An Epsom mum has urged dog owners to remain alert for wildlife, after seeing a dog maul a deer on her doorstep yesterday (November 11).

Deborah Hall, 42, who lives in Parkview Way, said she was woken up at around 7am on Sunday by the cries of a deer being mauled on her communal lawn.

Ms Hall said the dog, which appeared to be a cross between a german shepherd and a terrier, was “vicious” and not kept on a lead.

She said: “I came round through to the lounge to see and I said ‘oh my god’ that dog has got a deer. It was panicking and did not know what to do.

“I could hear the owner saying ‘Oscar, let go’. I was panicking and banging on the window.”

Ms Hall said she saw the deer hobbling across towards her neighbour's property on Redwood Drive after the dog eventually let go.

She said: “At that point, his dog broke free and went for the deer again. It was awful. By now, I was hysterical.

“I went to get my phone and by the time I got back, the deer was hobbling and the owner was just walking away.

“I can’t unsee and unhear it. It was like a lion killing a buck in the wild. Nature is cruel but you don’t expect to see it in Epsom. What if it had been my two year old?”

Ms Hall said her two year old daughter Olivia has been left in shock after witnessing the attack yesterday.

She said: “I have tried to explain to my daughter that it has gone to heaven. Now she’s wanting to see the deer again.

“She saw the second part of the incident after the dog let go. She heard the noise and it was a horrible noise. It’s like an animal being murdered. It was blood curdling.

“She said ‘mummy, mummy, the dog’s hurting the deer', and she’s really scared of dogs.”

Ms Hall, who lives near the Epsom Riding Disabled Association and the Horton Country Park, advised local dog owners to remain alert for wildlife and to keep their dogs on a lead.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We hope that this is a reminder to people to please keep dogs on leads when near wildlife.

"Remember that a wild animal may be nearby, but not instantly obvious, so we encourage people to keep a watch out.

“Legally dog owners should have control of their animals in a public place. We are asking dog owners to act responsibly to ensure sad incidents such as this are prevented.”