A Dublin woman was left feeling sick after receiving vile messages under an advert looking for a missing dog.
Aki went missing in the Drumcondra area on June 28 last year and since then Lisa O'Connor (a friend of the owner) has been trying to get him back home safe.
A new campaign to find the beloved pup is offering a €6,000 reward for his safe return.
Read more: Huge reward offered to find missing dog
Aki's owner, Armando Boduljak, let him out for a toilet break that night before bed.
The three-year-old blue, merle chihuahua ran towards the corner of Fagan's Pub in Drumcondra and Armando saw a man near the dog.
Before he had caught up to the pub, the pair had disappeared.
Lisa has been running the online campaign to get the pooch home where he belongs. However, a string of disgusting text messages horrified the local woman.
The messages came from a person claiming to have Aki. They later threatened to cut off the dog's head and to do other violent things. The commenter demanded €6,000 in two instalments.
Lisa told Dublin Live that the messages left her reeling and admitted that they haven't been the first.
She said: "I have an ad up just saying that Aki is lost and asking for anyone with information to message me.
"Everyone has been nice but I just got that horrific message. It was disgusting. I felt sick.
"I don't think the person actually has Aki. I asked for proof and they didn't reply.
"I had to tell Armando. He's very upset but it's not the first time. He was getting phone calls saying that the dog was dead and then hanging up."
Armando previously told Dublin Live about the abuse he received while desperately searching for his four-legged family member.
He said: "I got a phone call from a private number saying the dog was in Ashtown," he said.
"I asked for a location and would come and give them a reward and they replied, 'your dog is dead'.
"I said it doesn't matter if he's dead, I just wanted an address to come and collect him, dead or alive.
"It doesn't matter, at least I'd know. Then the guy just hung up the phone so I think Aki is alive for sure."
You can find more information about the campaign to find Aki on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Dublin Live have contacted An Garda Síochána for comment.
Read more: Worried Drumcondra dog owner pleads for help finding beloved pet feared stolen
Read more: Young boy traumatised after dog dies in cruel hit-and-run
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