Kitten has its throat torn out by terrier in front of horrified owner

Leanne Lindsay, 28, of Hamilton Avenue, in Cheam, had called her two kittens it to be fed around 7.20am on Monday when she was alerted by neighbours that a dog was attacking seven-month-old Benny.

She said: "Rocky came in, but Benny didn't follow.

"Within moments my neighbour's dog started barking at some commotion in the park behind our back garden.

"I looked over to see my neighbour looking to see what was happening and she turned to say 'They've got your cat'."

She ran to Kimpon Park to find a dog mauling the tiny creature.

Miss Lindsay said: "I saw Benny's throat get torn out in front of my eyes.

"At this point I was screaming to let my cat go, even though he was dead, but the dog would not let go."

During the two-minute-long attack Benny also had two limbs ripped away from the rest of his body by the Staffordshire bull terrier, called Capone.

Miss Lindsay said: "The owner of the dog said he had never done anything like that before and she was clearly in shock too.

"There were witnesses present who ran as soon as they heard the dog and were fearful of it."

Benny was a present for her and her partner's two children, aged eight and five and that she will be campaigning for MP Paul Scully to champion a law that will see dogs muzzled while out in public.

Benny was a present to Miss Lindsay's children

She added she was concerned that Capone now "has a taste for blood".

Police are investigating the kitten's death, but say they want to speak to the owner of the dog who is thought to be a woman in her twenties and was wearing a green hooded top.

The police have been trying to contact the owner to obtain more details about the circumstances of the attack.

PC Heath Keogh, who takes a lead for the borough on dog attacks: "Our calls to the owner have gone unanswered and we would like the owner to get back in touch with us as part of our ongoing investigation."

If you saw the incident, please contact Sutton Police on 101.