Family left devastated as much-loved pet mauled to death by hunting dogs

A County Derry mum has said her family have been left devastated and traumatised after their beloved pet cat was mauled to death by a pack of hunting dogs.

Tracy Caves said her pet Coco was mauled and killed by a group of up to six lurchers which had trespassed onto her land between Upperlands and Swatragh last Sunday morning (November 5).

She said the incident has left the whole family heartbroken and she hopes that no other pet owner in the area has to go through a similar situation.

Speaking to the County Derry Post, Tracy said she was shocked to discover the lurchers, accompanied by men wearing camouflage, enter her Gorteade Road home shortly after 9am.

“It was a normal Sunday morning, my husband had got up to take the kids to church at about 9 o'clock and we all heard the hounds outside the house,” said the mum-of-two.

“The curtains were still closed so we got up and ran to the windows. We couldn't see anything initially and then my son came running out of his bedroom saying there was something out the back. He was terrified because the sound was just blood-curdling. It was horrible. I ran to the front of the house and seen two hounds coming down our front yard about three metres from the front door. I seen two men in camouflage in our back field with dog trackers looking for their dogs.

“At this stage we didn't know that Coco had been killed but my husband went and confronted them and they said they were looking for their dogs.”

Tracy also discovered that the dogs had attacked her other two pet cats who were so frightened that they ran off and didn't return home until later that night.

“A short while after, we found Coco between our garden and the wee field where we exercise our dogs, just a few metres from where these men were. It was quite horrific.

“Coco was 12, coming 13 years-old, she was disabled, she had only three legs and she was adopted from Rainbow Rehoming Centre in Eglinton. The children are traumatised by it all. My parents fed the cats every morning and she had been been fed a short time before this happened. My mother and father are very fond of the cats and they are just distraught by it all.

“We got a post mortem carried out on Thursday. We are still waiting on the report but it showed definite puncture lines and definite trauma. It's bad enough when you lose a cat naturally but to go through that, it shouldn't have happened.”

Tracy has described the lurchers as 'killing machines'.

“These dogs were definitely hunting dogs, they were rough lurchers I've discovered. They were just like killing machines, if I am being honest. There was obviously no control over them because they were just running wild. There was at least six of them on our property. It turns out there was at least 20 dogs in the area on that day,” she continued.

“We have five dogs of our own, which are nothing more than pets - one of them is blind and deaf so she wouldn't have stood a chance if she had been out there at that time.

“I have also received so many messages from people who say that the same men have been in their area in the past. A girl contacted me saying these men had been intimidating her community in Tamlaght.

“The police told me they are coming from County Armagh but other people have told me they are coming from Portadown, Lurgan and possibly Belfast, so they are coming quite the distance.

“My father and I confronted the driver of a van who was initially with the dogs at the roadside and he claimed he knew nothing about the owners of the dogs.”

Tracy says she hopes they can 'push for a prosecution' and has urged others who encounter these dogs and their owners on their property to report the matter to the police.

“I would urge people to report anyone on their land who is badger baiting, or whatever they are doing illegally, to report it to the police.

“We are absolutely devastated as a family that we have lost Coco, my daughter and her are practically the same age and they have grown up together. It's just absolutely horrendous but if something good can come out of it all it would give some consolation and comfort in that regard.”

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received a report that a pet cat had been found dead in the Gorteade Road area of Upperlands on Sunday, 5th November. 
“The reporting party believed that the cat had been killed by hunting dogs. 
Officers spoke with those involved in suspected fox hunting nearby and enquiries are ongoing.
“The appropriate referral will also be made to the local council. 
“Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area yesterday morning should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 501 of 5/11/23.”

A spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council added: “The Council has been made aware of the incident and, as investigations are ongoing cannot comment further at this time.”

A spokesperson for USPCA said hunting with dogs is 'one of the ugliest forms of animal cruelty'.

“Our heartfelt sympathies are with the family, who have bravely spoken out about this traumatic experience. Hunting with dogs is needless, senseless and represents one of the ugliest forms of animal cruelty. It should be confined to the past. Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK where hunting foxes, hares and stags with dogs is still legal, after the Assembly voted against a Bill which would have made it illegal in December 2021 just prior to its collapse.

“We have not given up hope — we’ve have joined forces with League Against Cruel Sports and are working with our politicians to ensure that when the legislation comes to the Assembly floor again, it is supported by all of our political parties. It’s also heartening to see so much public support as well as growing political support against hunting with dogs.

“In response to the feelings of concern from other pet owners in the area, as cats are by nature free roaming animals, it wouldn’t necessarily be in their best interest to keep them indoors at all times. However, if you are aware that hunting is taking place nearby then certainly keep them indoors for their safety. If you are concerned about the type of hunting activity taking place you should report this to the PSNI by calling 101.”