A family is mourning the loss of their beloved pet cat Tigger who died after being mauled by two greyhounds. Jane Murphy, 41, of Weston Way, Baldock, is now appealing for dog owners to muzzle their pets to protect other vulnerable animals when they are ta

A family is mourning the loss of their beloved pet cat Tigger who died after being mauled by two greyhounds.

Jane Murphy, 41, of Weston Way, Baldock, is now appealing for dog owners to muzzle their pets to protect other vulnerable animals when they are taking them out for walks

Tigger, who was four years old, was attacked in the front garden of the family home on Friday evening.

The incident was spotted by a passing bus driver who stopped his vehicle and with the help of two passengers and a neighbour attempted to pull the dogs off the cat. The cat later died at a nearby veterinary surgery.

Mrs Murphy says her daughters Ceara, nine, and Orla, eight, are distraught at the loss of Tigger.

"We had been away and were devastated by the news when we got home but this could have been prevented if the greyhounds had been muzzled.

"I hate to think what might have happened had Ceara been sitting with Tigger. She loved sitting with him on her lap in the front garden.

"Many dogs, like greyhounds, are trained to chase anything small and fluffy and should be muzzled.

"But I want to thank the bus driver and the passengers and my neighbour for trying to save Tigger."

She said the owner of the greyhounds who lives nearby has apologised and offered to pay the vet's bill.