A mum-of-three found the family's kitten dead in the garden after it was savaged by a dog.

Six-month-old Tinkerbell is the second cat the Evans family, of Coriander Way, Greater Leys, Oxford, has lost in just seven months after their first pet was hit by a car at Christmas.

Now Kay Evans, 30, said her children Darran, 12, Abbie, nine, and five-year-old Vicky are heartbroken - but they will not get a replacement kitten in case that one is killed, too.

Tinkerbell suffered head injuries and internal bleeding in the attack, which happened when the dog jumped into the garden and leapt on her yesterday morning.

Mrs Evans said the family had only let the tabby kitten out for a couple of minutes to allow her to run around and were horrified when they heard her cries. They went outside to find her at the dog's feet.

She said: "I picked her up and she was limp. I even tried mouth to mouth resuscitation just in case she was just shocked but it was clear Tinkerbell was dead. "I was left to tell my kids that she's gone. Darran blames himself because he let her out and couldn't face going to school, but it wasn't his fault at all. I just can't bear it. Tinkerbell was Abbie's kitten but now she'll have to get used to her kitten not being there to play with any more.

"I had to tell them about their last cat and now I've had to do it again and I couldn't face doing it again, so I don't want to get a new one." She said she could not face the idea of having another pet cat.

Mrs Evans said the brown mongrel dog was always running around loose. The family has contacted the police, who are now investigating the incident.

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