A WOMAN has called for lurchers to be muzzled after her cat was killed by a neighbour’s pet.

Shirley Young’s cat, Oscar, died after allegedly being attacked by a lurcher puppy belonging to her next door neighbour.

Mrs Young, from Darlington, claims her pet was fatally injured just weeks after another cat was left with serious injuries after being attacked by the same dog.

She said both cats had strayed into the neighbour’s garden where they were set upon by the lurcher – a breed of dog normally used for hunting.

She said: “After the first incident, the neighbour was very apologetic and said the dog wouldn’t be allowed out unaccompanied.

“When we got Oscar to the vet, we found out his back had been broken as though he was thrown about and it was absolutely devastating.

“We have ten cats and are careful and considerate owners – Oscar was a lovely cat, a real character.

“We realise it’s that dog’s garden and he has a right to be in it and we know the neighbour’s not a nasty person but she has been irresponsible and I think it was irresponsible of her to get a dog like that knowing we have cats.”

She added: “Dogs like that are hunters, it’s instinct but their owners should muzzle them as they could be nasty to other animals or even children.

“Owners need to be more considerate as there are other pet owners out there and something like this can be horrendously devastating – there should be stricter laws around dogs, especially dangerous dogs or those bred to hunt.”