Devastated cat owner calls for action after fatal attack

A LISMORE woman whose beloved pet was killed by aggressive dogs says something must be done to stop the spate of attacks.

TRAIL OF EVIDENCE: Geraldine Willis found her beloved pet cat Marcie had been mauled to death by dogs and this white plastic dog collar. next to her. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

A LISMORE couple is calling for action after discovering their beloved cat Marcie had been mauled to death by "two aggressive roaming dogs".

Early on Tuesday morning, Isaac Vincent and Geraldine Willis found Marcie lying stiff and bloodied on the road in front of their Little Dawson St house in Lismore.

Next to Marcie was a white plastic dog collar.

Miss Willis said the "street savvy" four-year-old rescue cat had sustained injuries on her rear end, leg and crotch area.

"We are beyond devastated," Miss Willis said

"I was afraid this would happen after hearing of all the other incidents around town, and now it has. We have another cat, Scritch, and only feeding him this morning was so hard."

According to Miss Willis' neighbours, the incident happened at about 3.30am on Tuesday morning.

"They heard a commotion because their dog started going off," she said.

"They didn't get a good look but said one was orange brown in colour, there was dog hair of the same colour on the cone collar," she said.

Initially, the couple thought Marcie had been hit by a car, but after finding the cone collar they suspected Marcie was victim to roaming dogs who have attacked other pet cats in the area.

Miss Willis said, according to local sources, Marcie was the 29th cat killed in 18 months in the Lismore area.

"Some of those dogs reported are similar in description," she said.

"How many more pet cats need to meet this fate at the hands of roaming dogs that no one has seen before? I want this to be put to rest before more cats get killed.

"I know council has been limited in their options, but this shows the issue hasn't been fixed ... something needs to change, these attacks are a big problem in Lismore."

Miss Willis said she lodged a report with Lismore City Council.

"Owners should be prosecuted for letting their dogs roam free and kill other peoples beloved pets in peoples yards and out the front of their houses," she said.

"For those who think people should just keep their cats inside and it's the victim's fault - that's not fair - these attacks are a problem in Lismore.

"Both my cats have bells on their collars to prevent them catching wildlife. I did everything I could to be a responsible owner.

"I will have to keep Scritch inside at night time now."

The council's compliance coordinator, Matt Kelly, said that without positive identification, specific characteristics of the dog, the location it lived and other information, there was "very little" the council could do in terms of a regulatory response.

"This is evidence that is essential to prosecute any matter," he said.

"We need proof in order to take the matter further."