A heartbroken family is calling for a change in the law after their beloved pet spaniel was attacked and killed by two other dogs in Carlton Colville.
Sean and Paula Trail and their children Shannon, 15, and Coren, 12, have been left devastated by the death of their five-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel Lacie.
Mrs Trail's sister Carla Riches has now launched a petition calling for the law to be changed so that any person whose dog attacks and kills another can face a criminal prosecution.
Police are investigating the incident, which happened on the cycle path to Castleton Avenue at about 8.50am on Tuesday, January 21.
Mrs Trail was walking Lacie on a lead when her pet was attacked by two lurcher or greyhound-type dogs.
It is understood the other dogs were muzzled and on leads but had broken free from their owner, who was also walking a third lurcher-type dog and was some distance away.
Mrs Trail said the muzzles came off the dogs when they started attacking Lacie.
She said she kicked out at one of the dogs but stopped when it turned and snapped at her foot.
Mrs Trail said a woman then came out of a nearby house and attempted to pull the dogs off Lacie, eventually laying across one of the attacking dogs to pin it to the ground.
By this time, the owner of the dogs had also arrived and managed to restrain them.
Sadly Lacie died in the street as a result of the injuries she suffered in the attack, which was also witnessed by young children walking to Grove Primary School nearby.
Mrs Trail, who lives with her family in Chaulkers Crescent, Carlton Colville, said her husband and children were devastated by the death of their pet.
She said she had not left the house for several days after the attack and had to take time off work.
'Lacie was not just a pet, she was my life,' she said. 'She slept in our bed with us and when I went out she would sit waiting for me. When I went on holiday I would get my friend to put her on Skype so I could talk to her.
'She was my baby. I miss her and can't believe she is gone.'
Although it is not a criminal offence for a dog to attack and kill another, it is against the law for a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place.
The online petition for a change in the law has been signed by at least 680 people and paper petitions are also being circulated by Mrs Trail and her family.
She said: 'I will do whatever I can to get a law put in place so this can't keep happening to other people. I would hate for another family to go thorough this.'
Mrs Trail has also contacted Waveney MP Peter Aldous to call for a change in the law.
He said he would wait for the outcome of the police investigation to see if the law was strong enough to address the situation. He added: 'If it isn't then, depending on the feedback I get from the police, my constituents and the RSPCA, who I have already spoken to, then it may be appropriate for me to be doing something.'
A police spokesman said officers were investigating the incident and asked anyone with information to ring PC Andrew Roberts, of the Lowestoft South Safer neighbourhood Team, on 101.
?To sign the petition, visit www.change.org and search for 'Carla Riches'.
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