Police believe two wild dogs are behind the attacks that have now claimed 17 treasured animals. But disturbing pictures of the hutch of the latest victim have raised the question of whether dogs alone could be capable of such savagery.
Previous attacks have seen wooden hutches and pet runs covered in deep bite marks. In the latest attack, a guinea pig called Tippy Toes, belonging to the the Hadfield family of Warley, was decapitated.
The wire hutch it shared with 17 other guinea pigs was turned into a tangle of severed wire.
Shown pictures, vet Rebecca Muwanga, of Hird and Partners, Halifax, said: "It would be very unlikely a dog would do this on
its own. It would have to be very determined. What has happened would take some force. The creature has gone through the roof. A small dog would not be able to do it by itself. It looks like somebody helped."
In the latest attack at Edgeholme Lane, Warley, the hutch was ripped apart and a bolted-down mesh top was torn open.
Owner Helen Hadfield, who lives with children Danny, eight, Bethany, 11, and Charlotte, five, said: "We are all just so shaken up.
"Tippy Toes had its head ripped clean off and the rest were cowering in fright.
"They only survived because a neighbour disturbed them. We are very lucky just one got killed.
"The mesh, which was bolted down, was ripped off. It must have taken some force.
"It was right by the trampoline where the children play and I dread to think what would have happened if they had been in the garden."
The Courier has been flooded by reports over the past three months of the dogs wandering through gardens and mauling family pets across Wheatley, Pellon, Highroad Well, Norton Tower and now Warley.
Police say they are hunting two dogs. One is golden brown, the size of a Labrador. The other is a small black dog with a white speck on its chest.
Sergeant Brian Parker said: "Somebody in Calderdale must know who the dogs are and nobody is telling us. In the meantime, keep pets inside."