WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
A hunt has apologised after its hounds killed a pet cat in an 'out of control' attack.
The cat's owner, Rebecca Bingham, said one of the dogs snatched the terrified animal from under a car in a private garden in Bakewell, Derbyshire and 'shook her like a rag doll'.
Hunt organisers now say they are reviewing their procedures in a bid to prevent another pet from being killed, the Independent reports.
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Rebecca said her two-year-old cat called Spider was simply siting on a wall at the end of the yard when the dogs came running by.
Ms Bingham told the Independent: "Before she had chance to move, one jumped up on the wall. She then dodged and hid underneath the car, but it crawled under after her, brought her out, jaws clamped around her stomach, and shook her like a rag doll.
"But by the time we managed to get the dog to release her, she was the gasping for air, and within a minute she was passed away."
Ms Bingham believes the mounted riders, from the High Peak Hunt, were out exercising with the hounds rather than actually hunting.
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This isn't the first time she's had to intervene to get the hounds out of her garden, saying that they have tried to push through the gate in the past to get to their cats or the cat food on the ground, adding: "We have had to remove them from our property more than once because of this."
Taking to Facebook, one of Ms Bingham's friends wrote: "Please if you know of, or see anything, anywhere, report it as wildlife crime. This isn't okay, and no one should have to worry about their precious babies being injured or losing their life due to some folk enjoying this so-called 'sport'."
A spokesperson from the High Peak Hunt told the Independent the hounds were being walked out where they're routinely exercised without incident.
The statement went on: "The hunt has been in contact with the cat owner and apologised unreservedly for the distress this has caused.
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"Incidents of this nature involving hounds are incredibly rare due to the professionalism with which the hounds are handled in kennels and throughout their lives; however, the hunt has taken this matter very seriously and is reviewing their procedures to prevent any reoccurrence."
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