Kate ScotterA Norwich mum today told of her horror after a man broke into her garden and killed her dog.Charlotte Gooden found her pet in a pool of blood in the back garden of her home in West Earlham - and police are hunting for the man suspected of killing the animal.Kate Scotter

A Norwich mum today told of her horror after a man broke into her garden and killed her dog.

The drama unfolded at about 11.30pm on Monday in St Mildred's Road, West Earham, when Charlotte Gooden's dog started barking.

The 35-year-old looked out of her window and spotted a man in the garden and immediately called police.

While police officers were searching the nearby area, she discovered her dog, Tanny, a Rottweiler-Labrador cross, in a pool of blood with a gash, likely to have been caused by a blade, in the side her body.

The dog later died from its injuries.

Ms Gooden, a full-time mum-of-two, whose daughters Rhianna, four, and two-year-old Cascada were in bed at the time, said today: 'My dog had just gone mental because she could see someone was there. I was so scared and didn't know what to do.

'I phoned the police and told them that I wasn't going out there without my snooker cue, I was so frightened. I couldn't see where Tanny had gone. I called her but she didn't come back. I thought she had gone to chase the man away.

'When the police came, they went looking for the man.

'I heard Tanny next to my side door, panting. I could see the blood. I was quite angry because of what he had done - we had her since she was a pup.

'It makes you think what could've happened if I didn't have a dog - I was on my own and had two young children sleeping in their beds. I hope the police get whoever did it.'

Ms Gooden said the man, who she described as being tall, was shouting the name of the previous householder - who moved out more than six months ago.

She said there was no reason that anyone would deliberately target her and her dog.

They first got Tanny, who was black and brown, when the dog was just six weeks old a year and a half ago.

Ms Gooden's partner buried her in their back garden.

'She was such a soft and placid dog and was so good with the children,' said Ms Gooden. 'She used to playfight with my step children, who are older, but then knew how to behave around the young ones - she would just flop and lie down and let them cuddle her and climb on her.

'It's so sad when you've got a good bond with your pet.'

A spokesman for Norfolk police confirmed the incident.

He said: 'The man became verbally abusive to the owner and gained access to the garden. The dog was later found and sadly died.

'Enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding this incident. It is not believed there was any threat to the wider public.'

Witnesses are asked to contact Norfolk police on 0845 456 4567.

Do you have a story for the Evening News to investigate? Contact Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk