A PET owner has called on dog owners to be ‘more responsible’ after her cat was killed in an ‘horrific’ attack outside her home.

Devastated Jo Ellis, a widow who lives near Netherbury, found herself burying her beloved six-year-old Siamese cat, Stoppit, after he was attacked and killed by a dog off the lead.

The attack took place on the drive outside of Mrs Ellis’ home on Sunday, September 24, where the cat died tragically in her arms, with injuries to its back and neck.

Mrs Ellis, who implements information system management systems for schools worldwide, said she thought the attack was carried out by a lurcher type dog, which are historically bred to hunt rabbits and hares.

She is calling upon dog owners to read up on the dogs they own.

She said: “I looked up and shot down the stairs, and I could see him covered in blood. I could see the spine and it had its guts out everywhere, it made a terrible mess – it was horrific.

“It wasn’t an accident, it was an avoidable incident. I have a Labrador myself, so I don’t hate dogs, owners just need to be more responsible and properly do the research on the dog they own.

“They are bred for coursing, it should have been muzzled. You can’t take the instinct out of the dog.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

The loss of her beloved cat has left her ‘shocked’ and she admitted that she doesn’t know what she is going to do. Mrs Ellis also described Stoppit as a ‘real character’ who would play with finger puppets and steal clothes.

Despite the owners of the dog showing remorse for what had happened, Mrs Ellis felt it was a little too late for apologies.

She added: “The owners, although sorry, described their pet as never having done anything like that before.

“When will dog owners understand the type of dog they own and that they are always capable of killing, if not on a lead or muzzled in public places, and the impact this has on those left behind is totally devastating.

“In this case a widow, whose now dead cat has taken the sunshine that got her up in the morning and his brother Hurryup, who has no idea where his brother has gone.”

The News reached out to the owners of the dog, who said were devastated by what had happened, but they did not want to comment on the incident.

In response to the dog attack, an RSPCA spokesperson,  said: “We’re very sorry to hear that a cat has sadly lost their life in these upsetting circumstances and we send our condolences to the owner at this time.

“All dog owners have a legal responsibility under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to keep their dog under control in a public place. This legislation is enforced by the police.

“We encourage all dog owners to ensure their pets are well-socialised, have had training and access to a good diet, regular exercise and suitable vet check-ups. Anyone who is concerned about the behaviour of their dog should speak to their vet or a clinical animal behaviourist for help.”