A family’s pet cat was attacked and killed in their own front garden by hounds which had been out on a hunting exercise in West Cornwall.
Carly Jose’s 14-year-old rescue cat, named Mini, was mauled to death by the hounds before one of the men involved in the exercise picked up Mini’s body and threw it over a garden fence.
A neighbour who lives across the road from the Jose family captured the shocking attack on video as well as the moment one of the huntsman threw Mini’s body over the fence.
Carly, who was at home with her children at the time of the incident, told Cornwall Live she was left feeling “heartbroken” and described the actions of the individual as “evil”.
She added that she feels “disgusted” that the man threw her cat into the garden “like she meant nothing”.
Western Hunt, the hunting organisation, has issued a statement today (March 7) to address the events of yesterday afternoon.
A spokesperson from the Western Hunt, said: “The Hunt is aware of events that took place on Saturday, 6th March, while the hounds were being exercised in an area where they are taken routinely, without incident, by officials of the hunt.
“The hunt has been in contact with the cat owner to apologise unreservedly for the distress this has caused and is also helping the police with their enquiries.
“Incidents of this nature involving hounds are incredibly rare due to the professionalism with which the hounds are managed, however the hunt has taken this matter very seriously and is reviewing their procedures to prevent any reoccurrence”.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: “No arrests have been made but enquiries are ongoing”.
Carly’s neighbour caught the whole shocking incident on camera.
In the video, the huntsman can be seen picking up the body of Mini and throwing it over the fence of one of the neighbours’ gardens, in the usually quiet street in Madron.
Carly says she is “heartbroken” following the distressing incident adding her family are “trying to wrap our heads” around what happened.
“I think it’s worse because my children are here. They’ve had to listen to everything that’s been going on today,” she said.
“People say accidents happen, but this was no accident.
“This was an evil act.”