By Conor Sharkey
IT was a story that shocked and saddened.
The gruesome discovery last Friday of a ten-week-old pup found hanged at Strabane's Greenbrae Travellers Site.
Together with the photographer I received a call to come to the site and there before me, tethered to a shopping trolley was a little black and white collie, thought to have been there for up to two days.
We did take photos at the scene but have judged them too shocking to print.
The pup's death has prompted calls for prosecution from the USPCA, who said that even though it was unclear how the animal met its death, someone must have seen and heard something and should be held accountable.
But as police continued their investigations this week, there was, unbelievably, some good news to come out of the bleakest of situations.
At the time of the grim discovery by the PSNI and local dog warden Mark Hegarty, a number of other dogs were found in the area.
Ownership of all these were claimed by members of the Travelling Community. All, bar one.
A second black and white collie pup was found wandering around, dazed, untethered, unkempt and apparently starving.
Afraid for its safety, the Dog Warden seized the pup and transferred it to the local pound.
It has since emerged that the pup was from the same litter as the one found with the rope around its neck.
Earlier this week, the young pup was handed over to the Dogs Trust.
Mr Hegarty said he's delighted that the tragic story has ended on a positive note.
"It was a barbaric sight that greeted myself and the PSNI on Friday and it is hard to believe that something good has actually come of it.
"This little boy was running around the site when we arrived and it was obvious that no one was going to look after it.
Who knows where it would have ended up had it not been picked up. But it now has a safe future and can look forward to being placed with a responsible owner," he said.
Canine Carer with the Dogs Trust Maura Cushnen, "We are very glad to help with finding the pup a home. It was very distressing to hear what happened but at least something good has come of it. It's a happy ending to a very tragic tale."
Ms Cushnen said.
