Neighbours dog killed my cat on my property

[SaritaBella]

My cat(10 month) got attacked by neighbours Xl Bully dog on my property (back garden) as he invaded my property.
My neighbours own two XL Bullies who are not looked after. Usually they are left attached by a trea or on a loose, living in the garden 24/7. Usually being without any water nor food.
On the 27th July around 7 30pm their dog got into my garden, as I saw later on, this dog was digging a hole underneath the fence. My cat has been on a flexi leash, long enough but not.able to jump over the fences. Sadly it took few minutes for cat to be injured. I run and knocked on their window to make them aware(as they never look after these dogs), as they haven't heard me screaming and shouting in distress. Woman, owner of the dogs, came in after 2-3 minutes, took her dog. As I was looking after my cat injured barely moving
being flat as a ragdoll I run to her and told her to take him to the vet as i was nor able to leave my newborn and a sleepinf kid. Unfortunately kitten haven't survived. No compensation from the faulty party nor a willingness to cover that dug up hole or the vet bill. Luckily no kids were in a garden as the dog could of hurt anybody. I've received her message after I made her aware of the situation and the dog owner apology and stating she wouldn't trust her own dogs around her kids.

So they were not in control of the dog, and it could be worse next time. Have proof of conversation, prove of vet bills and injuries, picture prove of a damaged property and dug up hole by a dog. Currently dogs attached with a short leash, I believe starvation deprived they're trying to escape in every way.
Later on, two weeks, they offered me £250
as I've requested to cover vet bill £650 and pedigree cat cost they simple refused, stating it could of been a fox and its my fault cat was on a leash hence couldnt run away.
Was thinking to report to police but with neighbours like this I am too scared! Scared to live next to them afterwards especially if police won't even do anything will come and tell them off.
Any advice?

Sorrg about your little cat but let this be a lesson to you never to leave your kids unattended as these dogs are very dangerous.

Same thing happened to one of my cats at my mum's house - she lives on a popular dog walking route and people quite regularly have their dogs offlead and see nothing wrong in letting them break through the hedge into her garden (and get quite insulted when she asks them to get the dog back - she's been told she shouldn't live there if she doesn't want dogs in the garden and some other corkers). Anyway my elderly three legged cat was snoozing in the garden one day - and came a cropper with an intruding dog. Considering that my cat was known for chasing and terrorising my own greyhound before she moved in with my mum - she's not a soft target despite the tripod-ness.

Not much could be done really.

In your case - your first priority is to get your garden secure by whatever bodge job you can do in the short term and then I'd have a chat with the local dog wardens and see how they suggest handling it - obviously you should go to the police but I can understand your concern if you have to live next door to arseholes.

How awful. I would report to the police with all your evidence, and also report them to the RSPCA for neglect.

Make sure to gather as much evidence as you can including any CCTV, pictures of their dogs being tied up without food and water, notes of any conversations you had with them, plus a full and clear account of what happened on that day.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this OP, some people should not be allowed to have animals. Losing a pet can be traumatic in itself, but to lose one in such a horrendous way must have been beyond awful. Please seek support from family and friends if you can, and go and see your GP if you are struggling I'm so sorry for your loss x

Jesus Christ.

Stop for a minute and imagine that due to it being warm, your back door was open and your baby was in a bouncer on the floor.

Thing about that hard then call the bloody police!

If that animal gets loose again and next time kills a child, you'll be partly responsible for that imo by your total lack of action.

Rspca - they might take them if you tell them of neglect, no food water etc. These poor dogs must understandably be desperate to get free and be fed, and their behaviour is all down to the terrible mistreatment they are facing. They deserve so much better.

SoSoSusan · Today 10:40
Jesus Christ.

Stop for a minute and imagine that due to it being warm, your back door was open and your baby was in a bouncer on the floor.

Thing about that hard then call the bloody police!

If that animal gets loose again and next time kills a child, you'll be partly responsible for that imo by your total lack of action.

just no need for the tone of this post… don’t disagree with reporting what are obviously dangerous and mistreated dogs but op is asking for help not to be pilloried! She has just been traumatised by loosing her cat in a truly awful way. It’s not her fault the dog owners are idiots… and she has to continue to live next door to them so if they are going to be vindictive she isn’t wrong to consider implications. That said op I would report … are there any other neighbours who would also report? I’d also be very careful with your kids in garden etc. sorry you are going through this

This is like suggesting a cat that hunts birds will be mauling kids next, just because we have deemed them as pets it's perfectly normal animal behaviour instinct that cats chase mice and dogs chase cats although cats have some pretty fierce claws & bite. Prey drive is quite complex and dogs don't generalise situations like people. These dogs have been let down by shit owners and when see news reports that's often more a precursor to dog on human attacks than the breed.

