Dangerous Dog In My Street

[McMurray]

I agree with all the posts here and i think it is your responcibility if you feel in anyway threated by the animals. Your safety is the most important and you should take action to prevent you , your cat or some one else from getting hurt.

You will feel much worse in the future if the animal got out and hurt a child.

I do think it is the problem of the owners and it should be them who get punished in a way that they should not be allowed to own any pets again.

Good luck and our support is with you.

BRian

 

[Miss Wiggle]

thanks, I'll let you know what happens if anything!

 

[LisaLQ]

I'm going to be boo-ed off the thread for this, but just really wanted to say that this is what you have to expect when you let yours cats out to roam. Granted what these people did was very wrong, but there's much worse things that can happen to cats than dogs - cars, trains, other cats giving them feline AIDS, etc etc etc.

I am a dog owner, and previous cat owner - my rescue cat died because someone didn't think of the risks when they let them out - and he came to us with feline leukaemia. He only lasted 5 months (most of which was symptom free), in the end he became blind, incontinent, had liver/kidney failure and fluid around his heart. He went from chunky cuddly moggie to skinny jaundiced cat in a matter of weeks.

I'm also an owner of a dog who is not cat friendly and never will be, and given the chance, would kill any cat that came into our garden when she's out. Not my fault, she's a rescue lurcher who's obviously been used for rabbiting (must say not all lurchers are like this by a long shot!). But that is my garden, and I shouldn't have to keep my dog inside because there's a chance somebody's cat might come in. The fault would be with the cat owner, but sadly not many people would think that, and no doubt there'd be a call to have my dog put to sleep for doing something that comes naturally to her.

I do think what these people did (goading the dog) was horrendous, and do believe it should be reported. But the responsibility lies with you - if you honestly wanted to avoid things like this, it would be better to keep them as an indoors cat. If I remember rightly, an indoors cat has a much longer life expectancy.

Would you report a driver who accidentally ran over your cat, if it ran into the road and they couldn't avoid it?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Not at all Lisa, your opinion is as valid as anyone's, I certainly wouldn't attack you for it.

It's the goading of the dog I find a problem, I know full well there's a chance she'd get attacked outside and it's a dog's natural instinct to bark at or chase a dog, my issue is that they're obviously not controlling the animal when it does. There was a massive debate the other week about indoor and outdoor cats so I won't re-hash it all. But you have to make a decision appropriate to the individual animals.

None of the houses in my area have gardens so there wouldn't be a situation like yours with it going into someone's garden where a dog is kept as yours is. Because of the lack of gardens there are very very few dogs in the area so it's not a big threat to take into consideration when you decide what to do with your animals.

Your obviously a responsible owner, your aware of your dogs personality and temperment and I'm sure you look after and exercise your pet in a manner appropriate to that. These people aren't therefore it's a completely different situation.

 

[kjb66]

I also will say if a cat comes in our garden if the dogs get it im afraid it will be no more(like a poor old hedgehog)but i certainally would not encourage my dogs to attack anything like the owners of the dog in question and i think this is the main concern

 

[McMurray]

I also will say if a cat comes in our garden if the dogs get it im afraid it will be no more(like a poor old hedgehog)but i certainally would not encourage my dogs to attack anything like the owners of the dog in question and i think this is the main concern

Oh i agree but as bloo stated if the fence was a rickety old fence then it is the dog owners respocibility.

And i agree with LisaLQ if the cat was not alert enough to go into a dogs terretory then the own can not be held resposible.
it is just people who push their dogs to attack things. and not training your pet to be people friendly.

I know some dogs are just not people frindly but people take percausions with these dogs

 

[LisaLQ]

I completely agree that these people should be reported as what they are doing is undefendable (is that a word? *lol*). And if Sky had been my dog from day one, she wouldn't be a danger to cats. I dont keep her in the garden I must add, she is a house pet like most folks dogs - just in the summer sometimes we leave the back door open so she can go in and out at will. My living room window gives a direct view of the garden, and on the one occasion a cat's been daft enough to try and come in, I got out there before she got to it and shooed him away. I'd hate for anything like that to happen, as I would blame myself, just I also believe that outdoor cats will sometimes be in danger from things that cant be prevented, and it shouldn't be my responsibility to protect cats that come into that garden. If you get me.

I really love cats, I'd have some if Sky wasn't such a grumpy old moo. Luckily for us she only barks now, as cats dont usually come in - they sit and taunt her on the fence. With her being an oldie now, she cant jump up to get them (6ft fence), so the worst we have now is a quick burst of barking, I call her in and she comes in straight away.

Sky has on one occasion caught a cat, in her younger years - but to be fair it came in through my living room window and jumped down onto her bed. In her defense, she didn't kill it or even harm it - she just carried it around in her mouth until I took it off her. No cuts, nothing. We believe she's been used for retrieving rather than killing - but obviously with her barking and behaviour on seeing cats, we dont want to risk anything.

Sorry if I came over as judgemental or anything, I'm not trying to honestly - I love cats, and I know many need to go out (maybe rehomed cats who've always been outdoors or those who are very unhappy being kept in), but I also know that many happy healthy cats are kept indoors, and if/when we get a cat in the future, ours will be an indoor pet. There's far too many dangerous things out there, not just cars and dogs - but people who like to harm animals too. Where we used to live there were teenagers who used to grab cats they found out and about, and throw them in with their vicious dogs "for fun".

