By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 11:46, Thursday, 16 August 2012

Police are appealing for the owner of a cat to come forward as they continue their probe into sickening attacks which have seen cats being taken by vicious thugs and killed by dogs.

Police want to trace the owners of this cat

Officers have released a picture of the black and white cat as they carry out their investigations into a string of horrifying attacks.

One of the attacks, which police believe the pictured cat was involved in, led to dawn raids on houses in the Clifton, Westfield and Far Moss areas of Workington in June.

The raids came after a joint operation between the force and the animal welfare charity RSPCA and saw five teenagers – the youngest only 13 – arrested on suspicion of causing an animal fight and criminal damage. Another boy, aged 16, was later arrested.

They are all due to answer police bail on September 1.

A lurcher dog, which was in a healthy condition, was seized from one of the houses and is currently in the care of the RSPCA.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police believe the cat has been stolen and used to entice dogs to attack.

“We are appealing for the owner to come forward.

“These are horrible attacks and police are doing everything to try and stop them happening in the town.”

Last month the RSPCA said that it was getting reports of at least two cases a week of cats being deliberately killed by youths with dogs in Workington.

Chief Inspector Rob Melloy said that the groups of youths are either seeing a cat on the streets and setting their dog upon it, or catching a cat and letting it out in an area where it has no escape.

He added that the attacks won’t be limited to cats, it could also be on rabbits, badgers or “anything they can get their hands on”.

Similar attacks have also taken place in Maryport.

Cumbria Police are urging anyone who may recognise the pictured cat, have lost a cat, or have any information about the attacks to contact PC Sean Prince at Workington police on 101.

First published at 11:26, Thursday, 16 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk