Three roaming dogs have been impounded in relation to a savage attack on two cats in a quiet cul-de-sac in Welcome Bay.
Dogs killed a 1-year-old tortoise-shell, owned by Andre and Carmen Bidois; as well as a 3-year-old pale ginger cat, owned by Sandra Stuart and Kevin Gibbs.
Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln said the dogs involved in Saturday's attack had been identified and impounded. They were a mastiff-cross, a bull terrier-cross and a border collie-cross.
"We found them on a property and we impounded them with the assistance of the owner. They were found on two different addresses," he said.
"This was a very unusual situation where three dogs have got together and done some damage."
The dogs involved have no prior record of attacking other animals or people.
Mr Lincoln said there were a number of options for dealing with dogs responsible for attacks ranging from a warning, a fine, classification as a dangerous dog or prosecution.
The dogs are in the pound.
"Once we've concluded our investigation and we've interviewed the owners then we'll make a decision," Mr Lincoln said.
The vet who treated one of the mauled cats said the incident was one of the worst he had ever seen.
Welcome Bay vet John Drummond said the injuries the older cat, Oscar, sustained in the frenzied attack were extreme.
"Oscar was a real mess," he said.
"There were reasonably big holes and that caused a big problem but even if the holes weren't big, there was a lot of damage inside to the organs.
"It couldn't walk and when we tried to prop it up we noticed it had severe nerve damage, high in its spinal cord and brain damage. It was very nasty."
The cat was given painkillers and died 16 hours after the attack.
In the past two weeks, the vet clinic treated five animals as a result of dog attacks but most were minor..
Mr Drummond wasn't sure if the same three dogs were responsible for any other attacks in the area.
