My dog bit a cat 😪

[Bluetoybear]

Please be kind as I am so stressed over this.. name changed for this I 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 leg. 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.

The police will not be interested in this situation
I and others are talking about the harassment of the OP rather than the pet incident.

If you pay anything, you are admitting liability.

I had the exact same thing happen, except I grabbed the cat away from my dog and got badly bitten in the process (by the cat)
I was in absolute hysterics, I didn't know who the cat belonged too, I went knocking on doors with my husband and managed to find his owner, he was dragging a back leg, I felt awful.
I told the owner exactly what happened, I could have lied, but what benefit would that have been.

I never offered to pay anything and didn't hear from them again.

I still feel awful for the cat and always wondered how it was, but couldn't bring myself to go and knock and ask.

Hope your husband makes him back off, if the cat wasn't roaming in your garden, it wouldn't have happened, your not liable for any bill.

Out of interest if a cat ran out in front of your car and you hit it, would you be liable?

I absolutely don't think you should pay anything. It will affect your insurance premium and you're likely to have an excess that you'd have to pay.

Don't let this bully intimidate you !

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.

You’re not liable for anything, as it was your own garden and your dog attacked a cat rather than a child, but your dog isn’t safe to be off leash in public spaces or around small children.

I don’t think you’re expected to pay bets bills for a cat that runs under your wheels, just to stop and make sure it gets to one (and that’s probably a moral expectation rather than a legal one)

OP I hope you are ok, it sounds like the whole thing has been traumatic for you as well as the cat owners, but it is NOT your fault, or your responsibility to pay. Their pet insurance will cover it, and if they don’t have any that’s on them.

*vets. Clearly 🤦‍♀️

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.
It's a turn of phrase and the OP also sometimes just says 'my dog'.

your dog isn’t safe to be off leash in public spaces or around small children. Oh please.

@MyAnacondaMight

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.

You’re not liable for anything, as it was your own garden and your dog attacked a cat rather than a child, but your dog isn’t safe to be off leash in public spaces or around small children.

Attacking a cat and a child are none comparable. Some dogs were bred for hunting small furries not children ffs.

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.

And?

OP can refer to her dog how she wants.

We all know it's capable of causing injuries to a cat. Because, err the thread.

OP, you and your dog are blameless. Your neighbours can jog on, they have zero claim on you.

@MyAnacondaMight

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.

You’re not liable for anything, as it was your own garden and your dog attacked a cat rather than a child, but your dog isn’t safe to be off leash in public spaces or around small children.

By that logic, what size rat or vole does a cat need to kill in order to no longer be allowed out without a leash or be around small children?

By that logic, what size rat or vole does a cat need to kill in order to no longer be allowed out without a leash or be around small children?

😂

I hope you are ok OP.

Their cat came into your secure garden, you owe them nothing. It is obviously very upsetting but if you have a cat that you let roam then you take the risk that they may end up injured.

@MyAnacondaMight

Referring to your dog as “little dog” does nothing to change the fact that it was capable of causing significant injuries to a cat. Size is largely irrelevant here.

You’re not liable for anything, as it was your own garden and your dog attacked a cat rather than a child, but your dog isn’t safe to be off leash in public spaces or around small children.

The fact that the OP’s dog has bitten a cat does not make it any more or less likely to bite a child. One of mine would certainly injure a cat if she got hold of one (no cats around here and she isn’t walked off lead) but she is lovely with people and I trust her as much as I personally would trust any dog. I have also known dogs who have bitten people (not my dogs!) but who have had no issue with cats.

Cats can cause significant injuries to other cats too, a friend of mine had to have a kitten put to sleep because it was attacked by an older cat and the injuries got infected. Surely if you have an animal that you allow to roam about unaccompanied you accept that it’s more likely to get injured than an animal that only leaves the house with its owner?

Your neighbour is harassing you. Phone the police.

The car came on to your property, I’m afraid he has no recourse.

Thank you all for your kind comments and advice The neighbour knocked (banged on the door) at about 9.00pm but I was in bed as still in pain from surgery and quite groggy on pain killers. I took the dog out really early this morning so I wouldn't see him. Later on I watched him come out of his house to go to work and was talking to (nice) neighbour across the road before getting into his car..he was quite animated and pointing to my house . My husband is going round to see him as soon as he gets home later today. We moved here 2 years ago and have only said good morning etc to each other. He complained I put my bins out too early on bin collection day (I have since then put them out later) but nothing else. I don't know how the cat is ☹.

Your DH needs to be completely calm, utterly reasonable, and most importantly stay that way, when he goes round. Cross neighbour can get as het up as he wants, it won’t change anything.

Anyone who complains about the time their neighbour puts their bins out is a serious twat!

Oh dear.

You're going to have a bit of trouble from him, aren't you? Glad your DH is supportive.

Agree, cats and dogs will fight, it's in their nature. Cat came onto dog's territory and came off worst. Just like mice or birds that get in the cat's way will come off worst - it's just in their nature.

Bet the cat doesn't come back into your garden once it's better.

Hope your shoulder is healing.

Sunbird ..my husband in a calm and reasonable person

I’m a cat owner. Of course I feel sorry fir the cat.

However, dogs chase cats.
Your dog was secure in your back garden.
This is the cat owners responsibility.
Pay nothing.
Ignore.
Complain to police about harassment.

There was a case a few years ago of a man using his neighbour's garden as "right of way" to shortcut to his own property. Neighbpur's german shepherd bit the man.

Went round the courts as the bitten man wanted the dog put down however eventually it got ruled that the dog was protecting its own property which was its purpose. The dog had been assessed by Battersea to see if it had any signs of aggression in any other circumstances, which it wasn't.

Honestly? As a cat person/owner myself, I'd be upset if this happened to my cat BUT I'd pay his vet fees, because he's my pet and therefore my responsibility. The cat went into your garden, not the other way round.

As both a cat and dog owner...don't pay anything. The cat was in the dog's garden. This is the risk that cat owners take when letting their cats free roam. Same with getting hit by a car etc.

Our cat is an indoor cat (with lots of enrichment) for this reason. Both of our neighbours' cats have been killed on the road outside.

Hope the cat is OK but the owner should have insurance and it's really not your or your dog's fault.

@StatisticallyChallenged

Anyone who complains about the time their neighbour puts their bins out is a serious twat!

Hear hear!!