Loose dogs and owner responsibilty

[rswyan]

Today we lost our orange tiger cat as the result of a irresponsible dog owner who let their animal run loose.

This little guy was a stray who showed up a couple of years ago, in the middle of winter and climbed up the screen door of my basement studio about 4 foot peering inside to see who was here ..... I let him in and after that it was over .... we became his. We took him to the vet, had him neutered, given shots, and cared for him pretty well.

There wasn't a mean bone in his body - he still was trying to be friendly to our other cat (also a stray we took in about 12 years ago) - even in spite of the fact that she wouldn't let him near her, ever. She would always spit and hiss at him.

Our cats became outside cats about a year ago when our oldest son moved home with his new wife - she's allergic to them. The cats stayed in the garage.

Yesterday these two dogs show up from out of nowhere (we live on 16 acres) and come running right up to our front door .... sniff around a little and then take off.

This morning my wife hear's a commotion in the garage and runs to the kitchen and opens the garage door - the dogs are running out and the cat is laying up against a wall on it's sides - still breathing ..... but barely.

We grabbed him up and started to make the run to the animal emergency clinic ...... but our cat (with no name) expired within a minute or two of leaving our driveway. My wife was totally devastated.

In the past I generally didn't have a problem with animals running loose ..... I figure that we live in a suburban/, somewhat rural area .... goes with the territory. I really didn't care much that dogs would defecate in our yard ..... doesn't happen often and we have probably four acres of it (yard) ..... so no biggie. But this is where I draw the line.

What if my wife had been outside with a small grandchild (don't have any yet) and one of these dogs had come up while she had her back turned for a moment ?

Our county has a leash law - dogs have to be confined or on a leash - it is a CRIMINAL matter - not civil (the destruction of the cat is civil though.)

I've called the local police and they came out and made a report and will be on the lookout for these animals.

The minimum toll I will require, if I can exact it, will be the destruction of both of the animals. If I get any hassle from the dogs owner(s) I might just pursue it in civil court as well.

And in the future, if I catch a dog on my property, he will be dispatched if it is legal for me to do so.

So if you love your dog - be smart - keep it under your control.

Otherwise you might just run into someone like me.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I understand your pain. One thing to remember is that it's the owners fault, not the dog's fault. The best way to deal with the owners is to make friends with the dog, then take it to the pound. The owners will have to pay to get it out and it doesn't hurt the dog any.

I am sorry about your cat. It's hard to lose a pet. Imagine that you had a dog for ten years and it never got away, but then one day, it chases a squirel into your neighbor's yard and he shoots your dog.

Cliff

 

[Sigarms]

I would bet that if the dog was able to "get loose" from the owner, if the dog was taken to the pound, the owner most likely would not care one way or another. If they did, most likely you wouldn't of had this problem in the first place.

Some owners don't gives a rats butt what their dogs do.

You had every right to terminate the dogs life while on your property during this incident.

 

[rswyan]

Cliff,

Thanks. Appreciate what you are saying. I have had dogs (beagles) and they have gotten away - in fact we did eventually let them run loose some - when they were older - because they stayed close to the house and wouldn't take off and run like when they were younger.

It would have pained me greatly to have a neighbor kill one of them. We had them both for over 10 years. In fact, we think that actually may have happened with the female beagle that we had - that someone posioned her. She started vomiting up green fluid (possibly anti-freeze) one day and she was gone within a day or so. My flunk for allowing her to get in the position where someone could have posioned her.

I also have a friend/neighbor up the street who has/had several dogs. He has a fenced in yard he generally keeps them in - however they have repeatedly gotten out. Repeatedly. He has had the police out to his house on at least two occassions, maybe more, warning him to keep them under control. They have both jumped the fence and dug under it. So far he has gotten off with just warnings - the last time the officer was out though he made it plain that he was running out of chances. My friends response ?

"Well, officer ..... it's not MY fault ..... the dogs just got out .... what can I do about it ?" (... hmmmm ....... what does that tell ya about this individual ?)

While this person is somewhat of a friend, the above indicates to me that when it comes to being an animal owner, he has a very low responsibility level - in fact almost none. From his viewpoint he shouldn't be accountable. From my viewpoint his responsibility level is so low that he has no business owning an animal.

The above description of the incident came directly from his mouth too - relayed to me with some degree of indignation about why the officer was hassling him - when it was the dog that was the problem.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yes, that really does stink. It makes me think twice bout two posts which I've written today. I.E., in this one; related topics ...Now here's the rub; she has been attacked 4 times that I'm aware of by cats while she was tied and unable to get away...

And, just 3 threads below this one; everyone should accept responsibility for their pets, no matter how big or small..

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. Although we always know we'll outlive them it'sstill tough; especially when it shouldn't have happened.

 

[JJT]

A few years ago 2 Akita's chewed on our Newfy within 50 feet of our house, (I'm 800' off the road and 1000'+ from my nearest neighbor). I chased the dogs off with a rake. I filed a police report and there was nothing they could do. I asked them what would happen if I shot the dogs? Nothing, as long as I felt threatened. I keep a 12 gauge and a box of 00 buckshot in the garage. Shortly after that incident a neighbor was knocked down and bitten several times by the same dogs. Again, nothing happened. I'm still friendly with the neighbor with the Akitas, and he understands I wont hesitate to shoot them next time they are in my yard.

 

[Jstpssng]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Shortly after that incident a neighbor was knocked down and bitten several times by the same dogs. Again, nothing happened. )</font>

What the... If those were my dogs you wouldn't have to worry about them again, ever. What happened isn't the dog's fault. We can make all the excuses we want, but ultimately it's part of the responsibility of pet ownership. Yet if an animal shouldn't be running at large, especially if it creates a hazard.


Too bad it isn't legal to take action against the owner.

 

[JoeR]

Shoot, shovel, and shut up. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

About a year and a half ago my wife shot the neighbors dog when it returned a second time to kill more chickens. Now the neighbors know we are seriouos about their dogs coming on our property. They got a warning the first time. The second time the dog was taken care of by my wife. From now on, no warnings or phone calls. The dog just doesn't come home. My wife in a fit of anger stormed over to the neighbors and told the neighbors what their dog did and what she had to do to stop it. They blamed her, and called the police. The police told my neighbors they were lucky we weren't filing the report! So, we no longer tell anyone since the last time it created bad blood. The three S' are now our motto.

The only thing I have learned is that dogs which are allowed to run loose have bad owners. They will never change, and they don't care about their animals or anyone elses animals or property. I now own a guard donkey. He does a great job at keeping dogs and coyotes out of the pastures. I really hate having to hurt domestic animals, and I found it better to get a 500lb donkey as a way to keep the stray dogs away. I was amazed the first time I saw a dog get into the pasture, and saw the donkey charge the dog. Dog got away, and never came back after fearing for its life. I wanted to get a guard dog, but I worried about kids getting into my pastures, and didn't want them to get hurt from a guard dog. My donkey loves people and kids, but dislikes dogs!

Joe

 

[Shimon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Shoot, shovel, and shut up. )</font>

Very good advice. I'll have to remember The Three S's.

I love my dogs so I keep 'em under control at all times. If they get out it's my failing...I would hate for them to get shot so I do whatever I can to prevent it because I know one of them would love to kill some chickens. A little prevention goes a long way.

 

[shepherd]

i'm sorry about your cat. everyone here is saying that don't ever let the dogs run loose, i agree in the area YOU are in, but we let our dogs run loose all the time and they never stray mind you we are on 200 acres