Tied cat dragged to death

A Richmond family's cat was tied to a dog, strangled and dragged to its death in what has been described as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty in the Nelson region.

Tasman District Council's animal control officer, Phil Bergman, was called this week after a large dog was found wandering with the dead cat tied to its lead.

The cat had one front leg tied under its chin and had been tied to the dog's lead by its neck.

Mr Bergman said the act was among the worst animal cruelty incidents he had seen.

The cat had not been mauled by the dog and there was no way its death could have been an accident.

"The poor thing was doomed. It looked like it had been dragged by a car," he said.

"Some people just don't like cats and do crazy things, but this has been done for sick kicks."

The dog's owner and the family who owned the cat, 7-year-old Mischief, were both "shattered", he said.

"This poor cat only had three legs anyway. Its owners were a family with young kids and it was a much-loved family pet.

- NZPA