Hero dog poisonedin 'terrible' attack

WILLIAM McLaughlin with Jess

A HERO three-legged pet dog who saved his master's life has been poisoned by a mystery attacker.

Six-year-old Jess, a border collie, was left writhing in agony after eating a piece of contaminated meat thrown into the garden of her owner's bungalow home.

Distraught pensioner William McLaughlin (67), carried his stricken pet to a friend who rushed them to a vet in Salford.

The drama unfolded when William, a retired contractor who lives in Springhead, called Jess in for her evening meal.

"Normally, she waits by the door," he explained. "Instead, she was lying at the bottom of the garden.

"She looked round at me pitifully and dragged her body towards me. Her legs couldn't carry her.

"I felt Jess's stomach. It was rock hard and I knew something was really wrong.

"I called a friend for help and took Jess to a vet who immediately put her on a stomach pump and confirmed she had been poisoned.

"I was deeply shocked. Who would do such a terrible thing? I'm mystified why anyone would want to hurt Jess."

"She is adored by everyone. My friends and I just can't comprehend the reasons for doing such a dreadful thing," he added.

Jess, who was kept at the vets overnight, is now fully recovered.

She first hit the headlines last November after giving William a lick of life when he collapsed on a lonely, isolated country path.

For half an hour, Jess licked his face and pushed and prodded him one of her front paws until he came round.

William, who comes from a farming family in County Donegal, said: "Jess never left my side and undoubtedly saved my life."

"There was absolutely no one was around and I would have been in dire straights if Jess had not stayed with me," he declared.

"As it was, I was able to get back on my feet, with the help of my shepherds crook, and return safely home."

Jess lost her left back leg when it was amputated after she had been involved in a collision with a car when she was just three months old.

"But she's never seen that as a handicap," William added. "She keeps a watchful eye on me all the time."