Town where 18 cats have been snatched from the streets by gangs whose dogs tear them to pieces... in the name of sport
Animal welfare charities last night warned cat owners to be extra vigilant after fresh reports of pets being stolen to be used in a barbaric illegal blood sport.
In one town, 18 cats have gone missing in recent weeks, five from a single street. It is feared they are being used for 'cat coursing', where they are horrifically killed by fighting dogs.
The cats are put in cages or wheelie bins before pairs of savage dogs, such as bull terriers, are introduced and encouraged to maul them.
Searching: Sarah Bailey is frantic about her pet Rocky, who has gone missing during a spate of thefts of cats
Banned in Britain since 1835, the practice is supposedly used to prepare the terriers for illegal dog fights, training them to kill.
The latest spate of cat thefts, in Blackburn, comes after reports of 'cat coursing' have increased in many northern towns, with incidents in Darlington, Doncaster and Scotland, where police have pledged to seek jail terms for offenders.
Blackburn pet owner Sarah Bailey has lost her cat Rocky. The 24-year-old said: 'My neighbours had their cat stolen as well, and somebody else up the road. We are really upset. He's part of the family.'
Elsewhere in the town, there have been sightings of the vicious attacks.
John and Jean Smith keep their pet Squeaky, 12, inside after Mr Smith had to rescue a cat from two men with dogs who had cornered a cat in an alley. Mr Smith, 64, said: 'I was walking down the road when I saw two men both with fighting dogs in an alley.
'The dogs were off the lead and attacking the cat. The two men were cheering their dogs on.
Fears of violence: Rocky's owners are terrified he may have been used to train 'fighting dogs' to kill
'I shouted over at them and they grabbed hold of their dogs and scuttled off. If I hadn't been there, the cat would have been ripped to pieces.'
The retired delivery driver added: 'It is disgraceful and barbaric behaviour. I can't see how anyone can take pleasure in watching a cat being torn to shreds by vicious fighting dogs.'
Eunice Faulkner, who runs a cat rescue centre in the town, said: 'It is a worrying time for cat owners. I have been told about 18 incidents. There could be even more. The friendliest ones are easiest to catch as they will let people approach them.'
'Cat coursing' takes its name from hare coursing, which is also banned. Hares are released into a field and then two lurchers or greyhounds are set on them.
In a cat incident in Darlington last month, Alban Leggett, 61, had to have eight-year-old Mitzi put down after a group of men set their lurcher on to her.
Frightening craze: Eunice Faulkner of Blackburn Cat Rescue tends to a defenceless animal
Victim: Albam Leggett's cat Mitzi was attacked by a dog in Darlington and had to be put down because of his horrific injuries
Another owner had to put his cat down after finding it savaged and a woman reported a man for throwing his dog over a fence to attack her cat.
Those convicted of dog baiting or cat coursing risk a maximum jail sentence of 51 weeks and fines of up to £20,000.
The League Against Cruel Sports said: 'It is absolutely horrifying that these animals are being used in this way.
'But hopefully this will highlight to the public the scale of the problem and encourage people to report any information on dog fighting they might have to the police and to us.'
Leanne Plumtree, of the RSPCA, said: 'It does seem very strange for so many cats to have gone missing in such a short space of time.
'It is very difficult to keep cats safe as most cats come and go from their homes as they please.'
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