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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbours dog killed cat :(

268 replies

spudholes · 02/05/2015 21:02

Our next door neighbour has a staffie dog. I was talking to her over the fence and a cat came into the garden and the dog flew at it and killed it Sad. I was very upset and neighbour said it was the cats fault for coming into her garden.

I have found out that the ower of said cat is away on holiday Sad Neighbour says she's not going to tell them what happened when they get back.

Should I tell them?

OP posts:
londonrach · 02/05/2015 22:30

Tbh this shows why cats shouldnt roam. Dogs are dogs, cats are cats. However owner of dog should certainly inform the neighbour! (Police would nt be interested i should imagine as owner didnt use dog for sport on cat. Dog was being a dog in own back garden. Dread to think if it was a child. Op has this dog acted like this before? Just like cat would be a cat to birds in its own back garden). That poor cat owner and sister would very be very worried the cat is. Morally they need to be told. Best from the dog owner. Sounds like you got a bad neighbour op!

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 02/05/2015 22:31

The dog was in I assume in a secure garden, dogs attack cats. The dog only did what is natural to them.

The owner should be told.

Tiptops · 02/05/2015 22:31

This is dreadful. Yes, you must tell the owners what has happened, they deserve to know.

The dog was completely out of control if she could not command it to leave the cat alone. ALL dogs should be trained well enough to follow a 'leave it' command to keep themselves and other animals/ people safe.

Tiptops · 02/05/2015 22:34

The police won't be interested. They did nothing when a dog killed a family member's cat in the middle of a street, let alone a dog in its own garden. However, the dog warden did offer to write a letter to the owner of the dog about keeping it under control, so definitely worth reporting it to them.

Btw, a dog following its instinct is a complete nonsense of an excuse if the owner was present. She should have been able to command the dog to leave the cat alone.

chickenpoxpanic · 02/05/2015 22:35

Dogs chase and kill small furry things - cats, rats, rabbits. It's not a dangerous dog or out of control.

Cats are far more prolific killers!

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2015 22:39

Cats don't kill other people's pets do they?

sebsmummy1 · 02/05/2015 22:41

FFS all this bullshit about dogs being dogs, la la la. I would be totally horrified if I lived next door to a household that thought it was acceptable to allow their dog to kill a cat and just carry on the conversation.

What happens if the dog breaks out if the garden into a garden with small children, a baby perhaps? Are we to just say 'oh dear, dogs will be dogs, they like to go for a wander and the fence should have been more secure'.

I saw a staffie attack a husky on Friday. Staffie off it's lead with some rough scrote of a woman trailing behind it, next minute it's attacking the husky (who is on a lead) and it's owner is desperately trying to pull it off. They are dangerous dogs owned by thick-as-shit owners and I wish the breed could be banned.

abigamarone · 02/05/2015 22:41

I'd tell the sister at the first possible opportunity.

As far as the dog goes, the owner was present, if she can't control her dog, she isn't fit to own one.

PurpleSwift · 02/05/2015 22:42

A dog has a chase instinct yes, but attacking and killing isn't normal when in the presence of their owner who should be in control. This is why dogs should be trained. Dogs even with the strongest chase instinct can be trained to recall.
I feel sorry for the cat owner. I'd also pity the dog owner too if they didn't sound so blasé about it, their attitude is sad.

Tiptops · 02/05/2015 22:42

Yes, dogs may instinctually chase furry things but they should ALWAYS be trained well enough to follow commands instead of killing other animals. For their own safety, they could run off or into the path of a car while chasing, or something tragic like this where someone else's beloved pet has been mauled to death all because an irresponsible owner didn't train her dog to 'leave it' 'drop it' or 'come here'. No excuse.

Tiptops · 02/05/2015 22:43

Post above was directed at chickenpox sorry.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 02/05/2015 22:43

Today 22:39 Sparklingbrook

Cats don't kill other people's pets do they?

No but cats often bring dead animals like birds, mice and even frogs.

Animals have not got humans way of thinking, I think people forget that an animal is an animal.

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2015 22:45

Sparklingcat brings home all sorts. But i don't think she can be compared to a dangerous dog.

Kleptronic · 02/05/2015 22:45

Training is great in theory but any dog is capable of it, and certainly a greyhound, whippet, terrier or lurcher in it's own garden would have a cat in a trice and no amount of training could stop them. That's what they're bred for and that is what they do.

It is like asking cats not to stalk birds. Or asking my collie not to herd my cat. He's been trained to within an inch of his life but he still herds the damn cat unless I am extremely, and I do mean extremely (large pointy shouting) robust about it. I can stop him from herding when he's started but if it was the killing small furries which was bred into him, I'd be too late, it'd already be dead.

FreudiansSlipper · 02/05/2015 22:46

a responsible owner would tell the dog to stop

and a well trained dog would do so

does not sound as though this owner has either trained the dog or is a responsible owner and just does not care they are too strong and powerful to be kept by such irresponsible owners

typical of mn though to defend the dogs actions Hmm

DarkHeart · 02/05/2015 22:47

My old cat (now passed away) killed loads of pets- guiena pigs, rabbits and even a duck! I tried everything I could to stop her even keeping her in but that drove her (and me) INSANE. However I think the neighbour should have been able to control her dog, be contrite and tell the owner and apologise. I always tried to track down the owner and apologise and put a very heavy bell on my cat!

abigamarone · 02/05/2015 22:48

Cats will kill someone's hamster given half a chance, but I'd be less concerned at the local tabby escaping from their own garden than I would a staffy with no recall training.

AyMamita · 02/05/2015 22:50

Poor cat and poor you. I would be throwing a steak heavily laced with rat poison over the fence the first chance I got. Disgusting people.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 02/05/2015 22:51

Op can you clarify on how the dog owner reacted.

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2015 22:53

I doubt a cat owner would stand back and watch their cat kill somebody's beloved pet.

chickenpoxpanic · 02/05/2015 22:54

If a cat found a pet rodent/baby rabbit in someone's garden they'd kill it. They kill pet fish in ponds.

Lorialet · 02/05/2015 22:54

What happened, although terrible and upsetting is no-one's fault. What is disgusting is your neighbour's attitude. How would she feel if her dog went missing and she never saw it again? She's always be wondering whether someone had stolen it or taken it in, or whether it had been run over. You've got to tell the owner :(

chickenpoxpanic · 02/05/2015 22:57

The cat owner will be standing back all the way in their house while their cat kills things!

Sparklingbrook · 02/05/2015 22:57

chicken that's possible I guess, but the owner wouldn't be stood there doing nothing as it happened. I don't think it's comparable to the OP.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 02/05/2015 22:58

Wow, there's some cracking posts here. Dog does what dogs do, so the answer is to poison it? Why punish a dog for its irresponsible owner?

And I've met some irresponsible dickhead cat owners too.