PROTECTION viewers were left horrified at a graphic animal death scene in the new Siobhan Finneran drama.

The ITV programme launched last night to much fanfare but one scene in particular left fans gasping.

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Protection viewers were left horrified by a shock sceneCredit: ITV

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Fans were shown an image of a dog after it had been shotCredit: ITV

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The safe house became a crime sceneCredit: ITV
Viewers were left flabbergasted to witness a dead dog after it was brutally shot during a cold-blooded murder scene in the home of a family currently under witness protection.

In the show, Siobhan’s character DI Liz Nyles was looking after a mother and father and their young daughter who had been moved into a safe house ahead of partaking in a trial of a notorious criminal.

At the same time, Liz had been embarking on a steamy affair with a work colleague but it soon appeared to transpire that he had a clear ulterior motive for their shock dalliance.

Having followed Liz and tracker her whereabouts, the copper managed to locate the safe house and stormed in with a gun as well as having instructed his accomplices to take a hit on the house too.

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Within seconds, gunfire rang out and the family’s dog, Barney, went running into the commotion.

A dog cry could be heard indicating the animal had been shot as the terrified young girl ran upstairs to hide.

Later, as the police got inside the property, a scene of the dead dog as evidence in the crime scene was shown with Liz having to carefully stop over the blood-soaked pooch.

The cruel scene left viewers horrified as they took to X – formerly Twitter – to call out the show.

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One wrote online: “Why kill the dog? Whats he gonna do? Talk to the police??”

Another fumed: “F*** off showing us the dead dog.”

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A third penned: “OMG! They shot the little Dog as well, ffs!”

Before a fourth wrote: “I’m sorry you can kill whoever you want but you can never ever ever harm the dog.”

Whilst a fifth blasted: “I was looking forward to this but you had to ruin it.”

Protection continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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The show was packed to the brim with violenceCredit: ITV