Cat dies from dog attack

Rose Harland • Published 15 Jul 2010 08:00 0 Comments

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DISTRAUGHT pet owners believe that the same dog was responsible for a vicious rampage that left one cat dead and another badly injured.

Sophie Everett's beloved 11-year-old tortoiseshell cat Chunk died after being mauled outside his home by a black dog, thought to be a Staffordshire bull terrier. Just an hour before, neighbours called the police after a dog matching that description severely wounded a cat belonging to Andrea Bennett.

Mrs Everett was out when the attack happened outside her home in Nightingale Crescent, Harmans Water, but her mother, Colette Mackness, was there. Mrs Everett, 36, said: "My mum said the noise was horrific. She was so frightened. The cat's tongue was hanging out like it had been in a car accident."

Chunk managed to escape and Ms Mackness rushed him to the out-of-hours vet at Pine Grove Veterinary Clinic in Crowthorne but he died on the way. The vet then told her that another cat was brought in after a similar attack at around 7.30pm that evening, Tuesday last week.

In that incident, Ms Bennett had to pull 10-year-old tabby Tom from the jaws of the dog that attacked him outside their home in Charterhouse Close, Forest Park. It has cost her nearly £900 for Tom's treatment.

She said though: "My concern is that it doesn't happen to anyone else. It could have been a child."

After the second attack, neighbours managed to capture the dog and called police. Mrs Everett said that a woman who had reported it missing to police then came to collect it just as Ms Mackness returned.

Mrs Everett and Ms Bennett are now awaiting the result of a police investigation and want to hear via the News on 01344 456611 about any other attacks.

Mrs Everett said: "Chunk was adorable. He was Jamie's - my four-year-old boy's - best pal. They went everywhere together.

"We told Jamie that Chunk has gone to sleep and gone to live in the sky with Michael Jackson."

It is the second tragedy to befall the family after three dogs belonging to Ms Mackness, the landlady of The Squirrels pub in Winkfield, died from smoke from a tumble dryer fire at her home a month ago.

A police spokeswoman said neighbourhood teams are investigating the cat attacks.

This article appeared in Villager 15 Jul 10

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