Police are investigating after a kitten was reportedly mauled to death by a Staffordshire bull terrier.
Tazia died after being attacked by the dog in Stanley on Friday night, said the 10-month-old kitten’s owner, Denise Connelly. She said her pet had wandered into a neighbouring garden, where the dog pounced.
The 37-year-old believes the dog should be muzzled to prevent it killing another pet. Denise and her husband, Adam, were getting ready for bed at their home in Stanley when they heard their cat screaming in pain.
Denise said she had witnessed her neighbours trying to make the dog let go of the cat before Adam sprang into action.
“My husband ended up leaping the fence,” she said.
“He knocked the dog out of the way and grabbed the cat and came through.
“By the time he got back and I’d called the vet, she’d gone. Other neighbours saw what had happened and called the police.
“You couldn’t actually see any injuries. She had a couple of puncture wounds on her belly. I don’t know if the dog has broken her neck or crushed her ribs and her lungs.”
She added: “My grief has turned to anger. I know cats have the right to roam in their favour but if you know . . . your dog doesn’t like cats then you either muzzle your dog when it’s out or have it on a lead.”
Denise said she hoped the dog would be rehomed.
“I absolutely love animals and I don’t want it to be destroyed,” she explained.
“I’d rather it was rehomed.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We received a report of an incident involving a cat being attacked by a dog at Athole Street, Stanley, on Friday April 11.
“Sadly, the cat died and officers are continuing with inquiries.”
The dog’s owner declined to comment when approached by The Courier.
Picture by Phil Hannah