Jack Burnett, seven, had been given rescue cat Penny after his rabbit died two months ago.

Over five weeks he grew close to her, getting up early to feed her every morning, and playing with her during the day.

But Jack was left devastated when a dog from a pack roaming the fields around Newton Garth Farm in Boldon ran across his family's land and chased his ca and savaged it.

And when the family confronted the dog owner, he told them: "It's just nature. I'll buy you a new cat."

Jack's grandmother, Sarah Burnett, said today: "This was absolutely horrific, I was shaking with anger.

"Penny was such a friendly cat who was comfortable around people and animals, which is why she probably made no attempt to get away.

"The pack of dogs was with a man in our back garden. Not only was he trespassing, he was clearly hunting foxes with these dogs.

"I'm not bothered about the slap on the wrist he could get from the police or the courts, I want the dog's owner to apologise to my grandchildren personally for the upset he's caused."

The drama began earlier this month when Mrs Burnett's son saw two foxes run across the land behind their farm, pursued by a dog.

The foxes managed to flee but the sound of a cat screaming was heard from an empty building next door.

By the time Jack's aunt Patricia, 28, got there, Penny - who the family got from the Willows Cat Shelter, in Boldon, was dead.

The family chased the dog away, and pursued the dog's owner across surrounding fields.

But when they were eventually able to confront the man he just said to them: "It's just nature isn't it? I'll buy you a new cat."

Mrs Burnett, who has owned the farm for 17 years, added: "It just added insult to injury, it was a callous way to talk about a child's pet."

Maria Harrison, who runs the Willows Cat Shelter, was in tears when the Gazette told her about Penny.

She said: "This was despicable, absolutely appalling. The dogs shouldn't have been on the farm in the first place, never mind hunting.

"You see suspicious people out with dogs and guns and all sorts, and you know they're probably hunting. It's terrible that a cat has been killed as a result of this.

"Penny was lovely. The person we originally homed her with brought her back in because they couldn't really cope with her always killing things and bringing them back in.

"So when Mrs Burnett came to us for a cat for the farm I thought she'd be a perfect match.

"It's so sad to hear about this happening."