A CHESTER family has been left devastated after a dog attacked and killed their much loved tabby cat outside their home.

Richard and Carol Wilson of Orchid Close in Huntington are now asking dog owners to keep an eye on their pets and be respectful to home owners nearby.

Richard said they first became concerned about their tabby cat Tigger on Tuesday last week when he failed to return home.

Richard, who is retired, and his medical receptionist wife Carol spent the evening looking for him, and resumed their search on Wednesday morning.

Richard said: “The next day I had spotted a RSPCA van at the end of our road. I went over to talk to them and they explained what had happened.”

On Tuesday a loose large dog had raced up to the houses on Orchid Close from the Caldy Valley Nature Park.

Ten-year-old Tigger had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and had been brutally attacked by the dog outside his home.

Richard said: “His injuries were so severe that despite the best efforts of vets he lost his fight for life 48 hours later.”

Richard’s two sons, who have grown up with Tigger, have been left extremely upset by what has happened.

He added: “Our whole family has been devastated by this needless loss of a very much loved family pet.”

He said Tigger had been chased by dogs from the nature park before, but had always managed to escape unscathed.

He said: “Why was this dog loose and not on a lead or muzzled?

“I'm sure the majority of dog owners are responsible but I would urge all dog owners to be vigilant and make sure they are in full control.

“We are increasingly seeing dogs running loose up to the houses.

“This time our cat suffered the awful consequences of the owner’s lack of control. I would not want any pet lovers to go through what we are going through at the moment.”

Richard says he knows who the dog owners are and has been given the choice by the RSPCA what to do next.

He added: “The nature park is a fantastic facility but I would like to remind people this is still a semi urban area and people do live very close by.”