I'm not a big fan of cats, but I can acknowledge the loss of a pet -- sorry that you lost your friend this way.
I didn't see this above, but I skipped some posts -- did the dog break out of the neighbor's yard through that fence? That would limit the potential for any serious money from the owner simply because it was not within his/her control (there could other factors -- fence in disrepair, for instance?). He's still liable for property damage, which is what you can expect for a dead animal, so don't expect a great deal.
I guess this silences those who think cats will always beat a dog in a fight.
I didn't see this above, but I skipped some posts -- did the dog break out of the neighbor's yard through that fence? That would limit the potential for any serious money from the owner simply because it was not within his/her control (there could other factors -- fence in disrepair, for instance?). He's still liable for property damage, which is what you can expect for a dead animal, so don't expect a great deal.
I guess this silences those who think cats will always beat a dog in a fight.
Sorry for your loss but your Vet is a MORON. Most dogs will go after cats. Dogs are predators. While they are domesticated, they are still animals.
My dogs leave our cats alone but I guarantee that if some strange cat got in our backyard, my dogs would go after them. No different than my dogs like to chase squirrels.
The difference here is that my dogs will never get out. My dogs are crated during the day while I am at work and I am out in the yard with them in the afternoon so I would notice holes in the fence.
Blame the moron owner who let their dog get out.
My dogs would NEVER attack a child. They know that children are little humans. They have been trained so that they view humans small or big as their pack leader.
Aquila76
Diamond Member
I've found that a solid 1/2-inch drive socket wrench works wonders against vicious dogs.
About three years ago, my neighbor's pit bull came after my dachshund (Gretel, she was on a leash and collar tethered to my porch while I was outside working on my car). I saw the pit bull grab Gretel in its mouth, so seeing I had the wrench in hand, I clobbered the dog in the face with it. Needless to say, the pit bull dropped Gretel and took off. Fortunately doxies are pretty sturdy, and the other dog's teeth didn't puncture her skin. She was shaken up, but otherwise fine. The other dog's owner tried to threaten me with a lawsuit; but, I told him that since his dog was unleashed, uncollared, and unlicensed, bringing me to court was only going to get his dog put down.
EDIT: Just wanted to add, I don't think you're gonna score thousands against the dog owner. Maybe a few hundred for vet bills and cost of a new cat and some 'loss of enjoyment/normal use' damages. You're likely looking at ~$1,000 tops. Yes, he's being an asshat for not coughing up his share of the costs, but you're not going to get punitive damages in City or Civil Court for 'property loss' as pets are considered.
About three years ago, my neighbor's pit bull came after my dachshund (Gretel, she was on a leash and collar tethered to my porch while I was outside working on my car). I saw the pit bull grab Gretel in its mouth, so seeing I had the wrench in hand, I clobbered the dog in the face with it. Needless to say, the pit bull dropped Gretel and took off. Fortunately doxies are pretty sturdy, and the other dog's teeth didn't puncture her skin. She was shaken up, but otherwise fine. The other dog's owner tried to threaten me with a lawsuit; but, I told him that since his dog was unleashed, uncollared, and unlicensed, bringing me to court was only going to get his dog put down.
EDIT: Just wanted to add, I don't think you're gonna score thousands against the dog owner. Maybe a few hundred for vet bills and cost of a new cat and some 'loss of enjoyment/normal use' damages. You're likely looking at ~$1,000 tops. Yes, he's being an asshat for not coughing up his share of the costs, but you're not going to get punitive damages in City or Civil Court for 'property loss' as pets are considered.
Well, legal precedent in situations like this is that the owner of the dog may be liable for the replacement value of the cat if his animal is found guilty of killing it. Considering that most people don't pay a lot for cats(if they pay anything at all) I wouldn't count on a windfall of money even if you do win. 
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Your vet told you what?! "Cats are a gateway drug to biting children." LOL
On the other hand... my cat has been killing a lot of mice lately. It only stands to reason that logically she'll get bored of mice and will eventually kill me in my sleep.
For what it's worth, if he had a lawyer, his lawyer would tell him not to apologize. That simple action admits that it was his fault. He'd be in a worse position legally. Also, you must have missed my post a while back; your action of putting up posters about him and his dog was not wise. You pointed out that his picket fence was broken. Perhaps it was broken the very same day his dog got out? Here's a possible scenario in court:
"His doggy ate my kitty!"
"Your honor, vandals broke my fence on the morning of <date>. The police have documented that I put up a fence around my yard to keep my dogs in, but that the fence was in fact damaged on the day the incident occured. As a result, my dog managed to escape from my control. Following this, my dog chased his cat; an instinctual activity that dogs are born with. He has admitted that he allows his cat to roam freely. I maintain that had he been a responsible pet owner, my dog would never have had the opportunity to go after his cat. Subsequent to this incident, he has maintained a campaign to malign my good name, putting up posters such as these to intimidate me to pay him a large sum of money."
<judge, glaring back at you> Sir, did you put up these posters?...
Really, I'm sorry about your cat. Very little bothers me more than to see animals suffer. However, the dog didn't get out a lock-pick set in order to get to your cat (or the other cats). It's natural that dogs chase cats. Sometimes, they catch the cats. And, unlike little kids on a playground, the cats don't get to yell "safe zone" when they cross some particular line.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
Oh sure, kittens are the gateways to lots of things. Just take a look at Kitten Huffing(may be NSFW). You start with kittens, and before you know it you're doing crack cocaine.
This isn't funny, gateway attacks are serious business.
First the dog kills cats, then small children. Next thing you know, it's taking a dump on the White House lawn and tearing apart the Oval Office.
