Police Dog Mauled Pet Cat Near Crime Scene, Feline Euthanized

A pet cat had to be euthanized, days after it was attacked by a police dog near its home in Beckenham, London.

Police along with the dog had arrived in the area on July 6 to investigate a crime. The person involved in the crime was arrested, however, the canine along with its handler and a few other officers remained at the scene in order to search for other suspects. However, when the handler let go of the dog so it could relieve itself, the canine chased and attacked the cat, named Spangle. The officers informed the cat’s owner about the incident after noticing wounds “all over his body.” The cat was rushed to a nearby animal hospital. However, the animal’s condition deteriorated and it became paralyzed. The feline had to be put down a few days later.

Recalling the incident, Shirley Anthony, the cats’ owner, said, “The policeman told me his colleague had let the dog out to go to the toilet when it chased the cat around the corner. My neighbor was looking out of the window. She told me Spangle was concerned and looking behind him as he walked down the pavement with the police dog following.”

“The dog literally attacked. It was shaking Spangle around in its mouth and left puncture marks all over his body. When the policeman called him back he dropped him. I’m absolutely distraught. If only he had put a lead on him, my cat would still be here,” she said, adding that the dog’s handler was “clearly upset” when he visited her post the incident.

Anthony said she was distraught after the cat’s death and couldn't go to work.

“He was only 11 and my son was very close to him too. He is really upset. This is just really awful, and it has been traumatic. Handlers should make sure when they take a dog out of a car in a residential area it is on a lead,” she said.

Following the cat’s death, Anthony spoke to the police department, which reportedly agreed to pay the vet’s bill that cost approximately $9,900.

“A complaint has been received and the matter is being investigated by the Met Taskforce Professional Standards Unit (MPS). Licensed police dogs are subject to continual training and assessment for obedience, safety and control. Any confirmed or alleged dog bite involving any MPS police dog is taken very seriously and thoroughly investigated,” a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said.