Linda, a dog found abandoned in a flour bag with her head covered by another bag, had to be put to sleep as she was in pain and showing no signs of recovery after suffering brain damage.
But before being put to sleep, Linda, believed to be about 10 years old, was reunited with her owner who had reported her missing about a year ago.
Animal welfare officers found Linda in a white flour sack with a plastic bag over her head in Ħandaq on November 30 last year at about 1.30pm.
The animal was taken to the San Franġisk Animal Welfare Centre in Ta’ Qali to recover from the ordeal.
The dog had been microchipped and the original owner was tracked down. He had lost Linda a year ago and filed a report.
A spokesman for the parliamentary secretariat responsible for animals said the dog was discharged from the centre and given back to the owner on December 15 but had to be put down on December 24.
Linda was not able to stand and was showing neurological symptoms after suffering brain damage.
“The dog showed no improvement and the owner together with the vet decided to put the poor animal to sleep, thus ending all the unnecessary suffering,” the spokesman said.
The case highlighted the importance of microchipping that was made compulsory through a legal notice that came into force in 2011. Those who fail to microchip their dogs face a €300 fine.
Animal welfare groups had insisted that microchipping would reduce the number of abandoned animals because owners would be traceable.
Anyone having any information about who may have hurt Linda can contact the police or the Animal Welfare Department on telephone 1717.