Family campaigns for Staffies to be added to ‘dangerous dogs list' following mauled cat

The pet cat, Cleo, was mauled by two Staffies which was video recorded by a doorbell camera. Despite the dog's owner attempting to stop them, the dogs killed Cleo on the family’s driveway in Ash Avenue, Brickfields.

Sharon Boalch says she is angry following the attack and claims if the dogs were kept on leads or had been muzzled her cat would still be alive.

Mrs Boalch said: “Something good has got to come out of something so bad.

“Dangerous breed dogs need to be muzzled. People need to be educated and told that their dogs should be kept on leads in public to prevent these attacks from happening.

“The government needs to do more for this sort of thing. We want to push for a law to be made making sure all dangerous dogs are to be kept muzzled in public places. If this law happens, then the wrong type of people owning these types of dogs will think twice about letting them off their leads.

“I’ve always said prevention is better than cure.”

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced with the aim of protecting public safety. The legislation includes banning four types of dogs, however, Staffordshire Bull Terriers has not been put on the list.

The dangerous dogs list include these breeds: Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasiliaro, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa. This means it is illegal for anyone to breed, sell, exchange, advertise, or allow such a dog in public without a lead and muzzle.

Mrs Boalch’s husband, Ian, watched the footage back after the attack and said the dogs were off their lead and jumped onto Cleo unprovoked.

Mrs Boalch said: “I am angry now. The heart still hasn’t recovered – I felt numb before, completely bewildered by what had happened.

“What happened to Cleo wasn’t fair. We are mourning her death and we just want our cat back. We won’t rest until something is done.”

The story sparked a massive reaction from the Worcester News readers.

Ash Bee said: “A dog owner is responsible for their dog. The dog was not on a lead and wasn’t muzzled, so the dog owner clearly hasn’t taken reasonable steps to prevent this from occurring and controlling the dog.”

Andrew Brown said: "1. The dogs were out of control. They should have been on a lead. The footage shows they were not. He was dragging and kicking the dogs.

“2. He did have the decency to tell the owner. That takes some courage but in no way diminished the gravity of the control issue

“3. But then saying he was taking the cat to the vet and hasn't.

My theory is that the owner has been so distraught and angry and having accused him of not having his dog on the lead he then decided to make sure the body was not found. It was evidence and he's admitted the incident to several people.

Hopefully the police will use the evidence to at least take a case about the dogs not being under control and consider a case of potential theft of the cat’s body.”

Rob Meese said: "Shocking. This is why all dogs outside their home/garden should be on lead or muzzled."

READ MORE: