Owner of beloved family cat killed outside her home by a dog begins petition to change law

The owner of a beloved family cat who was killed outside its home by a dog off the lead has started a petition to change the law.

Jacob Hazley, 15, began the petition after his 11-year-old cat, Sparkle, was attacked by a dog off the lead whilst she was sleeping outside her home on Brimrod Lane, Sudden, on 22 August.

He said: “My mum and I had gone out for an hour between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, and when we came back, one of our neighbours, who had witnessed it, told us what had happened.”

The dog, a lurcher or similar breed, was being walked in the area without a lead by its owner when it ran off and up the driveway of Jacob’s home.

“He had no control over the dog. It ran off from the owner and up our drive, where it noticed Sparkle sleeping on the mat outside the front door. The dog just grabbed her and ran to the green opposite; the neighbours described it as ‘being ragged around like she was a teddy’,” Jacob recounted.

The owner is then understood to have attempted to catch the dog, which ran down an alleyway onto Holborn Street.

Jacob says the dog owner was confronted by a neighbour, who was told the cat had ran off, but Sparkle had been dumped in a bin.

He continued: “Sparkle must have been so scared in her final moments. My whole family is distraught as we had to get her out of the bin that the dog owner had put her in.

“My cat was within the boundaries of her home, where she should have felt safe to sleep and await our arrival home as she always did.”

Sparkle has since been buried at her family home.

Jacob said: “I am now calling for a change to the law to allow cat owners to take further action against dog owners whose dogs brutally attack cats.”

The incident has been reported to Greater Manchester Police and the RSPCA.

Jacob added: “The RSPCA have told us they will be conducting a home visit.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “This is a shocking and upsetting incident. 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.”

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.

It is against the law to let any breed of dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, whether in a public or private place or in the owner’s home.

Dogs are considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried they may be injured.

A court can also decide a dog is dangerously out of control if it attacks someone’s animal.

If a dog is found to be dangerously out of control, the owner can receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both). The owner may also not be allowed to own a dog in the future and the dog may be destroyed.

Leading UK charity Cats Protection is also calling for the law to be tightened to deter similar horrific incidents.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations, said: “We are very sorry to hear about the death of Sparkle the cat. As the UK's leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection is completely dedicated to cats and their welfare so to hear about incidents like this is absolutely heart-breaking and we would like to express our sympathies to Sparkle’s owner.

“Cats Protection is calling for a specific offence within legislation relating to dangerous dogs to allow the prosecution of dog owners whose dogs attack, injure or kill cats. Though the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and keep their dogs under control, it’s vital we strengthen the law to deter dog attacks on cats.”

If you are aware of a dog causing serious distress to cats or you know of a cat that is attacked by a dog, please report the incident to the police, RSPCA and/or local authority.

Police officers, Police Community Support Officers, local authority officers and registered social landlords can issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs), which provides the opportunity for the dog owner to rectify the problem and allows officers to explain the consequences of non-compliance. If a CPN is breached a prosecution can be brought.

A CPN can require an individual to do any of the following:

• microchip/neuter/muzzle/keep dog on a lead
• attend dog training classes
• repair fencing to prevent the dog leaving the property
• put up signage

To support Jacob’s petition, please visit:

• www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-change-the-law-on-dogs-attacking-cats