A search was underway for a dog owner who was caught on camera setting his pet on a cat.

The CCTV footage released Tuesday showed a man approaching a home with his dog. He can be seen encouraging his pet to attack a feline that is seated on the wall by pointing a torch in the direction of the cat. He then lifts the dog up following which the canine yanks the feline onto the ground before viciously mauling it. The dog then attacks the feline before sinking its jaws into the cat and taking it away. Meanwhile, the dog’s owner flees the scene.

Speaking to local media Tuesday, the cat’s owner, Gary Truefitt, said he checked the CCTV camera when his pet, named Cleo, failed to return home on Oct. 24. He was devastated on seeing his pet being savaged to death by a dog.

Recalling the incident, he said, “I noticed my gate was left open which was suspicious so I decided to check the CCTV and was completely shocked by what I found. I was very upset, I went to my neighbors house as I didn't know what to do. Cleo will be very much missed, she was a daft cat in lots of ways and would lie along the driveway even when there were cars about but she was a companion to me. It's just awful to think of her being attacked in this way."

Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Tuesday launched a campaign to trace the dog owner.

“This is an extremely disturbing incident and we'd like to find out who this individual is as soon as possible. We believe there may also be offences of 'lamping' shown here and are also liaising with the police. If anyone does recognize the individual in this footage they can contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018,” RSPCA trainee inspector Fiona Howell said.

Kitten
A kitten sits in his enclosure at a Buddhist temple in the suburbs of Shanghai, Dec. 3, 2015. JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
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