What would you do to prepare to take on a rescue dog that killed a cat?

[r2d2ismyidealman]

I'm very excited about this dog but does it mean I could never let her off the lead? We don't have a cat btw.

[Floralnomad]

My dog would kill a cat but he goes off lead ,I'm just very selective about where and very careful about being in control . If you are that concerned you could always muzzle train the dog.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd muzzle train them, just for your own peace of mind, and let them off lead only in areas very removed from houses without one.

What breed are they? If a sighthound, there are enclosed area playgroups which let them socialise and play in a safe manner

[readysteady]

Poor cat.

To be honest most dogs would kill a cat in a open space some dogs are quicker then others. It depends if this happened in the house or outside.

[Scuttlebutter]

Pretty straightforward but needs managing. It's an issue for sighthounds, mainly because while many breeds chase cats, pointies are quick enough to catch them.

Firstly, make sure your garden is as inaccessible as possible for visiting cats, and do everything you can to discourage cats from entering. We use a water pistol if we see any and most of our neighbourhood cats now give us a wide berth.

On neighbourhood walks, in areas where there will be cats around, don't use a flexi lead, use good quality, well fitted lead and collar, and consider using a muzzle. If he/she is a sighthound, they will probably be comfortable with/used to these anyway.

On walks where you can safely go offlead e.g. beach, park well away from cats, open countryside, it will be safer - you may wish to retain muzzle for peace of mind.

Most sighthound charities will have info on local places that are securely fenced for safe offlead play/running, and there are private ones available as well.

Bear in mind that the RSPCA prosecuted a greyhound owner under the Animal Welfare Act whose dog was on the lead, walking near their home, and a cat jumped out of a hedge in front of them. The dog attacked the cat, and the RSPCA took the view (which the court agreed with) that this was preventable e.g. by muzzling.

I would strongly recommend booking yourself onto one of Trevor Cooper's DogLaw seminars (as I would for any dog owner) as he goes into detail on a number of key legal issues. His website lists forthcoming events.

And of course (and again, good advice for all dog owners) make sure you have adequete 3rd party insurance, and check if yr insurance offers any legal advice cover - some household policies do, and that might be useful.

[r2d2ismyidealman]

Thanks all, your tips are gratefully received.