The poignant vigil, which took place at the Gourock petting zoo, included a mass signing of our Justice for Pets petition to have a legal loophole — which prevents the prosecution of the suspect for the 2011 massacre — lifted.

Gourock woman Allison Black — who organised the event — told those gathered that the evening was all about ‘love and fellowship’.

She added that Gourock was a ‘friendly and peaceful place’ where the despicable crime of grotesque cruelty had ‘no place’.

There was strong praise for the Telegraph campaign with Allison urging ‘everyone to support it’ in order to help bring about much needed change.

People, who brought along their own pets too, also took part in an ‘exchange of thoughts’ ceremony about the tragedy.

One man told the Telegraph: “I think that what you are doing in highlighting this matter is absolutely brilliant.

“The general mood among people at the vigil, and others I have spoken to, is that there is one law for humans and another completely different and unfair one for animals.

“I really hope that everything the Telegraph is doing comes to full fruition and that we really can get justice for pets.” Our campaign was launched in response to the public outcry which followed our revelation that prosecutors are powerless to haul the Pets’ Corner suspect into court. A legal time bar saves the accused man from facing justice because a DNA breakthrough came more than six months after the commission of the horrific crime.

Police sent a full report on the Pets’ Corner killing spree to the procurator fiscal after arresting an 18-year-old suspect in 2013.

But a Crown Office official said: “Criminal proceedings must be raised within six months from the date of the offence.”