My dog attacked the neighbours cat

[SappyStaffyMum]

Hi! I'm a bit stuck here and wondering if someone could or advise if this is actually legal!

My dog attacked the neighbours cat, they rushed it to the vet and thankfully it was ok just had an injection, metacam and a few days on house rest..

Obviously I paid the bill as I felt awful! But today the police came as she has reported my dog as dangerous and the police said they had to attend because she said it's an xl bully (he's a staffy lab cross) and she needs the crime reference for the insurance claim?

If I've paid her for the vets bill can she still do an insurance claim?

I'm a bit upset about it as I'm 17 weeks pregnant and obviously I could do with the money rather than her profiting from this horrible situation especially after attempting to get my dog seized and destroyed… and now sending me abusive texts about how he’s had the taste of blood and will attack my baby…

I’m really very sure she wouldn’t need a crime reference number for an insurance claim btw.

So I’d assume she was just looking for reasons to report your dog.

Did they say anything about the XL bully accusation? That would worry me more than anything else as it doesn’t matter what your dog actually is if they decide it fits that description.

Sorry to be blunt but there are some real thickos on this thread.

A 'dangerous' dog doesn't mean a dog that attacks a cat. That's just normal dog behaviour when it sees a cat on its territory. The people falling over themselves to tell the op that her dog will eat her baby are woefully ignorant and clearly don't know a great deal about dogs.

Totally agreed! As I said upthread, who re-homes their car when it turns into a monstrous killer and catches a mouse.

Staffies aren't a dangerous ddog... Not on the banner list. Not an xl bully... Op stated a cross... So op's mongrel chased a dcat in its own garden...
Hope that clarifies a few things to the numpties...

You did the morally right and kind thing in paying the bill, given that it happened in your own garden. If possible, if you have it, retain any evidence that you covered the bill (if you have any texts, keep them, if you don't, start communicating with your neighbour via e mail/text now, including a summary of what's happened to date and what they are asking for, so you have something in writing, stating exactly what has happened)

Prey drive is not the same as human aggression. Many dogs are known for having high prey drive (pointers, greyhounds) and are also generally considered good family dogs/good with children.

Of course a small baby crawling can trigger prey drive, but that would be the case for any dog, and sensible supervision measures are needed for all dogs. The fact that yours has chased a cat in my opinion is neither here nor there.

Not to worry you, but even if your dog is a staffy/lab cross, they could still potentially fall under XL law as it's based on measurement, not breed. If the police do come to your door, under no circumstances sign anything that allows them to take/assess the dog. They have no legal right to take the dog without a court order, and if you voluntarily sign something at that stage, you're essentially signing your dog away.

Cats are prey, it ran, your dog chased .
I think we forget a lot of the time dogs were all bred for a reason instead we humanise them and treat them like babies then we are shocked when they behave like dogs.
Tell that woman to keep the cat out of your garden it was in your dogs territory.

I'm assuming you seen it happen I wouldn't of paid her anything until she'd shown me proof it was my dog.

It sounds like she's trying to claim off the insurance and keep your money. Obviously it's too late now but you probably should have paid the vets directly.

To be honest I don't think you were under any legal obligation to give her any money at all considering it happened on your domestic property. Given her behaviour I bet you wish you hadn't now. Maybe mention that to her if she keeps harassing you.