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AIBU?

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Original poster

My dog bit a cat 😪

982 replies

Bluetoybear · 08/07/2021 18:00

Please be kind as I am so stressed over this.. name changed for this SadI have a 7 year old dog which is only walked on a lead 3 times a day in local park and let out in my back garden throughout the day for a wee etc. My back garden has a 6 foot fence around it so my dog can't get out. Yesterday the neighbours cat jumped into my garden and my dog ran after it and bit it on its legSad. My neighbour has taken the poor cat to the vets and has had a big vets bill for it and neighbours husband has came round at tea time demanding I pay it all. He was very vocal about it and said if I don't pay it he will 'sue/take me to court/get in touch with authority's saying my dog is dangerous etc. I am so worried as the cat has awful injuries. I have offered to pay half out of goodwill but neighbours telling me I need to pay all of the bill which I can't afford.

OP posts:
bengalcat · 08/07/2021 21:35

If my cat wandered into a neighbours garden and was bitten it would be my responsibility to pay - if my neighbour offered to pay 1/2 I would be very thankful but politely decline . It’s not your responsibility . Just bloody bad luck for said pussy and your dog was just being a dog in his own territory .

MayLeaveADentInYourSofa · 08/07/2021 21:35

My cat was killed by the neighbour's dog. He jumped over the fence and was killed in the neighbours garden.

It was very emotional asking the neighbour for my cat's body back. Neighbour in tears. Us in tears.

It never crossed my mind to blame the neighbour. My cat was in his garden. It happened. It was very shit. But my cat was the one that been somewhere he should not have been.

I'm sorry this has happened to you and that the cat owner is giving you a lot of grief.

WTF0ver · 08/07/2021 21:37

Sounds awful and must be stressful and worrying for you especially the guy intimidating you and trying to make you pay the costs. Have you even seen the vet's bill? He could be making it up. Is he ok usually or to be avoided? I'd keep a close eye on your dog in case he's still angry and tries anything. Not your fault though, the cat came into your garden, he likely doesn't have insurance. Sounds a bit like my former neighbour who was an aggressive chancer.

mightwantto · 08/07/2021 21:41

They might already have pet insurance and are trying to scam you.
I have a dog and a cat (free roaming) if cats get run over/bitten by dogs when they are where where they are it's not anyone's fault, just an accident and the cats insurance pays for it.

whatthejiggeries · 08/07/2021 21:43

One of my ducks got into the neighbours garden and got injured. She offered to pay - I refused. My duck was in the digs garden - not the dogs fault

MissMaple82 · 08/07/2021 21:44

Actually you could very well find yourself in trouble under the dangerous dogs act. The dog is considered to be out of control of it harms anyone or any animal even on your own property. I lost my cat due to a dog attack under the same circumstances and I regret not going ahead and pressing charges.

GreyhoundG1rl · 08/07/2021 21:46

@MissMaple82

Actually you could very well find yourself in trouble under the dangerous dogs act. The dog is considered to be out of control of it harms anyone or any animal even on your own property. I lost my cat due to a dog attack under the same circumstances and I regret not going ahead and pressing charges.
That's just nonsense. You're under no obligation to keep your garden dog free to make it safe for wandering cats.
mcmooberry · 08/07/2021 21:49

I can't possibly read the whole thread but, if you haven't already, withdraw your offer to pay half, the cat's vet bill is entirely his responsibility and he has behaved appallingly. I agree poor cat but he sounds less concerned about his cat and more about the cost. If he has pet insurance and had been reasonable about it, then an offer to cover the excess amount would have been a decent gesture from you, but after his threats and intimidation, I would offer him nowt.

Terminallysleepdeprived · 08/07/2021 21:49

Legally I don't think you have no obligation to pay them a penny @Bluetoybear. The dog was afex secure and controlled in its own property. The cat trespassed and lost when it ran the gauntlet. And I say that as a dog and cat owner.

Morally Your offer to pay half is more than reasonable.

I agree with speaking to your pet insurance and I would also check your house insurance for legal cover and just ask the question to confirm where you stand.

Male Neighbour is a cockwomble and only doing it because you are a woman on your own. I guarantee of your dh was there he would not have been so macho.

Hope you are ok Flowers

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 08/07/2021 21:51

Hi OP

I am not sure if anyone has already said this but it's worth checking on your household insurance on the public liability section. As the cat was injured on your property. See if there is an exclusion about pets

ArcherDog · 08/07/2021 21:52

@MissMaple82

Actually you could very well find yourself in trouble under the dangerous dogs act. The dog is considered to be out of control of it harms anyone or any animal even on your own property. I lost my cat due to a dog attack under the same circumstances and I regret not going ahead and pressing charges.
Nope. Legally incorrect. I specialise in dog law. You would have got nowhere ‘pressing charges’ (which isn’t a thing anyway).
Kona84 · 08/07/2021 22:00

If they report your dog to the council/ dog warden I’m pretty confident they wouldn’t do anything. They intervene with dangerous dogs where you are letting them roam the streets freely, they are aggressive to humans, they bite people or you can’t control your dog.

The same way a driver wouldn’t be liable for the vet bill if they ran over a cat you are not liable for your dog injuring the car that entered his territory.

nolongersurprised · 08/07/2021 22:04

Australian law may be different but we were told that even in our situation - dog wandering into our property, attacking our cats in our home - it was still had to secure a conviction with a lot of proof needed.

DrunkenUnicorn · 08/07/2021 22:05

Oh op you poor thing!

