Dog killed this morning

[lucylocket]

Sorry this is going to be a really depressing post, but Im so upset and theres no one to talk to. My little lurcher got killed in the railway line this morning while chasing rabbits. We only got him 3 months ago from the RSPCA and he was so loving and got on really well with our other dog. We had waited years to get another dog as our first one has always been a bit territorial about her home. We found this new one at a rescue kennels and fell in love with him straight away. We have never had a lurcher before and were always careful where we exercised him because when a rabbit was in sight he was off like a rocket without any thought to where he was.
We had checked the fencing along the line as it ran alongside a park and could not find any holes so have been letting him off the lead. He must have gone under the wire through a rabbit run. The house feels so empty without him as he always followed me everywhere. The husband has taken himself off to the pub (theres a surprise )and Im sitting here thinking about Joe. I know in the great scheme off things the lsos of a dog cant copare to the loss of a child or person but he was so lovely and loving. Ill miss him so much.

I had to infrm the RSPCA lady as she was coming for a follow up visit this week. She was so unsympathetic and asked if we were sure the dog was dead and did we have the body . Ill never have dealings with them again

Thanks for reading

 

[piaffe]

Oh im so sorry to hear that. How hearbreaking for you.

My little rescue terrier was killed on the roa behind our house a short while ago, im still getting over it now.

As for the RSPCA, im not even going to go there!

 

[Maesfen]

What a horrid thing to happen, feel so sorry for you all. Lurchers are the most faithful and loving dogs; at least you had the chance to give him a lovely home for that short time.

Like Piaffe, sad to say I do not have a good word to say about the RSPCA and I am not surprised at the reaction you had; typically arrogant and thoughtless; they have become a joke of their former selves.

Thoughts and hugs.

 

[rema]

Oh my god thats awfull.Sending you a huge hug.It wasent your fault.Lurchers/greyhounds they cannot resist a chase.

As Piaffe has said about the rspca.A complete waste of space!!.

 

[GinaB]

So sorry to hear this. Hugs to you

 

[polaris]

My heart goes out to you...I know myself how scarey a sighthound can be as they just run and run and despite how safe you think the environment is, accidents can always happen. A huge big cuddle for you and it's just areally bad accident. Could happen to pretty much anyone!

 

[Oneofthepack]

I have one dog missing already and was walking my other 3 today when they put up 2 deer. The lurcher has never shown any interest in chasing things (very unusual!) but when he saw what a good time the others were having he hacked off across the fields and it took me an hour and a half to get him back. My heart was in my mouth the whole time. You can't blame yourself, lurchers will go through barbed wire after a rabbit so you couldn't have done anything. Re the RSPCA - it's such a shame they have a bad name because the principle is good, just the practice that needs a shake up. I stopped an inspector in her van last week to ask about my missing dog and without a smile or an ounce of sympathy she said 'we don't do lost dogs', got back in her van and drove off!

 

[Zebedee]

So sorry to read your post. I lost a dog to a road acccident about three years ago, so I do know how you feel. Try not to beat yourself up over this- as others have said sight hounds just go when they see quarry.
Take care & once again my condolences to you & yours.

 

[bellgave]

At a time when you need comforting trust the useless RSPCA to be so understanding, they really are a complete bunch of idiots. There is nothing you could have done any differently. Just think how lucky Joe was to have had spent some time with you as you clearly loved him very much. Dont let this horrible experience stop you from getting another dog in th efuture when you feel ready.

 

[lucylocket]

Thanks for your posts everyone. Still feeling pretty crappy
at present. Husband back from pub and very upset because he saw the dog dead on the line, not pretty sight. I cant stop thinking about the poor little man. At least he was enjoying himself chasing a bunny. I would not have another dog like this though, everytime he ran off and went missing on a walk it made me so anxious. Ive always had dogs that didnt go too far away. I know things will get easier but at the moment cant see past the sorrow

 

[Cobnut1]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss...... (((((hugs)))))

 

[SirenaXVI]

Really sorry to hear this - sending cyber *hugs*

 

[WHOKNOWSWHAT]

sorry to hear about your dog (((((hugs))))) so awfull when you loose a dog in whatever circumstances, i had to have my boxer pts 2 weeks ago because of fits i miss her so much..... as for the RSPCA I for one would never support them under any circumstances sorry to say because the animals miss out at the end of the day but there are many more worth while charitys to donate to....i wonder if anyone has anything nice to say about them i feel a poll coming on ??????????

 

[Dougie]

really sorry to hear about your loss

thnk of it this way, he sounds as if he had three fabulous months with u and died doing something he loved....chasin dam rabbits

 

[suebingham]

Heart-breaking. I am so sorry.

 

[foraday]

RIP Joe

Sending ((((((((HUGS)))))))

 

[S_N]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this - terrible news.

 

[filly190]

So sorry to hear your news. Dont beat yourself up, you checked the fencing and considered it safe, as would we all. My Doberman did the same, we have good stock proof fencing infront of thick hedges and electronic dog wire and collars. She chased a rabbit, got through all of that somehow and was knocked down (only a broken leg).

So with these types of dogs, no matter how secure the fencing is, they loose all sense when chasing something. This is not your fault, it happens.

