A dog was snatched from its owner's garden and stabbed to death in a nearby park, the RSPCA has aid.
The brutal attackers left a trail of blood on the pavement as they then dragged the animal back and dumped him behind his devastated owner's garden fence.
The incident happened close to a Sainsbury's supermarket in the Walton area of Liverpool at about 10.30pm last night.
The RSPCA believes the male white American bulldog, named Turbo, was walked from the garden to Walton Hall Park, before he was knifed three times.
The charity has put out an appeal for information, asking for anyone with information about the viscous killing to get in touch.
A spokesman said: "We believe that this poor dog was taken from his garden and walked to the entrance of Walton Hall Park a few metres away.
"There, it looks like he was stabbed three times, leaving blood on the pavement.
“His body was then left behind his owner’s garden fence.
“This is a very sad incident and it has left Turbo’s owners devastated.
"We are very keen to trace who did this.
"There is a big Sainsbury’s which backs onto the entrance to the park on Cavendish Drive so perhaps shoppers may have seen something untoward.
"Walton Hall Park is also a well-used park and someone using the park must have seen or heard something."
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 123 8018.
