Kathryn Brain and Chris Warnes's 13-year-old cat Tinker was attacked on the doorstep of their Coalville home.
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| RIP Tinker |
Vets carried out three operations to try to save the cat but it died on Wednesday, two weeks after the attack.
Police say they are investigating the attack.
Kathryn said: "I saw this white staffie dog with Tinker's head in its mouth.
"It was a scene of absolute horror and I grabbed the dog's collar and tried to free the cat.
"The owner, who had three other dogs – two also not on a lead – just sauntered over, not in any sort of panic, and he told me to let go of the dog.
"Eventually, it dropped Tinker. I don't blame the dog, it is just an animal, but when you take on the responsibility of a pet you are responsible for its actions.
"The dog is dangerous and should have been kept on a lead."
The owner gave false details when asked for his name and address.
Tinker had surgery to reattach his jaw following the attack on September 27 but died as his lungs were so badly bruised he could not breathe.
Kathryn said: "The whole family are devastated."
The 36-year-old lives with her fiance Chris, 43, her mum Glenys, 78, and dad Peter, 80.
The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act created an offence of being the owner of a dog of any type or breed which is dangerously out of control in a public place.
A police spokesman said: "We are investigating. We are looking at the CCTV footage of the incident and are working to identify the owner of the dog."
Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 0116 222 2222.
A Dalmatian was mauled by a pair of Staffordshire bull terriers in Evington Park, Leicester, on September 2.
The terrier's owner was not prosecuted. A police spokesman would not say why.
Tinker's owners are appealing for members of the public to come forward with information which would help them begin civil proceedings to reclaim the more than £1,000 spent on vets bills.
(Leicester Mercury - October 14, 2011)
