Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

How guilty do i feel..my Akita attacked two cats....long

60 replies

luckylady · 28/08/2005 17:05

DH and I went away with our two children for the weekend to Paphos, we had a fab time but...

We were going to cancell as the kennels couldnt fit our dog in for the couple of nights. One of the lads who works for the dog section is a friend (plays rugby with DH) and loves Akitas so said that they would have her for the weekend. When I dropped the dog of his wife informed me they had a cat. I did say that storm wasn't keen on cats do you not want to have her. They said no things will be ok, they will keep them seperate.

Well the cat came into the front room and Storm got hold of her. She has ripped the cats underneath and left pubncture wounds. The cat spent 6 hours in surgery luckily she is ok. I have said we will go halves on the vet bills.

But then whilst our friend took Storm to work that night (to the kennels) they put her in the open run, she managed to escape when they opened the door for her, she was making her way home (all in the same area) she got hold of a ferrel cat (sp) and killed it

I do feel guilty but our friends are taking full responsibility as they know the breed well and know that as a breed Akitas will attack any small animal, that it doesn't know, if they are of the lead.

STorm is generally a really good dog she knows that humnas are in charge etc and is fantastic with children and adults, she is very affectionate, I have never even heard her growl before.

Do you think this was because they were cats and also she was feeling betrayed as we had left her for the weekend. Akitas are very territorial and don't really like change. Normally when we are out walking ans she sees a cat she pulls alitle but when we say leave and tug the lead she just ignors and carries on walikng.
We never let her off the lead.

Would you feel guilty? Is it my fault..

OP posts:
hercules · 28/08/2005 18:13

Lucozade through a drip though.

cod · 28/08/2005 18:13

Message withdrawn

rickman · 28/08/2005 18:32

Message withdrawn

Original poster
luckylady · 28/08/2005 18:36

I wouldnt dream of having her put down due to the cats issue. We did originally offer to pay the whole vet bill, but they said no. So we said ok we will go halves, they said see how much it is. It is alot cheaper out here anyway. I would pay the whole lot if need be. the owners of the first cat (the second cat was a stray one of atleast 50 around here) were with the dog on both accounts, I have never witnessed any behaviour from her.
They have said it was there fault for taking the risk as they know what akitas are like. The man does know Storm as he has looked after her before in the kennels. They had an Akita when they had there DS, but she died before they moved out here. So they knew the breed well.

I am shocked over peoples reactions to have the dog put down. If she had showed signs be it growling etc.of going for a child or adult then the situation would be very different but if you read my other post she has never showed aggression towards a child or adult. I have never known her to show aggression before.

Does this mean that any dog that goes for a cat should be put down in your eyes..

OP posts:
Original poster
luckylady · 28/08/2005 18:39

Akitas have not been used for hunting in years and years. That was the original use of the breed, they are now used as police dogs in Japan and are also a sign of good health and wealth. It is a very respected dog over there.

So should people not own Jack Russels as these were breed for hunting and trained to go for the neck , as they still do when feel threatened by larger animals.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 28/08/2005 18:43

I have never known her to show aggression before.

I think that's the problem - the dog is unpredictable. It killed a cat this week, maybe a babby next week? Even if it's a 1 in 1,000 risk most people wouldn't take it. You thought you knew the dog, but you didn't.

Another sorry-but-I-agree-with-Cod.

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 18:45

honestly?

I think if a dog can attack and maul a cat then it can easily do that to a child or baby who are no doubt better at tormenting

I think waiting for that to happen is a mistake, but sadly its a mistake often made by people who love their pets and it is other people who end paying the price normally

rickman · 28/08/2005 18:45

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 18:46

google dog bite and look in images

FairyMum · 28/08/2005 18:47

I don't think you should necessarily have the dog put down because of the cats, but I don't think it sounds like a dog which should be around children. Even if you are in the room, surely it only takes a few seconds to kill a baby? You read these stories in the papers from time to time of babies because killed by the loving family dog.....

moondog · 28/08/2005 18:49

Your thread title is inaccurate. Should read 'killed one cat and severely mauled another.'