Whoozyerdaddy
Lifer
- Jun 27, 2005
- 19,216
- 1
- 61
DrPizza the fence was broken when the dogs got loose on the 12th 5 days prior to the dogs getting loose on the 17th and who knows how long it was broken before the 12th.
The owner plead not guilty before getting a lawyer.
The uniqueness of the cat is not replaceable, the time and money we invested caring for the cat over 7 years to be able to enjoy our "property" for another decade was stolen from us due to the negligence of another person and their "property." The value of our "property" increased as we put more and more money into maintaining it and it as a result became more and more uniquely ours.
The owner plead not guilty before getting a lawyer.
The uniqueness of the cat is not replaceable, the time and money we invested caring for the cat over 7 years to be able to enjoy our "property" for another decade was stolen from us due to the negligence of another person and their "property." The value of our "property" increased as we put more and more money into maintaining it and it as a result became more and more uniquely ours.
I dunno about this one, honestly. If you can let your cat out without a leash, he should be able to let his dog out without a leash.
You cannot judge a dog by human standards. Having a dog door is akin to leaving your yard wide open to the dog - you can't expect a dog not to know not to trespass. You also can't expect a dog not to try to chase and kill a cat. This is natural dog behavior.
If you wanted your cats to be safe, you shouldnt have had a dog door. You can't blame the dog or neighbor for that.
So while it's tragic, it needs to be left at that. Your neighbor is no more guilty than you are.
You cannot judge a dog by human standards. Having a dog door is akin to leaving your yard wide open to the dog - you can't expect a dog not to know not to trespass. You also can't expect a dog not to try to chase and kill a cat. This is natural dog behavior.
If you wanted your cats to be safe, you shouldnt have had a dog door. You can't blame the dog or neighbor for that.
So while it's tragic, it needs to be left at that. Your neighbor is no more guilty than you are.
Sorry for your loss but I disagree with suing or trying to punish the owner. People's pets sometimes get loose by accident. I am willing to bet your cats have gotten loose a time or two and tore out someone's trash and took a crap in someone else's yard. And truthfully you share some blame for leaving a doggie door still working. It should have been locked.
I am sorry for the loss, but sounds you have made up your mind to milk the dogs owner of some $$$$$'s.
Dogs are above the Cats in the food chain. Period.
Buy yourself a new cat and move on.
Dogs are above the Cats in the food chain. Period.
Buy yourself a new cat and move on.
- Oct 9, 1999
- 46,934
- 10,817
- 147
Luthien, I really feel for your loss, and can FULLY empathize with your love of and deep attachment to Ralph, who certainly seemed to be quite the fine cat and companion. I have a deep affection for ALL animals, and a deep respect for them, as well.
Still, it gives me great pause when you talk about suing the dog owner for big bucks, and even speak of having his dog euthanized. Unless you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the dog owner is routinely negligent about letting his hounds loose in the neighborhood, and that there have been other tragic consequences, causing the law to kill that man's dog is very, very, very bad karma, man. And, trying to use the "justice system" (excuse me while I laugh bitterly at such a term) to extract a lot of money from him sets, for me, a rather disturbing precedent. I can FEEL how much Ralph meant to you, but using the blind, stupid gears of "justice" to "punish" him by making him pay you some big amount of dough is not a path I can endorse. Really, man, how can you or anyone else put a dollar amount on your affection for Ralph? The possibilities for abuse of such a system by slick lawyers boggle the imagination.
I was a PI for 14 years. The one thing EVERY lawyer I ever worked for and almost everyone else involved in the criminal and/or civil justice system emphasized is that there is no such thing as "justice" within it!
People suing other people sucks! Only the lawyers truly win.
Nature is cruel. Animals, left to their own devices, can and will hunt and kill each other.
Believe me, I do know how easy it is for me to sit here at a calm remove and counsel you not to seek any and all avenues of revenge. I shudder to think of how immediate and violent my response would have been had I seen that dog carrying a screaming Ralph to his death. I am not quite the person I wish to be.
But now, a month or more has passed. For you own sake, for your own mental and emotional health, you NEED to move on. This does not mean putting Ralph out of your heart. By all means, remember him always, for this is the one sure version of immortality we biological creatures, so prone to the ravages of entropy, have. But remember him as he was when healthy and whole. Remember his heart, remember his loyalty. Don't let the dark poison of bitterness and revenge define you. It is a dangerous addiction.
Seriously.
Again, you can't use the same criteria to judge animals as you would dogs.
If you leave your car door unlocked, and someone steals your radio, then it's a crime, and you should press charges, because he's a human, he is capable of understanding laws, and should know better.
If you leave your door open, and your neighbors animal kills your animal, thats pretty much entirely your fault. You cannot expect the dog to know better...doing so is flawed reasoning.
Their fence could be broken, it doesnt matter. The *owners* are responsible for whatever they do on *public* property, if they let it out. Perhaps you could argue on private property, but it's *your* job to keep animals off it it.
But the DOG, which you want to kill, is not responsible for anything but being a dog, so leave the poor dog out of it.
Maximilian
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2004
- 12,604
- 15
- 81
I read the title as "My cat killed MY neighbours dog, two others injured" Go kitty
Sorry about what really happened, that sucks.
Sorry about what really happened, that sucks.
Update: Wen't to court and the Dog owner asked for another two weeks to confer with his lawyer.
That is in addition to the first two week extension he got when pleaded not guilty and said was getting a lawyer.
Anyhow, likely didnt get a lawyer yet because no one wants to defend the jerk.
That is in addition to the first two week extension he got when pleaded not guilty and said was getting a lawyer.
Anyhow, likely didnt get a lawyer yet because no one wants to defend the jerk.
You should scroll up and read Perknose's post.
Suing your neighbor will not bring your cat back.
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