Absolutely don’t pay a penny. The man sounds like a complete bully. If their cat wanders into your garden it is completely not your responsibility.

Hope your shoulder feels better soon. Flowers

BumpyBoobs · 08/07/2021 22:10

Nah. Your neighbour is bullying you because you're on your own.
Let your husband deal with this, he'll sort it.
I have dogs. Cats shit in my garden and chase my pet rabbits. I let the dogs out to chase them out my garden. If they get caught, thats on the cats.
One cat nearly killed my bunny in my garden. Its lucky I didnt catch it.

HJ91 · 08/07/2021 22:11

It might be that legally you’re not forced to pay out for this. But morally, you absolutely should. I couldn’t live with myself if this happened. Their poor cat could have been killed; it sounds like you should try to cat proof your garden to prevent it happening again too. I know a lot of posters will say it’s not your responsibility (on paper), but now that you know your little dog tries to kill cats, you should do all you can to show you’re taking this seriously and keen for it not to happen again.

Why not pay the half as you say, and offer to pay instalments for the rest if you feel as badly about it as you say you do?

I would also keep your dog away from the neighbours themselves from now on, especially if this is not resolved. As other posters have indicated, some pet owners will take matters into their own hands if they feel their animal is at risk from yours. I hope you manage to have a calmer discussion with your neighbours, hopefully once kitty is healed up. I wouldn’t recommend sending the husband round in a rage; it’ll only make things worse. Can you text them to ask for a discussion and agree a way forward at a set date?

Grapewrath · 08/07/2021 22:12

The neighbour sounds crackers. I’d totally ignore him. Imagine expecting you to pay the bill when your dog was following his instincts in his own garden. You nor you dog have done anything wrong.
If he keeps hammering your door call 101 and please don’t give him a penny.
You sound lovely OP don’t let him push you around

Skyla2005 · 08/07/2021 22:13

@Bluetoybear

What will happen if they report me and dog to authority's? Sad
Nothing will happen because your dog was in its own garden and the cat went into its territory. It's unfortunate. But it's an accident you are not legally obliged to pay the bill
DrinkingWishingSmokingHoping · 08/07/2021 22:14

Your idiot neighbour is having a fucking laugh - woman up and tell him to get a bloody reality check, FFS! If they don’t want to risk their cat getting bitten in someone else’s garden, they should keep the damn thing on their own property. Why on earth are you considering phoning your insurance?! Confused

Poppyhopscotch · 08/07/2021 22:15

I would feel awful if the happened too and have seen a cat in our back garden a couple of times and worry about what would happen if my dogs were out. They've never interacted with a cat so I don't really know how they'd be but they crazy bark if we see one on a walk.
But you've done nothing wrong and your neighbour is out of order demanding you pay and banging on your door. I would be rescinding my offer to pay half on the basis he's a dick

Skyla2005 · 08/07/2021 22:15

By the way our dog would do exactly the same thing ! It does worry me but hopefully they have enough sense to not come in because they know he is there ! Not had a problem yet but if one came in he would probably hurt it

GreyhoundG1rl · 08/07/2021 22:17

@HJ91

It might be that legally you’re not forced to pay out for this. But morally, you absolutely should. I couldn’t live with myself if this happened. Their poor cat could have been killed; it sounds like you should try to cat proof your garden to prevent it happening again too. I know a lot of posters will say it’s not your responsibility (on paper), but now that you know your little dog tries to kill cats, you should do all you can to show you’re taking this seriously and keen for it not to happen again.

Why not pay the half as you say, and offer to pay instalments for the rest if you feel as badly about it as you say you do?

I would also keep your dog away from the neighbours themselves from now on, especially if this is not resolved. As other posters have indicated, some pet owners will take matters into their own hands if they feel their animal is at risk from yours. I hope you manage to have a calmer discussion with your neighbours, hopefully once kitty is healed up. I wouldn’t recommend sending the husband round in a rage; it’ll only make things worse. Can you text them to ask for a discussion and agree a way forward at a set date?

What a pile of horseshit Confused The cat's owner needs to cat proof their garden, not everyone else who's garden the cat may choose to mosey into.
MoreMorelos · 08/07/2021 22:18

Op, my cat was attacked by my next door neighbours dog - difference is the dog managed to get into MY garden and it happened there.

It was also his leg that was attacked mainly, the bill was well over £1k and ended up needing amputation (just trying to make you aware how much half could end up being). This was about 10 years ago so dread to think what prices are now.

My neighbours did pay towards the bill HOWEVER had it happened in their garden I would not have taken a penny off them, cats are free roaming, unfortunately sometimes they get themselves into daft situations like this one did with your dog.

This isn't your responsibility, IF you WANT to pay anything towards it it is your choice - not obligation

Sillawithans · 08/07/2021 22:20

If your dog bit a cat and it has awful injuries why wouldn't you pay!
Personally, I think your dog should be put down. This is why I hate dogs, they bite. Last August a dog killed my sleeping cat and the dog was put down. I hope the neighbours report your dog to the relevant authority.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 08/07/2021 22:21

I'm.the owner of one dog and two cats.

If a strange cat came into my garden and my dog injured it, I would feel awful but I would not feel responsible.

If my cats go into someone else's garden and get injured, that is my responsibility. We let our cats roam because it feels unfair not to, but we understand that comes with risks.

OP, definitely do NOT. pay the vet bill. Not even half. It is sad, but not your fault.