MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition launched in the wake of news that police say they cannot act against the owner of a dog that has repeatedly killed and menaced pet cats in residential area of Grays.

Earlier this week Thurrock Nub News reported on local concern in the north Grays area about a dog walker and his large poodle, which is known to have killed at least two cats - and on Friday was reported to have killed another.

Outrage is so strong that an online petition has been launched calling for a change in the law so the owners of killer dogs can be prosecuted for their animals actions.

A loophole in the law at the moment means police have no powers to act if a family cat is killed by a dog!

A petition launched by local resident Brooke Gant says: "There has been a man in the Grays/ Thurrock area going round with his two dogs (one being a brown standard poodle). He usually has them off a lead with no muzzle on and the poodle has proven to be very vicious.

"This man just lets his dog attack and kill innocent cats in the street while he watches and does nothing to stop it.

"This has been ongoing for over a year now and people's poor harmless innocent pets are being killed.

"Residents of Thurrock are too afraid to walk their dogs or let their cats out because of this man.

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"How many more times can this happen before something gets done about it?

"How long until this is a child instead of an animal?"

The petition can be found here.