A BELOVED cat was cornered in the family’s backyard and killed in what is believed to be yet another dog attack last week.

Sharna Simmonds’ cat Big Puss was found dead in her owners’ backyard last Wednes-day. It appeared the cat had been cornered against the fence and killed, Ms Simmonds said.

She believes two red cloud kelpies were behind the attack.

“I have chased them out of my yard many times before.

“They have been roaming around and the ranger has been after them for months,” she said.

Big Puss was originally a stray that Ms Simmonds took in about 11 years ago. He had become a part of her family.

Her seven-year-old daughter Marissa Ingram misses the cat she grew up with. “He used to sleep on top of me and purr,” she said.

Only half of the backyard is fenced off, which is how the dogs were able to get in and kill her cat. “I am just glad that we weren’t home and that Marissa didn’t have to see it,” Ms Simmonds’ said.

Ms Simmonds described herself as a responsible pet owner, saying she took Big Puss in at night-time.

It pains her to think that other people are not being responsible pet owners, she said.

“I know other people have complained about the dogs killing their chickens.

“Marissa has scared them away before, but it is scary to think that they could have attacked her.

“The people who own these dogs need to secure them and stop them roaming the streets.”

Senior ranger Tony Heppener said he knew the dogs in question but, because there were no witnesses, he could not be sure they killed Big Puss.

“We have had complaints about the dogs wandering, but we are not sure if they are the ones that killed him,” he said.

Mr Heppener said he had been doing numerous patrols in the area to catch the dogs.