"A great big pit bull-type dog'' ran off with a cat in its mouth after shaking it from side to side, according to a man who witnessed the attack.

Now a woman who believes her two cats were mauled by the dog is warning other pet owners to be on their guard.

Marion Pollock thinks her cats Suza and Joshua were mauled by the brown and white dog near their home in Moorside Road, Eccleshill.

Passing motorist Chris Hall saw what he believed was Suza being carried off motionless in the dog's mouth and the other cat, Joshua, running off. Joshua was later taken to a vets in Thornbury for treatment to a dislocated leg and wounds to his head and legs.

Mr Hall said of the incident: "I thought it was two cats fighting but then realised it was a great big pit bull-type dog. I flashed my lights and peeped the horn three times to try and get it to let go of the cat. It had hold of the cat by the underside of its throat and was just shaking it from side to side. The cat was scratching the dog with its front and back legs. I tried wheel spinning the car and revving the engine to scare it but in the end got out of the car and shouted at the dog."

Mr Hall said the muscular animal then went for him. So he got back in the car and it ran off with the cat in its mouth.

"I have never seen anything like it," said Mr Hall, of nearby Robin Close. "I was shaking when I got home.''

Mrs Pollock, 59, who has had the cats for ten years, said: "The people who saw the attack set off in the car to find the dog or the corpse of my cat and came across my other cat lying injured in the road.''

Terry Kinvig, partner at the Thornbury Veterinary Group, said Joshua's injuries were consistent with an enormous amount of force being used.

Terry Singh, manager of Bradford Council's dog warden service, urged any witnesses to contact him on (01274) 753927.

e-mail: kim.mcrae

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk