How could they be so cruel?

DEVASTATED . . . Raymond Punchard with granddaughter Louise

Thugs blamed after beloved cat savaged
A GRANDAD has been left devastated by claims that thugs allowed a dog to savage and kill his beloved cat.

Two year old grey and white tabby Smokey, wel known around Coldhurst, had his neck snapped and leg dislocated in the attack.

Local children who often played with the popular pet ran to Raymond Punchard’s Ripon Street home to tell him they had found his cat dead in a nearby alley.

Mr Punchard (69) and his granddaughter Louise, believe the cat was held down by youths to allow a light brown bull mastiff to maul him to death.

Miss Punchard (27) said: “It’s turned my grandad’s life upside down. He loved that cat to bits — he’s had him since he was only eight weeks old. He’s absolutely devastated.

“I want people to know this dog is around and appeal to anyone who might have seen what happened. We saw kids running away from the area carrying a dog.

“Police told me that this kind of thing is not known in this area but I think the dog is a fighting dog.

“I don’t know how anyone could be so cruel — they’ve taken everything from my grandad and they can’t be allowed to get away with it.”

Any witnesses should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.


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