Lauren Boore, a mum in Abingdon, became concerned when her cat Mittens, who she’d had since birth as part of her other cat’s litter, wasn’t home for breakfast one morning.

After the beloved family pet didn’t return for another day, Ms Boore began searching for Mittens, posting an appeal on Facebook, handing out leaflets and knocking on neighbours’ doors.

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“He’s always in and out of home so I knew something wasn’t right,” she said.

Lauren Boore with her late cat, Mittens, when he was a kitten (Image: Lauren Boore)

It wasn’t until someone who had seen the appeal for missing Mittens got in touch with the cat owner and said a dog had been witnessed attacking a cat on the morning of Friday, April 17 – the day the cat went missing.

Ms Boore said: “Automatically I was like, I think I know whose dog it is. That’s when things started spinning around in my head.

“The next day I confronted the owner of the dog that I suspected because it matched the description.

Lauren Boore had Mittens since he was a kitten, when her other cat had a litter (Image: Lauren Boore)

“He denied it, to start with, but once I said there’s been a witness and it matched his dog’s description, he admitted it all, basically, and said he’d been lying to me.”

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The dog, a lurcher, had reportedly been with the owner on the playing field near their home when it ran away and chased down and killed a cat.

Ms Boore said Mittens was a beloved cat and a ‘member of the family’ (Image: Lauren Boore)

“I just wanted Mittens back. I just wish he’d done the right thing in the beginning,” she added.

“We’ve lived on the same road for nine years, and I never thought he’d be capable of doing that – he seemed like a decent person, and I’m just really, really shocked.

“I want something done about his actions, because at the end of the day, he wasn’t a responsible dog owner.”

The cat owner made a report to the police, and although an officer visited her and spoke to the neighbour, no further action has been taken.

Mittens when he was a kitten (Image: Lauren Boore)

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When contacted by this newspaper, Thames Valley Police said the case had been filed, and declined to comment further.

Ms Boore added: “I just wish people would do the right thing, when it comes to cats.

“They’re somebody’s pet, and a family member, and people should have more respect towards cats.”

The high street branches of the stationery and supplies chain was rebranded last summer after more than 480 stores were sold to Modella Capital, owner of Hobbycraft.

It has now announced a restructuring plan, described as ‘an essential part of the company’s turnaround’, which could result in the losses of some stores and jobs in its massive portfolio.

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Retail Gazette said stores understood to be at particular risk include the Oxford branch in Cornmarket Street, as well as others in Swindon, Chippenham, Hampshire and North Wales.

The retail giant said the company has been ‘loss-making’ over the past year due to many factors, not least because of ‘the forced name change from WHSmith’, which it claims negatively impacted brand awareness.

WHSmith in Cornmarket Street, before it rebranded to TGJones (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesperson for TGJones said: “TGJones has launched a formal process known as a restructuring plan to make the business fit for the future.

“The plan is an essential part of the company’s turnaround and will support further investment in stores over the long term. Modella Capital has committed to financial contributions totalling more than £35 million as part of the process.

“This decision has not been taken lightly. While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers.

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“Weak consumer spending and cost-of-living pressures, combined with rising operating costs as a direct result of government policy and recent geopolitical events, have meant that the company as a whole has remained loss-making.

“The forced name change from WHSmith has also negatively impacted consumer awareness, despite the fact that the proposition has improved.

TGJones has announced a ‘restructuring plan’ (Image: Newsquest)

“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come.

“We are extremely grateful to the many stakeholders who have pledged their support, including the Post Office and Toys R Us.”

The company added that ensuring the survival of the ‘iconic’ 234-year-old business is an ‘imperative’ in the scheme.

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Regarding store closures, the spokesperson added: “No decisions have yet been taken on how this will impact roles, but we will aim to preserve as many jobs as possible.

“Any potential store closures or role reductions will be subject to appropriate consultation, and we are committed to engaging openly and constructively with colleagues and their representatives.

“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles.

“We recognise the impact this uncertainty will have on colleagues, their families and the communities we serve.”

Originally founded by Jeremy Clarkson in the Cotswolds to advertise his alcohol brand, the group is a collective of real British farmers.

The ‘banned’ advert featured a rendition of the French opera song ‘Flower Duet’ from the opera ‘Lakme’, to advertise Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager.

The choir appeared on Britain’s Got Talent on March 21 and secured a golden buzzer from Amanda Holden during their audition.

During their audition the choir performed the Elbow anthem “One Day Like This” at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

This buzzer sent the 32-strong collective straight through to the live semi-finals.

Mr Clarkson was left visibly moved by the performance as he took to the social media site Instagram to share a raw clip with his instant reaction.

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Japanese hip-hop group World Wings also made it through to the semi-final (Image: ITV)

“I watched Britain’s Got Talent tonight for the first time because the Hawkstone Choir were on and they were just fantastic,” he said, appearing to be close to tears.

“It shows that people quite like farmers. They were very, very good, well done, all of you. I’m a very happy man tonight.”

In March, the choir announced the release of a limited-edition vinyl record, with 100 per cent of the profits being donated to the mental health charity, Shout.

The limited-edition vinyl includes ‘F**k Me It’s Good’, ‘It’s The Dog’s Nuts’, ‘Apples’, and ‘The Stout National Anthem’.

The semi-finals began on May 2 and will continue every Saturday for the rest of this month.

The choir will go against artist like the Japanese hip-hop dancers World Wings, magician Fabian Fox, pupils from Braunstone Community Primary School and dance group LMA.