A vet has established that a dog that was found buried alive in Birzebbuga this afternoon had been shot.

The dog was found to have a blow on the head - now found to have been caused by a gunshot -and is now being operated. 

The discovery was made near Ghar Hasan by officers of the Animal Welfare Department after an anonymous tip-off.

Department officials said they had gone to the site to investigate animal cruelty and heard a dog whining. They lifted a plank of wood which was being held in place by a heavy trunk and found the snout of  the dog just sticking out of the soil.

When it was pulled out, the dog, a white and black mixed breed, was found to have had all four legs bound together. Its mouth was also tied. 

Despite everything, the animal welfare officers said they were surprised that the dog was friendly and did not try to run away. It is being treated at the animal welfare centre.