A HORRIFIED dog owner found his pet beaten to death in the garden. David Atkins discovered eight-year-old lurcher Blaze dead outside his home in Chepstow, with the piece of wood used in the attack lying beside him.

Mr Atkins, 24, who had been asleep in his house as the dog was attacked in the garden, said: "I'm mortified that anybody would be able to do that to an animal - it is pretty sickening.

"It didn't really come home to me until I picked him up and saw the damage that had been done. It makes me sick that anybody could do that to anything."

He put Blaze, and his other lurcher Flash, in his garden in Bulwark Road at about 8.30pm on December 30 and when he went out to feed them the following day at 2pm he found Blaze dead.

Blaze was found outstretched on the ground with his lips curled, as if he had been growling.

Mr Atkins, who has had Blaze since he was a puppy, is at a loss as to why somebody would want to attack his dog.

He believes the only explanation is that the dog may have interrupted someone trying to break into his garden shed.

The 24-year-old said: "I don't know if somebody was attempting to break into the shed, it is sick and twisted to take it out on a dog. Blaze was friendly and very soft.

"I just hope this stops it from happening to anybody else."

Chepstow police are appealing for anyone with information of the attack to contact them on 01291 623993.