Loose dog gets into home and 'massacres' cat inside

What has been described as a big Akita bolted through an open back door into the Harris Road property, near Leavesden, having got in the garden through a gap yesterday evening (September 8).

Vivien Tree was watching TV in her lounge when the cat – which belonged to her neighbour – fled inside for its life before being brutally mauled in front of her.

After running outside in tears, the 67-year-old recalled seeing a man holding a dog lead, who apparently offered to get a bag for the cat before saying “that’s cats and dogs”.

Vivien has been left traumatised after the dog burst into her home and mauled her neighbour's cat, Frank, to death. (Image: Submitted)

Vivien, who lives alone and adored Frank the cat, says she has been left “traumatised” and is now scared to leave doors open.

Reflecting on the ordeal, she told the Watford Observer: “I’m absolutely horrified – petrified. That could have been a child, or it could have been me if I hadn’t of got out the house.

“I still see pictures now in my head of the poor cat there with his guts hanging out. It wasn’t just shaken, he’d had his guts ripped out.”

Vivien tearily recalled how there was “blood all over the carpet – its guts hanging out like a little massacre scene” when she returned inside, and the dog had left via the garden.

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The cat’s owner told the Watford Observer she knows who owns the dog, believes it has previously attacked another dog, and has reported Sunday’s mauling to police.

“It’s awful, I just think that could have been a child – that’s my main concern,” she added. “Obviously it’s terrible that it was my cat, but if that was my child she wouldn’t be able to fight off a dog that size on her own.”

Herts Police confirmed officers were called at 7.52pm to reports of a dog entering a house and killing a cat before running off via the garden. No arrests have been made.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish who owns the dog, a spokesperson added, and anyone with information has been urged to call contact the force.

Vivien’s daughter, Stevie Eason, broke down in tears talking about how hard it was listening to her devastated mum.

“It was heartbreaking for me to hear my mum – who is very stoic – be so vulnerable and so upset and genuinely hear fear and sadness in her voice,” the 45-year-old said.

Vivien has been left devastated after the attack, following which Frank the cat was buried in the garden under a plant. (Image: Submitted)

The cat was buried in their garden today (September 9).

Information can be reported to police via non-emergency number 101 or their website quoting 41/75004/24.