A THREE-year-old doberman was battered to death yesterday in an

Ayrshire country park. The animal had been left tied to a bush in Dean

Country Park, Kilmarnock, and when the owner returned several minutes

later, he found the dog lying in a pool of blood with its head crushed.

The incident is believed to have happened around 4.50pm.

Chief Inspector Eric Craig, of the Scottish Society for the Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals, appealed for witnesses to the horrific attack. He

said: ''The dog's head had been crushed beyond recognition. We know that

the country park was busy around the time of the incident and we would

urge anyone who may have witnessed anything to come forward.''