DISTRAUGHT Kath Montford wants tighter control on dogs after her pet terrier was ripped to death on her doorstep.

Animal lover Mrs Montford, of Melrose Avenue, Leigh, is pleading for dog owners to be more responsible after two cross-bred Alsatians tore Spike, her three year-old Yorkshire terrier, to pieces.

"I'll never forget it," she said, reliving the nightmare.

"I'd only just let the dog into the front garden. I was cleaning and my husband Ken was watching television when a shocked neighbour knocked on the door to tell us what had happened.

"I picked-up Spike and the two big dogs just looked at me. I'll never forget that sight, they were dripping with blood."

"The dogs came onto our property. It is about time dog owners behaved responsibly and kept their animals under closer control. It could have been a child who was killed. I couldn't believe how much blood there was.

"The owner of one of the dogs offered to buy a replacement for Spike, but I could never accept that."

Sadly it wasn't the first time she has had to cradle the limp body of a dead pet in her front garden.

"Four months ago my 12 year-old Persian cat, Mandy, was blinded after being mauled by dogs. She is the third cat to be attacked, all on our own property. One was literally ripped to pieces by three greyhounds," she recalled.

Husband Ken said:"We're not after revenge, because that wouldn't bring our dog back.

"Dogs roaming on the Abbey Lane estate are a problem. Some are out all night. Owners should take more responsibility and look them properly."

The two dogs which killed Spike were later destroyed.

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