Upset dog owner says his beloved pet died on Spirit of Tasmania

A distraught dog owner has ripped into the Spirit of Tasmania on social media after he says his dog died during an overnight trip.

Mook allegedly died during an overnight trip aboard the Spirit of Tasmania. Picture: Marcus John

A DISTRAUGHT dog owner has ripped into the Spirit of Tasmania on social media after he says his dog died during an overnight trip.

South Australian Marcus John said his dog Mook, a 93kg mastiff, died below deck after he boarded the Spirit on Tuesday evening for the 12-hour journey to Tasmania.

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“I’m... absolutely devastated... they have lack of ventilation and it stressed him and he died,” Mr John wrote on Facebook.

“The captain came and got my car keys and they wrapped my best friend in a sheet and put him in the back and came and got me.

The Spirit of Tasmania. Picture: Supplied

“They took me down and said sorry, shook my hand and sent Rose and I off to see Tasmania with our dead best friend.

“You were a special boy Mook love you for ever buddy.”

Opposition infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne has called on Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff to immediately explain the circumstances of the reported death of the dog and release the results of the investigation into the polo horse deaths from January last year.

“Travellers on the Spirit of Tasmania need to have confidence that their pets and animals will complete their voyage safely,” Mr O’Byrne said.

Yesterday, Premier Will Hodgman said he expected the dog’s death would be investigated.