A family in New Zealand was devastated after two dogs ran onto their property and mauled their pet cat to death Monday.

Speaking to Stuff, the cat’s owner, Cherie Ross, said their two cats, Terra and Archer, were playing in the garden when a man walked by with his two canines. Suddenly, the two dogs ran onto their garden and began attacking Terra. The other cat was saved by Ross’ 10-year-old son Euan.

“By the time the owner had caught up with the dogs, my cat was dying in my arms and my son was screaming and the owner just grabbed the dog by the collar and left," Ross recalled.

"Terra was Euan's favorite cat. She used to sleep with him every night so he was distraught watching her die in my arms,” Ross said, adding that both the cats would have turned 15 this week.

Ross said she was now concerned for the safety of others. The entire attack was caught on CCTV.

Calling the dogs, "obviously killers,” Ross said, "I suspect by how quickly the dogs crushed and killed my cat that they are hunting dogs, which should have been muzzled or, in the very least, under control of the owner. They are clearly dangerous to other animals."

Ross said the district council was yet to find the dogs and the owner. The council said they were investigating the incident and the dog owner was unidentifiable from the CCTV footage.

Council regulation manager Nick Harrison said, "So far we haven't seen anyone or any animals matching the footage. The owner will obviously be aware of the incident and, if local, would have seen the increased presence of the council so is likely keeping a low profile."

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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