Tallaght residents last night expressed disgust at the discovery of a body of a dead dog which died from strangulation after it was tied to a telecommunications mast in a local park.
A park ranger at Tymon Park removed the animal's body after he was contacted by a member of the public at 9.40am yesterday. A second dog, which was tied to the same mast, was released and ran away.
TD for Dublin South-West Charlie O'Connor said he was outraged.
"People are really upset. These people should be brought to justice. Anyone that would do that to an animal is capable of anything."
Karen Leddy, of Brookmount, Glenview, said it was not the first incident of this kind and said a puppy had been found in the park about a month ago with a cable tied around its neck. "It was in a bad way and the vet seemed to think someone had tried to strangle it," said Mrs Leddy.
"I'd be worried about that type of people walking around the place. I mean, who would hang a dog? It's disgusting. We need more gardaí."
Gemma Keogh, of Balrothery estate, whose family has adopted four abandoned cats and two dogs, said the people who hurt the dogs were "sick individuals". "It's a handful of people," she added.
Inspectors from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed the body of the dog to its shelter in Rathfarnham. Examinations and an investigation is under way.