Viewers of ITV Protection were left horrified during the show’s debut on Sunday evening as the crime drama depicted a rather graphic death scene involving a dog.
The new show, which began on Sunday night, introduced viewers to the murky and dangerous world of witness protection.
Siobhan Finneran stars as DI Liz Nyles, a maverick senior police officer tasked with managing confidential informants.
In the first episode, Nyles' world is thrown into chaos after one of her safe houses is attacked.
Protection stars Siobhan Finneran stars as DI Liz Nyles
ITV
The veteran cop was left with two people dead and questions over the possibility of a leak within her own unit.
However, viewers were deeply troubled by one detail in the carnage in the safe house raid – the death of a cuddly pet.
In the harrowing scene, the informant’s 12-year-old daughter Amy (Tilly Kaye) was left paralysed with fear as her adorable Shih Tzu pooch sped downstairs to investigate.
A gunshot and whimper quickly followed as Amy was forced to hide from the assassins.
The fate of the pup was confirmed as Nyles later examined the crime scene, where the camera lingered on the bloodied corpse of the cuddly animal.
Viewers were horrified by the upsetting sight and flooded social media with complaints.
“I was looking forward to this but you had to ruin it. Rule 1) The dog must never die Rule 2) If you fail to adhere to Rule 1 you certainly don't make it worse by showing the dead dog. #Protection,” one wrote on X.
Another questioned: “I know this only a tv programme but how can they shoot the dog #Protection”
Fans flooded social media with their horror at the harrowing death of the dog
ITV
“Completely unacceptable!” a third agreed before fourth even demanded: “Shoot anyone except the dog!! #Protection”
“#Protection Oh nooo! Don't shoot the poor wee dog!!!! Can't handle it!” a fifth lamented.
Even though most were horrified by the death of the pooch, some added how much they enjoyed the debut episode.
“I think this will be good but still not over the fact they had to shoot the poor little dog,” one reflected.
Another praised: “Watched episode one of #Protection – Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly work SO well together. Amazing stuff already!” (sic)
