A HAIRDRESSER is calling for tougher action on irresponsible dog owners after her cat was “deliberately” attacked by a dog in her salon.

Afshan Salam, 43, runs Shanze Beauty Salon in Walthamstow High Street where her cat Simba is popular with her customers.

At around 6pm on Friday, March 3, after opening the salon’s door to let steam out, a pit bull type dog ran inside and mauled Simba in front of horrified customers.

Witnesses have reported seeing two men walking the dog when one of them took a cloth out of his pocket for the dog to sniff before setting him off the lead to attack the cat.

Ms Salam said: “When the dog ran in and attacked Simba everyone was screaming. It went all the way into the kitchen and people were afraid to intervene in case the dog attacked them.

“Simba jumped up on things trying to save himself and everything was falling and it was a huge mess. There was so much blood all over the floors.

“I started crying and I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I went outside and said to the owner can you please get your dog out of my shop. He didn’t come immediately because I think he did it on purpose.

“The dog had a lock jaw and the owner had to hit him to get him off the cat. Simba was so petrified he ran out of the shop and was missing for hours. He doesn’t feel secure in his own home anymore.”

Simba was treated at the vet’s the next day for wounds to his legs and is recovering from the attack.

Ms Salam’s mother Noor Saba, 66, was sitting in her wheelchair outside the salon when the dog jumped over her and ran into the store.

Ms Salam was forced to close the salon for two days to clean the blood and disinfect all the rooms.

She is calling for tougher penalties for people who leave dogs off their leads in public places without muzzles.

She said: “I am extremely infuriated about this. There were so many people around and he could have attacked a child. Dogs should be on a lead and have a muzzle on in a public place.

“This is where we run our business and we should feel secure here and not be intimidated but I am too scared to open the door of my salon now.

“It is not the dog’s fault - it is the owner who is training the dog to do this.

“I want the dog to be taken away from them. They should not be allowed any dog because they are using it for the wrong reason. I don’t know what horrible things are going on in their heads.”

The attack comes after reports on social media suggest the owners of the dog have been using the animal to “intimidate” people at bus stops in Walthamstow.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said its dog team would carry out an investigation.

Police are investigating the attack.