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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Foquita · 10/07/2021 18:30

It’s not your fault at all, the car came into your garden. Very cheeky Neighboor demanding you pay the bill, it’s their fault not yours.

fussyhousewife · 10/07/2021 18:34

Hi,

I think you would have more responsibility had your dog managed to get into neighbour's garden which he did not. He is in his own domain and the cat is not your responsibility. I do feel it is a shame but I have a dog who simply hates cats and once he sees one it is time to chase this has mostly deterred them from entering our garden. Fortunately he had never bitten one and I have often felt bad that he does it but there it is. Rest easy your neighbour can do as he wishes but I think he will end up with a bigger bill than he currently has with the vet. Another thought - does the neighbour have pet insurance and is he pulling a fast one?

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 18:35

@Bluetoybear

My dog has never ever bit anything before Sad
Tell him you'll contribute 50% , he can report you all he likes, the cat shouldn't have been in your garden. My dog did this once and police who I rang said it's not a crime when it's your own property, and that cats are treated as pests
PeachyPeachTrees · 10/07/2021 18:37

Ha! Neighbour could have taken your generous kind offer of half but he acted threatening and now will get zero.

Birchtree1 · 10/07/2021 18:38

I am sorry for the poor cat.
But it came into your garden so I dont think this is your responsibility and I don't think anybody will do anything about your dog even if it is reported! ( and I am a vet)

Birchtree1 · 10/07/2021 18:38

Ps....Dont pay them any money....

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 18:41

@nimbuscloud

You would also be wise to ensure this doesn’t happen again, either by muzzling your dog when it’s in the garden or supervising it. I would not be doing either of those things.
Why should the dog be muzzled or supervised.

The neighbours should keep the cat out. This not on the OP at all

Gohardorgohome · 10/07/2021 18:44

Cat came in to your garden. Even if you are insured they won’t pay as it’s not your fault and cat came into your property. Tell them a firm no. Sorry they have been so horrid to you

jules0607 · 10/07/2021 18:46

Just phone the police requesting advice as your neighbour has made demands/threats & you need advice, take the advice (it’ll be in your favour). Get a crime reference number. If / when your neighbour tries it on again let them know you are sorry about what happened & let them know what the police told you. Unless they’re really thick they’ll leave you alone, & if they attempt to escalate you have the crime reference

Carrick27 · 10/07/2021 18:49

@Bluetoybear

I am in tears, as my husbands working away and I have been unable to reach him yet, and the neighbours husband has had a right go at me.. I feel awful about the poor cat Sad
Ignore him. If he comes back say you have no liability as your dog was in your garden. If he continues to abuse you call the police. He’s well out of order Angry
LettersLettuceLight · 10/07/2021 18:49

As everyone sensible has said, the cat was at fault, your neighbour is a bully and idiot.
I hope you’re feeling better.

Saying that our neighbours loose damn dog, chased our cat, from our driveway, to our gate. Luckily the cat escaped, but she’s old.

They were at fault there for having a loose dog. If our cat had gone into their garden, she would have been at fault.

Poor puss, she’s ok 😀 Not sure she’s run so fast in her life 😂😂🤣

TheJade · 10/07/2021 18:52

Don’t pay. The cat was in your garden, not other way around. I don’t think you’re liable for this in any way!

Good luck telling them no. Stand your ground. I wouldn’t have even offered half x

Deckchair1009 · 10/07/2021 18:59

If the cat ran into the road, and got hit by a car, would they sue the driver? You are controlling your pet, they weren’t supervising theirs...it’s a risk you take when you own a cat unfortunately and that’s what pet insurance is for, if they’re responsible cat owners, they will have fully paid up insurance and can claim on that, why should you have to pay???? Poor cat, hopefully will make a speedy recovery and have learned a valuable lesson! Sorry you had to go through this and hopefully neighbour will get over the shock and see sense. If your dog escaped and got attacked by another dog in it’s garden, what would your response be? Your dog was doing what dogs do and chasing an imposter on it’s territory. It could’ve been a lot worse and the cat still has 6 lives!!!

