Children ‘laughed’ after setting two dogs on kitten

Gardaí have urged people to contact them immediately after claims that children set dogs on a kitten and tore it to pieces.

The sickening incident on Cork City’s northside is the latest in a series of horrific animal cruelty cases in recent months. It emerged amid reports cats are also being used to bait dogs.

Supt Con Cadogan said if such incidents are brought to Garda attention, they will be pursued.

“Such incidents will be treated seriously and fully investigated. I would encourage people to not be afraid to contact us, and to contact us immediately.

“The matter will be pursued. We can examine CCTV footage as part of an investigation. And if the people responsible are underage, they can be dealt with through the juvenile liaison process.”

He was speaking after Stephanie O’Connor told the Neil Prendeville Show on RedFM yesterday about the attack in the garden of her mother’s house in Gurranabraher at around 7.45pm on Tuesday.

We're speaking to Stephanie whose mum has been left traumatised after 12 yr olds ripped a kitten apart & killed it in Gurranabraher on Tues

— Neil Prendeville (@NeilRedFM) October 15, 2015

She said up to six children, aged around 12 or 13, set two lurcher or greyhound-type dogs on the stray kitten, fed regularly by her father.

She said her mother was inside, heard the kitten screaming, looked out the window and saw three children standing on their garden wall, and three in the garden, cheering, clapping, and laughing as two dogs tore the kitten to shreds.

She shouted at the gang to leave but they ignored her, and continued to cheer on the attack.

It was only when Stephanie’s brother confronted them they fled with their dogs on ropes.

The incident came just weeks after a pet dog had its throat sliced open in the Mayfield area.