Dog attacked neighbours cat

[LadyGascoyne]

And the vast majority actually spent time considering your question and offered their genuine opinions and advice.

Just because you don't appear to like the answer, it doesn't mean that your time has been wasted. In fact, if you weren't interested in our opinions, it's our time that could have been better spent.

 

[Dry Rot]

There was no 'pursuit' Dryrot?

One point that has been missed is whether the dogs were on flexi or long leads . If not it really had to be impressively dark (considering so near at least 2 houses) or they really don't eat enough carrots. I don't think it being dark is a defence, if it is too dark you take a light .

I don't follow that.

The cat jumped into the dogs' mouths?

Pursuit | Define Pursuit at Dictionary.com
dictionary.reference.com/browse/pursuit
an effort to secure or attain; quest:

 

[ester]

Well it read that the cat didn't move, otherwise if on suitable leads the dogs wouldn't have been able to bite it

 

[luckyoldme]

most of the posts on here are about legal responsability.
Personally I would be thinking about it from a moral point of view, and putting myself into the position of the cat owner.
I would however want to know about the cats detailed treatment costs and if possible to be able to speak to the vet just to make sure no one was pulling a fast one.

 

[Dry Rot]

Well, we've had the legal, and we've had the moral, how about the animal behaviour aspects? And, yes, a lunge at the end of a lead is indeed "pursuit"!

Here we have a cat that is street wise enough to be allowed to roam. It is sitting at the house door and can surely see/sense the approach of people with dogs, yet it remains there, finally to be caught by the dogs, both of which are on leads. Why would the dogs be on flexy leads when about to enter the house?

I'm guessing the cat was hit by a car and had made it's way home. After the attack on the doorstep (which it was apparently unable to avoid), the adrenalin would have kicked in allowing it to run away, presumably on three legs. Later, when the dogs had been put into the house, the cat is retrieved by the dog owners, again apparently without too much difficulty.

Did the vet certify that the damage had been done by a dog? Easy enough to look for puncture wounds. Were there any? Also, in my experience, a dog will attempt to catch a rabbit sized animal across the back or the neck.

So, as I am in Scotland, it is a 'not proven' verdict from me. It is perfectly natural for a dog to atack what it sees as an injured animal or bird and it is very tempting for even the best trained dog. The dogs or their owners cannot be blamed for that. The dog owners did a very decent thing in coughing up £600 for veterinary attention but as regards the second set of fees, I'm afraid I'd be saying "where is your proof?". You can buy an awful lot of cats for £1,200. Sorry if this sounds unsympathetic but I still think this is a troll. There are just too many 'ifs' and 'buts' in this case! But good try, OP.

 

[popsdosh]

Have to agree dry rot the injury as described would be very unusual from a dog attack ! more often than not puncture wounds neck and torso often fatal.

 

[ester]

I didn't say they were on flexi leads, but there is nothing to say that they weren't, regardless of how close to the house, I know lots of people that use them permanently in flexi mode?!

 

[Luci07]

Interesting thread regardless. My dogs would undoubtedly chase a cat given the tiniest opportunity. Next doors cat will sit on the roof of my potting shed and just watch them going ballastic trying to get her. It means that in winter, I have to put leads on when taking them back into the house. My garden is properly fenced, my driveway is "open plan".
Notwithstanding it is the right thing to do to pay the bill, I was very suprised that said cat didn't scarper as soon as th dogs came near. There are a lot of cats and dogs who live in my road and the cats never hang around when any of the dogs come near.