Rightdecison · 10/07/2021 18:59

@Bluetoybear

Good evening everybody... My calm and collected husband went next door to speak to neighbour. He explained that seeing that there cat was in our garden we are not to blame for what sadly happened to the cat, and the kind offer I made to pay for half of vet fees has now been withdrawn. And he is never again to come banging on our door when I am in the house alone. Well that went down like a lead balloon!!! He told OH he is going to report us to the police, report us to council and take 'legal advice' which my husband said he is more than welcome to do. We don't know how the cat is or what injuries it has as they wouldn't tell us. They wouldn't tell us if the cat had been bitten or had injured itself trying to get out over the fence. The nice neighbour across the road has had a word with my husband to let him know that him next door has been slagging us off about it all and to take no notice. (he has also had trouble before with next door man complaining about them parking outside their own house). So I will just let things run their course now and see if we hear from police/council /his legal advice. My dog is a quiet dog and if any police etc were to come to my door they could come in and see for themselves that our dog wouldn't even bark at them or jump up etc when they enter. Thank you for all your help and advice Flowers
So the neighbour does not want you to see the cats injury. But wants you to pay 😕 tell him to fuff off
ScrollingLeaves · 10/07/2021 19:09

There is special fencing that can be put up to keep cats in their own garden.

It is not your responsibility to pay for the cat’s injury if it came into your garden.

The neighbour must be a brute to keep harassing you this way.

Do not listen to the person two wrote your dog should be muzzled in its own garden given you say it has never bitten before.

The dog was reacting instinctively on its own territory. The cat owner was taking a risk in letting it out to roam in other gardens knowing a dog lives next door.

ScrollingLeaves · 10/07/2021 19:11

@summerfun12 I think dogs are vile, and if one seriously injured my cat, it wouldn't be biting anything ever again!

Cats go in for the murder and torture of birds. Would you like a bird lover to kill your cat so it would never kill a bird again?

Norwegianleatherindustry · 10/07/2021 19:27

As they were so hostile and threatening, I might think about withdraw the generous offer to pay half.

alied321 · 10/07/2021 19:31

The cat owner is being a bully. Even if I had insurance I wouldn't claim it as it'll only raise your premiums. Your responsibly look after your dog, the cat came into your garden, I can see no liability on your part.

OldGeezer · 10/07/2021 19:34
  1. it is an animal owners legal duty to keep it in ( when you come to cats, more honoured in the breech.
  2. If the cat’s owner turns up making threats Call the police - immediately! Breach of the peace? Magistrates Court, bound over etc etc. You have NO duty, legal or moral to pay their Vets bills - apart from anything else that might imply that you are accepting responsibility. WHICH YOU ARE NOT!!!
ImbarbaraB · 10/07/2021 19:37

My cat gets bitten by other cats and I don’t go demanding the other cats owners pay for my vet bills

Your neighbours are probably quite emotional but being unreasonable

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 19:44

@Sillawithans

I think half of the bill was the least you could but hey ho.
I thought this originally until I saw that the neighbour was hammering on the door of a single female twice. Now I would say he could go swivel. If he can't play nice why should the OP
Trudij123 · 10/07/2021 19:57

Hope you’re ok @Bluetoybear - you did brilliantly and your husband sounds awesome too, not sure I could have kept my temper!!

Let them try and report you - nobody will do anything at all I doubt - the law is completely on your side.

Neighbour will move on to someone else soon I expect.

Plus - they won’t let you see the cat or tell you what’s wrong, yet you’re expected to contribute to the vets bill? They can jog right on.

youcantchoosethem · 10/07/2021 20:09

Glad your husband managed to have a word calmly. Your pet insurance should include public liability cover - I have never known one not. Best to get in touch with them just in case it does escalate. Also make sure you keep the footage of his banging etc - if he does have a go again particularly when your OH is away then it could be deemed as harassment. In any case they would need to prove that your dog did cause the injuries and you would be able to review any veterinary evidence if it went further. Try not to worry - he’s probably just trying it on to get the vets bills covered. Agree with others as a cat and dog owner that the cat came onto your property and in the dogs domain. I certainly don’t think the authorities would be interested at all. If the dog had bitten a child that would be a different matter but it didn’t and who witnessed your dog biting the cat anyway? Or is it just his assumption? Not going anywhere legally in my opinion. Good luck.

ThomasandFreddies · 10/07/2021 20:17

This happened to me... My dog was on our private drive and bit a neighbour's cat. I actually told the neighbours it happened. They sent the dog warden to me (I had to defend my 'dangerous' dog and also the police put a warning in the post box. The cat owners wrote me an angry letter asking for a contribution towards the £900 vet bill. I felt awful that my dog did not his, but summised that it was nature and I hadn't invited the cat round 😔 I didn't reply to the letter and haven't spoken to them since

hedgehogger1 · 10/07/2021 20:17

So glad your husband could calmly put your opinion across. Also glad he withdrew the offer to pay half. Hopefully now they know where you stand it's the last you'll hear of it