Vets put down dog from hero cat video

A dog seen on security camera footage attacking a California boy until it is chased off by a cat has been put down.

Bakersfield Animal Care Centre director Julie Johnson said the dog’s owner signed it over to be put to sleep. She told the Bakersfield Californian it was put down over the weekend.

Video of the attack has gone viral and turned the cat named Tara into a sensation.

It shows the dog – a roughly 8-month-old Labrador-Chow mix – biting and attempting to drag four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo. Within seconds, Tara leaps out and chases the canine away.

Jeremy needed 10 stitches on his left leg.

Warning: after the 45 second mark, the video contains graphic images of the dog bite wound on the boy's leg.

Tara, meanwhile, received the honour of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a minor league baseball game.