DISTRESSED dog lovers braved the icy weather in Enfield Town today to launch a petition calling for action to find a mystery dog killer.

The group collected 300 signatures in just three hours after setting up a stand in Silver Street. A poster asked: "Do you know the Winchmore dog killer?"

On January 17 at around 6.10pm, a 21-year-old woman saw a man pulling the dog by its lead down Queen's Avenue. The male black and white spaniel crossbreed was later found dead, having been beaten, behind Capitol House, an office block off Green Lanes.

The group is determined to find the man responsible, claiming Enfield police are not interested in pursuing the case.

A Facebook group set up two weeks ago by dog lover Sally Nicholson-Fisher, 49, has now attracted nearly 1,500 members.

Ms Nicholson-Fisher, from Brighton Road, who owns four dogs, said: "I'm suprised by the number of people who have joined our group and remained interested, but something like this really hits you in the gut.

"We are all very angry that the police are doing nothing. People feel very, very strongly about this.

"We are determined to find this man. If he is violent, who is to say his next victim won't be a child or a partner?

"Someone out there must know some information that can lead us to him."

Dog day carer Nicola Lowry, 41, from Barnet, who helped to hand out leaflets, added: "I was disgusted when I read about this in the Enfield Independent. People need to be made aware of it.

"Someone is obviously protecting this man, but we are definitely confident of finding him. He will be caught."

The residents have put together a reward fund to help find the killer, which currently stands at around £200.

They also agreed to fund a post-mortem after the RSPCA refused, due to take place next week.

Enfield police passed the matter to the RSPCA, they said, because the caller who reported the attack could not provide any contact details for the witness.

Anyone with information about this attack is asked to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

If you would like to donate to the reward fund, please email Rebecca Lowe on rlowe@london.newsquest.co.uk or leave details below.