A FAMILY has been left heartbroken after their beloved pet cat was mauled to death by two dogs which they said appeared to have been released into their garden.

Gemma Charlton said she was at home in Trimdon Station at about 9.30pm on Wednesday with her daughter Charlie, 13, her younger siblings, aged 11 and one, and partner when nine-year-old cat Lilly suffered the savage attack. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, the aftermath of which was seen by Charlie and her brother, Connor.

Ms Charlton said: “When your kids have to witness their beloved pet ripped to bits and hear it scream it’s disgusting. I’ve got two heartbroken kids. How do you explain it to them and mend that scar they now have?”

According to the mother-of-three, two men pulled up in a silver car and let a greyhound-type and lurcher dogs out. The 31-year-old said her garden gate, on Lilac Crescent, had been opened and the hounds were discovered savaging the innocent pet.

Her sister, Amy Charlton said: “They had driven off and parked down the [road], a few hundred yards away. They only stopped when the lads whistled and the dogs ran over [to the vehicle] they sped off.” Ms Charlton, whose partner tried to help get the dogs off the “placid cat”, reported the incident to police.

Charlie said: “I am heartbroken and totally devastated, Lilly was my best friend.”

A Durham Police spokesman said: “A Silver Volkswagen Passat was seen in the area at the time and we would like to speak to the occupants of this vehicle. We would encourage anyone who saw any suspicious activity to get in touch with us on 101, quoting incident number 520 of November 15.”

It is the latest in a spate of violent incidents involving cats in the region. In Hartlepool, CCTV footage showed a thief snatching a family's 11-year-old cat Pepsi, before the pet’s mutilated body was found in a bush. Days later, a cat was found in a supermarket bag with a severed head in Darlington.