A woman has spoken out after witnessing a pet cat killed by two ‘out of control’ dogs in Dundee.
Gillian Summers was alarmed by barking and shouting outside her Benvie Road home at around 7am on Saturday and looked out her window to investigate.
She said that she could see the owner of two German Shepherd’s trying in vain to bring them under her control while they ran amok in the street.
When the owner eventually dragged the dogs away, Gillian went out into the street to find out what had happened.
She said: “I discovered this poor little cat lying dying in the street. It was a nightmare.
“I went and got a towel and was just holding it and telling it there’s nothing I can do. I knew it wouldn’t survive. It was just gasping for air.
“I feel so sorry for whoever the owner is. It’s awful. After phoning around the police and the SSPCA, I eventually managed to get Linda, who runs the Missing Pets Dundee & Angus Facebook page, to come and collect it.
“The dogs were out of control. They were not on leads or anything.
“To then just leave the poor cat lying there dying and not tell anyone is so heartless.”
It is against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, for instance, in a public place.
A dog is considered to be dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure someone.
Gillian added that she fears nobody will be held accountable for the cat’s death.
“This is surely animal cruelty and I’m not willing to let this go, ” she said.
“The thing that has sickened me is that it feels like nobody is willing to take the responsibility of dealing with it.
“Surely we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again?
“If the owners aren’t able to control their dogs then something needs to be done.”
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We are very sorry to hear about this incident which has resulted in a cat dying a horrible death. Our thoughts are with the owner at this sad time.
“All dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their pet is under control at all times in both public and private places.
“Anyone who allows their dog to behave in an aggressive and out of control manner resulting in an attack on a person or another animal could be subject to criminal proceedings which may result in a court ordering the dog to be humanely destroyed.”
The cat’s owner was eventually found by the PDSA.
Andy Cage, Senior Vet at Dundee PDSA Pet Hospital, said: “Sadly the cat was already deceased on arrival, we have since identified the owner and will provide appropriate information to the police and SSPCA should any investigation take place.”
