The story of Lucy the dog who ran away on a beach walk has come to a heartbreaking end after she was shot on farmland.
The golden collie, a therapeutic dog owned by Melua Watson and her family, went missing from Ocean Beach on July 13.
Watson said the family had been informed by the Hastings District Council's animal control that Lucy had been found on a sheep farm and shot.
"The council's after hours service had received an anonymous call on Friday night to say that 'the dog that people are looking for is no longer with us as it was caught worrying sheep'."
"We are devastated at the outcome, but grateful to know what happened as we were still searching for her yesterday.