A Fife cat owner, left distraught after his three-legged pet was mauled to death by a dog, has made an emotional plea for its owners show remorse and make themselves known.
Michael Rooney, is urging those responsible to come forward after witnesses reported seeing a couple leaving the scene at Milton of Balgonie shortly after their dog had attacked Ricky, his feline.
After a frantic search, Mr Rooney found the cat, dead, the following morning, just yards from his home.
Ricky, a grey tabby, had suffered numerous injuries in what Mr Rooney said must have been a savage attack.
He said: “I just don’t know how someone could be so heartless as to walk away after what their dog has done.
“What sort of person would do that?
“Ricky’s been my best pal since I got him as a kitten nearly four years ago and he’s been through a lot.
“Ricky had to have a leg amputated two years ago after sustaining an injury to one of his hind legs.
“Despite only having three legs Ricky managed to get around fine but now this heartless act has left me so mad.”
Mr Rooney is now pleading for the owners to show compassion and own up to what their dog has done.
He said: “As fellow pet owners, you’d think they would understand the hurt and distress this has caused.
“I’d like to look them in the eye and ask them how they would feel to it they had their dog taken away from them.”
Mr Rooney’s neighbours reported witnessing the incident in Balfour Place in Milton of Balgonie at around 1.30pm on Sunday, October 13, giving a description of a blonde-haired woman wearing a red coat and a man trying to control a dog.
Mr Rooney’s son, Cameron Rooney added: “A witness has said after the commotion the owner just shouted at the dog and walked off.
“I know some dogs chase cats, but if they are vicious enough kill a cat in the way Ricky passed, maybe walking on a lead until out of the town could be a good idea.
“Also going to see if the cat was alive after the attack would have shown a little remorse. He had a collar, there’s no excuse.”
Mr Rooney said he has reported the distressing incident to Fife Council’s dog warden in the hope the animal responsible can be traced.
A spokeswoman for Fife Council said: “Fife Council is investigating the alleged incident in Milton of Balgonie and is dealing with the matter under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.”