So sorry OP that must've been really traumatic to lose your poor cat, they should definitely foot the vet bill. While accidents of this nature can happen, they sound very neglectful of the dogs and their responsibilities. Tbh
I thought an attack on cats own property rather than while out roaming, would still be breaking law.

Bullbreeds should be more people orientated and tolerant with kids than many breeds when properly socialised. I wouldn't be surprised if neighbours bought with breeding £££ in mind but no clue about training or dog behaviour then have 2 x unruly dogs that are maybe resource guarding indoors so chucked outside and forgotten about, it would be understandable they'd be seeking stimulation outside their fenced boundary simply out of sheer boredom but if actually hungry/thirsty 😔what an awful existance. If they don't actually want the dogs maybe would sign them over to RSPCA if they visit.

This! Those dogs are horrendous and I would be reporting to police before they get in and bury your child but why on earth was your kitten tied up????? Madness. Poor little thing.

A 34 year old man was mauled to death by an XL bully jury this week where I live. Please do not risk your child's life by doing nothing!

*just

Police and then claims court. You need cost of the cat vet bills cost for fence. Dog put down and replacement cat and the emotional trauma say £2000 on top

next time they will kill a person

I think I would be mostly (now) concerned about the possibility of danger to my baby/child, so with that in mind I’d be reporting to the relevant authorities that there are dangerous dogs next door that are being neglected and have the neglect looked at in the hopes that the dogs would be removed and therefore solving the issue of a future attack.

I really love cats, I have one myself so I feel for you. I would say that they are not suitable for being leashed so I either would allow a full outdoors cat or if I wasn’t open to that, indoor with a suitable contained area outside. I wouldn’t ever leash a cat as the consequences can be dire.

My cat comes and goes as he pleases, but he’s not a Ragdoll. He’s Norwegian Forest/British Shorthair Cross. As I understand it, Ragdolls are known for being a bit daft and are best kept indoors so I expect this is why you had yours on a leash for anyone wondering about that.

Police and then claims court. You need cost of the cat vet bills cost for fence. Dog put down and replacement cat and the emotional trauma say £2000 on top

Can you claim for emotion trauma? I mean, if you did, would it be awarded?

Personally I can't imagine having an acrimonious court case with my NDN, especially as the OP has a newborn.

I'm sorry to hear this OP.

Please, please also call the RSPCA. For those dogs to be left outside without water in this heat is horrible.

A local dog rescue might also be able to help

These dogs are ticking timebombs, report to police asap.

I'm shocked you didn't report it to the police. You need to make sure your children are safe from these dogs.

@JustSortYoursefOut
It says what in the petition was rejected.

The petitioners were asking an impossible task in this instance (ownerless wild dogs), it does seem to indicate having a dangerously out if control dog at any time is a crime, I thought. Its written in the notes which,was why I posted it.

Police . Sec 3 - dangerous dogs act . It's an offence to have a dog dangerously out of control.
Police have powers to seize the dogs .
It's not crime recordable if the dog attacks another animal (unless an assistance dog ) but it is still an offence - and the police should act . I think historically police have been slow to act with dog on dog /cat attacks but tell them you know it is an offence under s3 of the dangerous dogs act . We have a police now that all dog incidents are attended by a police officer .
I'm assuming you're in the uk .

just no need for the tone of this post… don’t disagree with reporting what are obviously dangerous and mistreated dogs but op is asking for help not to be pilloried! She has just been traumatised by loosing her cat in a truly awful way

I think there was every need for the tone of my post @Lollypop701.

It's been over two weeks and the op has done nothing except discuss £ compensation with the neighbour. Not reported to police, RSPCA, nothing. She knows the dog is dangerous, she knows it's being mistreated. She knows it has form for escaping.

Tell me, if an out of control XL bully managed to get into your garden and mauled your child to death, then you found our that two weeks ago it had done that to a neighbours cat who had done nothing - how sympathetic do you think you'd feel to the op?

It's sad what happened to the ops cat. But her lack of reporting this several weeks later is inexcusable.

And take legal agtion against the dog owners !

These XL bullies need neutering and phasing out for their own good . In the DM a thug set one on someone while he was high on drink and drugs . He then sold it on to travellers so it is untraceable despite the judge ordering its destruction. My heart breaks for these dogs . Saying this some owners are good and responsible.

Report to the police and sue their arse off . The dogs are not being looked after and this is making the situation worse .

Zombie thread

I'd want the dog dead, one way or another. You'd never be able to use the garden with your kid otherwise (and certainly never leave unattended when a bit older). Try the police first.

I'd definitely report to police. It could be your child they attack next time playing in its own garden.