reward to catch the trigger-happy thug who blasted a family pet to death.
Donegal Daily yesterday told you the story of Duke, the much-loved dog who was shot in the head near his owner’s home near Milford.
Owner Nicola Budd last night thanked Donegal Daily and our readers for their overwhelming support.
And that support has translated into a reward to catch the person or persons responsible, a reward Donegal Daily will double – a reward now standing at €1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible.
Mickey Forde from Lakeside Kennels in Dungloe said he was outraged when he read the story on Donegal Daily. He told us: “I will offer €500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the scum of the earth that killed this poor animal.
“Anybody else who wants to ad to that amount are more than welcome to do so. Let’s bring this scumbag to justice.”
Donegal Daily has added €500 to that – taking the total to €1,000.
Nicola Budd and her three children say they were left devastated when they found pet Duke dying in a field just one hundred yards from their home. The animal had struggled to make it home after the incident and had to be put to sleep by a vet.
Last night she thanked Donegal Daily and its readers for restoring her hope.
“It is reassuring to know that empathy and compassion still exist,” she said.
“Despite the stresses and strains and individual struggle of everyday life countless friends and numerous strangers have taken time to express their sympathy and disgust at what happened to Duke.”
Yesterday she told how she 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.”
Gardai are investigating 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.
Here’s how we broke the story on Donegal Daily yesterday:
Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford Garda Station.