 

[Fighterfish]

On friday evening my Dad was bitten by a dog on his hand, he was helping me with my paperound. He was very lucky and it gouged it's teeth in to his nail as well. He has been to hospital and it is bandaged up. Howver, i feel sorry to the post man who must have to deliver the post to that house everyday. I know the dog was just protecting the territory but the owners could at least put a sign up saying 'Beware of the dog'

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I'd hate for anything like that to happen, as I would blame myself, just I also believe that outdoor cats will sometimes be in danger from things that cant be prevented, and it shouldn't be my responsibility to protect cats that come into that garden. If you get me.

I don't dispute that in the slightest, animals have they're own territory, if Mitt's was going up to where the dog was and picking a fight then yeah if she gets beaten up it's her own silly fault (or the dogs owners if they just leave them to it!) but she's been sitting under my car just outside the house or on more than one occasion actually inside the house just with the front door open and the dogs actually tried to come into the house to get at her. You can't blame her being an outdoor cat for that.

anyway we all hashed over the indoor/outdoor cat thing many times, I don't believe either one is 'right'..... just right or wrong for the individual circumstances. I firmly believe it's worth the risk of allowing her out, she's part siamese and well capable of looking after herself, spayed and I keep her vaccines well up to date and she never goes out of my road so it's worth it as she really enjoys being outside.

anyway Lisa I've no issue with you for your comments, and I'm sure Sky's lovely

 

[KathyM]

On friday evening my Dad was bitten by a dog on his hand, he was helping me with my paperound. He was very lucky and it gouged it's teeth in to his nail as well. He has been to hospital and it is bandaged up. Howver, i feel sorry to the post man who must have to deliver the post to that house everyday. I know the dog was just protecting the territory but the owners could at least put a sign up saying 'Beware of the dog'

Oh no, hope he's feeling better now! On the "Beware of the Dog" issue, it's actually not advisable for anyone to use these as it's tantamount to admitting liability if anyone breaks into your property, and you end up getting sued! Sad that it's come to that in this day and age but true. I know so many people who have Beware of the Dog signs when their dog is friendly, and yet if a burglar came in and beat the dog to get past it, and the dog retaliated, you'd be laible because the sign is admitting responsibility! Sad eh?!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

On friday evening my Dad was bitten by a dog on his hand, he was helping me with my paperound. He was very lucky and it gouged it's teeth in to his nail as well. He has been to hospital and it is bandaged up. Howver, i feel sorry to the post man who must have to deliver the post to that house everyday. I know the dog was just protecting the territory but the owners could at least put a sign up saying 'Beware of the dog'

Oh no, hope he's feeling better now! On the "Beware of the Dog" issue, it's actually not advisable for anyone to use these as it's tantamount to admitting liability if anyone breaks into your property, and you end up getting sued! Sad that it's come to that in this day and age but true. I know so many people who have Beware of the Dog signs when their dog is friendly, and yet if a burglar came in and beat the dog to get past it, and the dog retaliated, you'd be laible because the sign is admitting responsibility! Sad eh?!

never thought of it like that, that's really bad

 

[Bloo]

And another good reason to have insurance for your pet - dogs especially

We had a few cases of dag attacks (attacking other dogs) and being sued for many thousand of ££'s in damages and liabilites. Most (but not all, so read the fine print) insurance policies will cover for such cases.

 

[McMurray]

On friday evening my Dad was bitten by a dog on his hand, he was helping me with my paperound. He was very lucky and it gouged it's teeth in to his nail as well. He has been to hospital and it is bandaged up. Howver, i feel sorry to the post man who must have to deliver the post to that house everyday. I know the dog was just protecting the territory but the owners could at least put a sign up saying 'Beware of the dog'

Oh no, hope he's feeling better now! On the "Beware of the Dog" issue, it's actually not advisable for anyone to use these as it's tantamount to admitting liability if anyone breaks into your property, and you end up getting sued! Sad that it's come to that in this day and age but true. I know so many people who have Beware of the Dog signs when their dog is friendly, and yet if a burglar came in and beat the dog to get past it, and the dog retaliated, you'd be laible because the sign is admitting responsibility! Sad eh?!

never thought of it like that, that's really bad

That is so sad... the person who breaks in deserves everyting they get... I wouldnt go near a house with Beware of dog.

but isnt it the other way around as well. if you enter a garden and you get pounced on couldnt you sue the people because they didnt have a warning??

Does this also include areas where security dogs work? if so how are they supposed to warn you that a dog is around. Im not saying i would be breaking in anywhere but if for example a child kicked a ball into an area and i go into get the ball. then i get eaten. Now i wouldnt have gone in if there was a sign sayign beware of dogs.

MMMM weird situation

 

[Tolak]

With any animal that wanders about unleased or unfenced, anything could happen. This includes the dog that is apparently being trained to attack other living things. Keep a stout bat handy. Self defense is still legal where I come from.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

With any animal that wanders about unleased or unfenced, anything could happen. This includes the dog that is apparently being trained to attack other living things. Keep a stout bat handy. Self defense is still legal where I come from.

Unfortunately not in the UK though, the way our criminal justice system is at the moment if I took it in my own hands (or more likely Ian did) we'd be the ones who ended up getting in trouble