A MUM today issued a grim warning as she launched a search to find the owner of a dog which savaged the family cat.

Michelle Navin told how the animal was killed close to the family home in David Street, Stacksteads, and said: "It is only a matter of time before this dog kills a child."

Mrs Navin has offered a cash reward in the hunt for the owner of the killer dog after she returned home to be told the distressing news.

Her cat, a two-year-old tabby called Tibby, was owned by Mrs Navin's nine-year-old daughter Lee-Anne.

Fortunately neither Michelle nor Lee-Anne was at home when the dog, a black Staffordshire bull terrier which had been let off its lead, killed the cat on the road outside their home.

Mrs Navin said: "I have contacted the dog warden David East and he said he was concerned that now the dog has had a taste of blood it might go on to attack a child.

"The owner was confronted by my neighbour but he just ignored everything put the dog's lead back on and walked away."

Mrs Navin, who works for Rectella in Blackburn as a management consultant, said she was glad Lee-Anne had been at the childminder's that night otherwise she might have seen what happened.

She said: "We are offering a £10 reward and another neighbour said he will put up the same amount for anyone who can tell the dog warden who owns the animal.

"There are lots of young children who play in this street and it worries me that one of them might be attacked by this dog.

"If Lee-Anne had been at home she would have tried to defend Tibby and would probably have been injured herself.

"Someone must know who owns this dog and I would urge them to contact the dog warden because he wants to speak to them."

The dog had attacked another dog which was being walked shortly before it killed the cat.

The owner was a white youth, aged around 17, tall, of slim build with short, dark, wavy hair.

Dog warden David East said: "Anyone who has information please contact me on 01706 244552. There is a 24-hour answer machine and it is regularly checked.

"Information will be treated in strict confidence.

"We need to know who owns this dog before any other pet or a young child is injured.

"If the owner or owners reads this, they should contact me and I will give them advice to prevent their dog acting in this way."

Lee-Anne Navin has now been given a seven-week old kitten to help her cope with the heartache of losing her pet in such a distressing way.