Man filmed urging his dog to maul cat to death

This is the horrifying moment a dog owner appears to deliberately set his pet on a cat before fleeing as it’s mauled to death.

The video shows the man, wearing a cap and hooded jacket, approaching a home in Walsall with his lurcher-type dog on October 23.

Calmly puffing on a cigarette, he can be seen following his dog up the pathway before opening up the gate after spotting the cat, named Cleo, perched up on top of a wall.

When the dog bounds through, the man pulls his hood up over his cap and yanks his animal back, positioning it right in front of the cat as he shines a light in her face.

The subsequent ‘extremely disturbing’ and brutal attack resulted in Cleo’s death.

Cleo’s distraught owner, Gary Truefitt, said he checked the footage after his pet, which he’d owned for eight years, failed to return home the following day.

‘I noticed my gate was left open, which was suspicious, so I decided to check the CCTV and was completely shocked by what I found,’ he said.

‘I was very upset, I went to my neighbour’s house as I didn’t know what to do.

‘Cleo will be very much missed. She was a daft cat in lots of ways and would lie along the driveway even when there were cars about, but she was a companion to me.

‘It’s just awful to think of her being attacked in this way.’

RSPCA trainee inspector Fiona Howell said: ‘This is an extremely disturbing incident and we’d like to find out who this individual is as soon as possible.

‘We believe there may also be offences of ‘lamping’ shown here and are also liaising with the police.’

Anyone who recognises the individual in the footage should call the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.