POLICE say reports of a “barbaric crime” involving dogs being set on pet cats are on the increase in a North-East town.

Alban Leggett’s cat Mitzi is one of many family pets which have been mutilated during an incident of so-called “cat coursing”.

Mr Leggett was told by witnesses that a group of men had set their lurcher dogs on eight-year-old Mitzi on the evening of October 3, near his home in Fenby Avenue, Darlington.

After rushing Mitzi to see a vet, Mr Leggett was told he had suffered very serious injuries. Vets said the animal would suffer if he lived, and Mr Leggett had to make the decision to allow his family pet to be put down.

“When I found Mitzi, he was in a terrible state. He tried to move, but he could not. He was howling when I picked him up. He made no attempt to get away from me and normally he would,” said Mr Leggett.

“It is happening all of the time round here. I was speaking to a woman the other day who said somebody had thrown a dog over her fence to get at her cat.

“I don’t know why they do it. There’s no sport in setting a dog on a pet cat. It’s just barbaric.”

The Leggett family have always had pets, but say the pain of losing Mitzi has made them have a change of heart.

“We won’t be getting another cat. This whole experience has been too painful.

I want the people who have committed this barbaric act to pay for it. Hopefully, that will send a message to anybody else who is thinking of setting their dogs on somebody’s pet cat,” he said.

Acting Sergeant Gary Fenwick, of Darlington police, said: “We are seeing an increase in this kind of crime in the Darlington area.

“It has been loosely nicknamed ‘cat coursing’, but it should not be described as that.

“It is a bloodthirsty and barbaric crime.

“The police are operating a zero-tolerance approach to this crime. If people are caught, they will not receive a caution and we will be looking immediately for custodial sentences.”

Anyone with any information about this incident, or any similar ones, is asked to contact Sgt Fenwick, at Darlington police station, on 0345-60-60-365.