Oldham: Escaped dog rampages through estate and kills cats

On Saturday (September 23) residents in the Fitton Hill area of Oldham said a black greyhound-type dog was spotted on the loose.

It attacked a number of pets from around 3pm until 8pm.

Footage shows the dog was running around Greenhurst Crescent and residents say the dog left behind a "trail of disaster" when it visited Reins Lee and Kelso Close, killing and attacking several cats.

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Neighbours described a 'bloody' murder scene where the dog had ripped Meow apart (Image: Camile Roberts)

Camile Roberts said her elderly black cat, Meow Meow, was "ripped apart" by the dog after it saw the cat sunbathing in a garden.

Ms Roberts said she was told by a friend that Meow was injured and rushed to see what had happened.

She explained: "I initially thought it was a fox, but it was too late in the day and she was still warm.

"When I was wrapping her up, a man said he saw an 'awful' black dog with a blue collar, a possible lurcher, had attacked her while she was asleep.

"It had ripped her apart when she was just minding her own business."

Footage shows the dog was on the loose on the estate (Image: Daniel Brocklehurst/Facebook)

Ms Roberts said the friendly feline joined the family when "she just chose our house and never left".

She added: "Her death has absolutely devastated all of us.

"My youngest, who is 14, is majorly upset as she would spend the majority of the time in her bedroom.

"In the summer, Meow would spend her days with the older ladies across from us and I know they are very upset too.

"She was such a character.

"She didn't deserve to go that way.

"It's haunting me, seeing her on that grass. That image will stay with me."

Neighbour Caron Withnell said she helped to clean the garden and rinse the grass down as she described the murder scene as something out of a horror film with "blood and fur" everywhere, and it was too "upsetting" for Ms Roberts' young daughter to see.

Meow Meow was loved dearly by her family and neighbours (Image: Camile Roberts)

Ms Roberts said she then found out another cat had been attacked on Springwood Hall Road and while on the phone to Greater Manchester Police, she heard the dog had attacked and killed a third feline.

Other residents said they frantically called the police and were alarmed by a potentially dangerous dog loose in the area.

Residents claim officers came to the estate but refused to take the animal off the streets.

It is alleged a group of teenagers claimed the dog was theirs, out of fear the police would euthanise the animal, and the police left the dog with them.

When contacted by The Oldham Times, the force said it could not find a log of the incident.

Eventually, two other residents said they took the dog to Medivet in Mossley at around 8pm where they believe the owner has since collected the dog, understood to be a greyhound. 

Many in the area are still mourning the loss of their beloved pet with the dog believed to have killed at least two cats and up to four.

Ashley Osbaldeston said his 14-month-old kitty, Psycho, was another victim and witnessing the incident has left him traumatised and "heartbroken".

Psycho was only 14 months old (Image: Ashley Osbaldeston)

Mr Osbaldeston said Psycho was in the garden sunbathing when the dog ran over, "grabbed him" in his mouth and started "ragging him around".

Despite his best efforts to intervene and stop the dog, Mr Osbaldeston said it continued to sink its teeth further and further into the cat and eventually punctured the cat's chest. 

He added: "It killed him right in front of my eyes."

The dog then ran off with Psycho and his "mangled" body was later returned home in a bag by police officers.

Mr Osbaldeston continued: "The police said they can't do anything whatsoever and I was so p***ed off I asked for the officer's details.

"The police just let the dog run free.

"I'm still having nightmares about Saturday.

"I can't get that image out of my head. I'm not sleeping for more than two hours.

"The dog ripped him apart in front of me."

Ashley Osbaldeston said he can't sleep since losing Psycho on Saturday (Image: Ashley Osbaldeston/Facebook)

Mr Osbaldeston said he fell in love with Psycho when his sister's cat had kittens - and christened him with the name "because he was absolutely nuts".

He continued: "He was my only one and he meant the world to me.

"My special baby boy I called him and he used to cuddle up with me every night.

"I still can't get my head around this at all."

He has now ordered a headstone to remember Psycho and said he is determined to seek justice from the dog's owner.

Pippa Perks said her dog, Shadow, was also attacked by the escaped canine.

Shadow has recovered since his injury last year and was not seriously harmed in the dog attack (Image: Pippa Perks)

The Jack Russell had suffered a serious injury to his back last year and the family desperately sold items and fundraised thousands of pounds for Shadow's emergency surgery. 

Ms Perks said Shadow wasn't injured in the attack but said the police should have done more as "more animals or even a child" could have been hurt. 

She added: "It would be nice if the owners got an apology from the dog owner at least."

Other residents have also called for answers from the authorities and some have argued the animal should be put down.

However, many others have defended the dog, claiming racing dogs typically are bred to chase "furry little prey" and win, and instead say the blame lies with the owner.

On social media, one resident wrote: "People have lost their pets today because of this owner. 

"They should be made to pay the vet bills or fees for the deceased cats."

Another agreed: "They want locking up for letting it kill people's pets."

It is believed the dog managed to escape from a garden in the Hathershaw area at around 2pm.

The dog's family have since been contacted by The Oldham Times but did not respond before this article was published.

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