Family’s concern over cat maulings

Laani Davis fears a child may be the next victim of a pair of wandering dogs that mauled her family’s cat so savagely it had to be put down.

Davis’ two-year-old black female cat Wallis was attacked by two dogs on the evening of January 13 near their home on Elizabeth St in Pa¯ tea.

Nephew Cyrus, 14, and son Kaya, 12, were outside when they noticed their cat trying to drag itself back to the doorstep and there were two dogs under a nearby street light.

‘‘I was shocked and scared to see the cat, it looked like it had broken bones, ‘‘ Cyrus said.

They took the cat, which had recently had kittens, indoors and tried to make it comfortable before taking it to the vet, where they decided to put it down.

‘‘I was so angry so I rang the vet, the council, the SPCA and the regional council,’’ Davis said.

‘‘That cat meant a lot to these kids, we were going to give the kittens away but since the cat’s gone they’ve grown really attached to them.’’

Davis then went online to the Pa¯tea community Facebook page to warn others about the dogs and found out another man had to put his cat down after it was attacked the same day as theirs.

‘‘I want these dogs caught and put down. It’s not the dogs fault, it’s the owners,’’ she said.

‘‘The owners aren’t tying them up and keeping them under control.’’

‘‘I’m really worried about the kids walking to school, they could be next.’’

South Taranaki District Council Regulatory Officer Doug Scott said the council were taking the matter seriously and were concerned about some of the attacks in the town recently.

‘‘We strongly urge people to contact the council to report dog attacks as soon as they happen. We have a toll-free number that is manned 24/7 and officers who will attend as soon as possible to start investigating the incident,’’ he said.

‘‘Any information that can be provided is extremely helpful and any video or photographic evidence makes it easier for them to identify the dogs.’’

Scott said the council patrolled all communities in South Taranaki, including Pa¯ tea on a daily basis.

KRIS BOULT/ STUFF Laani Davis, nephew Cyrus, 14, and son Kaya, 12, plan to put a memorial in their garden after their cat was mauled by dogs inPa¯ tea.