Sounds bloody scarey and dangerous. I'm surprised you left your animal in a situation that you knew wasn't ideal.

Pinotmum · 28/08/2005 18:49

I just don't think anyone can ever say they really know their dog - it's an animal and is capable of killing or maiming.

gigglinggoblin · 28/08/2005 18:50

i went to school with a girl who had horrendous scarring because their family dog ripped half her face off when she was 2. the dog had never shown any signs of aggression towards anyone or anything.

i dont think dogs understand that it is polite to give a warning before attempting to kill a child.

expatinscotland · 28/08/2005 18:50

There's a member on here whose baby daughter was unfortunately killed by the family dog.

My father was attacked by a German Shepherd who'd previously shown no aggression towards humans and suffered terrible injuries. And he was a 6ft tall, 190lbs. man.

The dog was put down.

Sorry but I think any dog who attacks in such a manner has shown a propensity to do so and should be put down before someone - potentially a child or small adult - is killed or seriously injured.

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 18:50

geat a labrador .. they're dumb and eat their own poo

cod · 28/08/2005 18:51

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 18:51

sorry that should read

they're dumb and gentle (and eat their own poo)

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 18:52

Phds in pooing in other people's gardens cod

I love how people think cats are intelligent, they're not they're just standoffish and smug

Original poster
luckylady · 28/08/2005 19:10

I am not even responding anymore, you have all made up your mind. That is fine.

I am not putting my children at risk, i would never sdo thsat. but I am also not explaining myself anymore on a situation where you have made up your mind.

ALL DOGS CAN KILL. so getting a labrador to me is the same as having an AKita. I have known people to be bitten by labradors and cats to be killed by labs.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 28/08/2005 19:13

I hope and pray that dog is never left to put someone else's child at risk then . . .

Yes, all dogs can kill. But some are more prone to it than others.

Twiglett · 28/08/2005 19:15

to be fair this says that Akitas are good with children when raised from puppyhood

Original poster
luckylady · 28/08/2005 19:29

I would never leave her with a child on her own I always sit on the floor in between her and my DS (espeacially as he is only 14 months). For the reason you have linked to Twiglett we brought our puppy when she was 3.5 months old and our DS was 7 months, thay have grown up together. All my friends allow there children to stroke and tickle storm. But always supervised as i would do with any breed.

OP posts:
Chandra · 28/08/2005 19:31

I'm a dog lover but I know of a rothwailer who killed a 2 yr old while playing. The dog was a 6m puppy who took the toddler by the neck and shoke him as all puppies do with fluffy toys.

IMO, if you are getting a dangerous breed, it is not enough to read about the breed, or had ocassional contact with such type of dogs. You need to consider spending some time with a professional trainer as these dogs have to learn to be less aggressive specially when they have the physical potential to cause a lot of damage.

I don't believe for a second that your friends are a bit responsible for their cat being mauled, on the contrary, you hand them a dangerous dog, they had no way to know the dog was going to be that violent, and not having an Akita themselves they were far more likely to know less of the breed than you do. I think you should not accept the offer to pay half the bill, you should pay the full bill and sign up for a dog training course.

But agree with you that the dog should not be put to sleep, at least not yet but I would only keep it if I was commited to spend some time (and a lot of money) in training. Otherwise you are playing with fire.

Cooperoo · 28/08/2005 19:33

I have to say I am a bit surprised by some of the posters reactions to this thread. I think Luckylady has shown that she is a responsible dog owner and has had an unfortunate series of events befall her. My dog chased and killed a squirrel in the past and always chases rabbits, but is very gentle with all people. Would you want her to be put down too?
Luckylady - Of course you feel bad, but I don't think there is anything more you could have done to avoid this. You have offered to pay for the vets fees and your friends seem to have accepted their part in what unfortunately happened. Hope you are OK.
It is very scary what can happen when a dog reacts and I don't think a dog should be left with a child, but neither does Luckylady so I think perhaps she needs some support not a slating. She has posted to say how bad she feels after all.

Original poster
luckylady · 28/08/2005 19:46

Thanks cooperoo. I needed that. Hope you are all OK to . Did you have a nice time in the UK.

OP posts: