Police have charged a man over the stabbing death of a four-year-old pet Labrador that shocked Perth on Thursday.

Mirrabooka woman Bridgette yesterday described the horrific experience of holding her beloved Luna and she died in her arms.

“I just squeezed and prayed to myself that it wasn’t true,” she said. “There was so much blood, my face, my hands, I was just covered.”

Bridgette said Luna had bounded over to a man, who had his own small dog, before dropping to the ground as he bent down beside her.

“I just thought she was submitting and wanting to play,” she said.

“I got closer and I realise she is on the floor, blood all over her and I just drop and start screaming.”

“I picked her up and lay her on top of me to feel for her heartbeat but I couldn't feel anything ... she was gone within seconds.

A 37-year-old Mirrabooka man was charged with animal cruelty and will appear in the Perth Magistrate’s Court on June 15.

He was released on bail.

RSPCA WA chief inspector Amanda Swift said the public reaction to the senseless act proved the community did not tolerate cruelty towards animals.