A SEDGLEY woman is demanding dog owners muzzle their pets after her cat was savagely mauled to death.

Susan Payton was left sickened when her 15-year-old cat Tammy was killed by a German shepherd dog in a horrific attack on Rowan Road at 6.15am on June 12.

Mrs Payton’s neighbour, Shantelle Goodyear, aged 29, was woken by shouting outside her home and witnessed the incident.

Ms Goodyear said: “The dog had the cat in its mouth and was shaking it left and right, a man was hitting the dog to get it off.

“My partner went outside to the neighbours’ house to wake them, we knew it was their cat.”

The dog eventually released badly-wounded Tammy, who was deaf and believed to have been sleeping when she was attacked.

Ms Goodyear added: “The cat tried to get up about five times but its back legs had gone, it was awful. By the time Sue came out the cat had died.

“For a dog to do that makes you sick to your stomach. The cat was part of my neighbour’s family.”

The dog’s owner, who left the scene of the incident before Mrs Payton arrived, told witnesses the animal had slipped its lead before attacking the Tammy.

Susan Payton, aged 56, said: “I was really upset, I just kept crying, my daughter was sick. I just kept thinking of the cat screaming when the dog got it - and the owner just walked away.”

Mrs Payton says owners who suspect their dogs which may be capable of carrying out attacks like the one which killed Tammy should take action to control their pets, including muzzling.

She said: “I just think it’s disgusting, what would it do to a child? We read about when dogs kill children, that is why we need to get our point across.

“It is no good turning a blind eye, when a dog attacks a child it’s too late, it should be the owner’s responsibility.”

Mrs Payton reported the incident to police but was told there was nothing they could do because German shepherds are not listed as a dangerous breed.

A spokesperson from West Midlands Police said the force was unable to comment on the incident involving Tammy but added a dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure them.

Owners of dangerously out of control dogs can be fined £5,000 and sent to prison for up to six months.