As for the RSPCA I do not rate them at all. A friends marriage split up and she could't keep her puppy of six months. She had tried every avenue of finding a suitable home, eventually contacted them desperate and they refused to help. Madness, their rules and red tape put decent people off.

Another way of thinking about it is, you gave that dog love and kindness which it had probably not ever known in its short life. You were good parents and thats what matters.

Dont be hard on yourselves, accidents happen and at least your dog died doing something which made it happy.

big hugs

 

[milor]

Ok - now I just know that a lot of you will not agree but this post has raised a few points - firstly let me say how sorry I am that you lost your dog in such a terrible way but I am not altogether surprised - he was a sight hound - they are bred to chase and when they do NOTHING will bring then back - it is frankly irresponsible to let any sight hound off the lead unless you are 100% sure that the area is safely enclosed and they cannot escape - running off lead next to a live railway line was an accident waiting to happen. This is probably the view if the RSPCA as well which is why you got a less than sympathetic response, after all look it from their point of view - they let you rehome a dog and in less than a month it has been killed

Secondly the RSPCA is the ONLY animal charity whose remit encompasses all animals and birds - this is a huge task and they do have to be selective in what they can realistically do - there are many other smaller charities that deal with one species only and are able accept cases that the RSPCA cannot.However wherever there is a real need the RSPCA is there whether it is dealing with birds after an oil spillage or prosecuting owners who abuse their animals. They are not government funded but are the first port of call to advise the government on animal welfare issues - they have been largely instrumental in developing the new animal welfare bill which will improve the lives of thousands of animals every year and most importantly they are deeply involved in education programmes which should hopefully ensure that new generations will know the correct way to treat animals and therefore lessen the need for their work in the future.


Just compare animal welfare in this country with others in Europe - look at the huge stray dog and feral cat problems that countries like Greece have - where national animal welfare organistaions do not exist on the scale of the RSPCA. Don't knock them folks - theirs is a mammoth task and we should be proud of all they have achieved.

 

[Doreys_Mum]

[ QUOTE ]
and most importantly they are deeply involved in education programmes which should hopefully ensure that new generations will know the correct way to treat animals and therefore lessen the need for their work in the future.

[/ QUOTE ]

Banning hunting... banning battery cages... banning veal crates.... trying to stop the export of dairy calves to europe...

The RSPCA educate the masses with lies, waste their funds on government campaigns, and ignore animals that don't come with high publicity.

As for the lurcher and the railway line. The OP said that HAD checked the fencing and believed it to be secure. Unfortunatly, the dog found a small rabbit hole and forced his way through.
Presumably the RSPCA also made a home check?

So it's not her fault in the slightest. The RSPCA don't care cos they're idiots.

You have no idea how distressing it is to be blamed for killing a rescue animal. We got blamed for making Carrie sick... it's heartbreaking...

 

[Tia]

How awful for your poor dog!

I've read all the posts and notwithstanding my sympathy going out to you and your family - have you informed the Rail company to let them know that there is a dead dog on the tracks? This could possibly cause a de-railment or at the least problems on the track.

Sorry to have to say this.

 

[PapaFrita]

Poor you, how heartbreaking!

the RSPCA are a bunch of insensitive, useless eejits! Nothing quite like making you feel worse than you already do, eh?

 

[milor]

so I take it you are in favour of all these things continuing

- give me an example of their 'lies' in regard to battery farming or veal crates - I know that hunting is a contentious issue with many strong feelings on both sides but surely we canot be knocking the RSPCA for trying to stop the worst of farming practices ?- and yes they do this through education and pushing through legislation - that is how future generations of animals are helped ! - they are not perfect by any means but at least they are here and as I said before you only have to make comparisons between the teatment of animals here and abroad to realise the enormous impact they have made.


As for the Lurcher - I repeat that of course I am very sorry this has happened - but the owner could not have possibly known that the wire was secure the entire length of the track ! - and hand on your heart would YOU run your dogs off lead next to a live railway line ? - particularly one with a non existent recall ?

 

[clipertyplop]

i was once in an unfortunate position where i was on benifits and needed the RSPCAs help which i asked for the responce was, quote "you shouldnt have pets if your on benifits" un quote, BAD......BAD ANSWER.....i have since come into a lot of money and i have a standing order with 3 animal charitys guess who dont BENIFIT........and to the young "wench "who gave me that heartless quote i hope you get yours because what goes around comes around

 

[Onyxia]

RSPCA- heart in right place( most of hte tme) but on the whole useless.
Yes, they are the only ones out ther doing what they do but that doesnt make them good or efective.

Not many of us have good experiances of them. Last contact I had was at a local fair, went to make a donation at their stall and ended up with them wanting to prosicute ME!! Why? A few weeks earlier I had got a 6 month old cross bred bitch from local tinkers( refused to pay but got them to sign her over) she was in an awful state (full of fleas,needed a LOT of weight put on ect) and the dicided that I was lying, I had let her get so bad and needed to be banned from keeping animals!
Needless to say after a lot of arguing I was proved right, no apolagy though

Sending huge hugs to Barley, must be awfull to go through.

 

[milor]

"Yes, they are the only ones out ther doing what they do but that doesnt make them good or efective."


.....and the alternative is ??? - as I said before they may not be perfect but they are there. By the way the Blue Cross is the charity which will help if you are on benefits and have dogs - a good example of a charity which has a very narrow remit - to provide subsidised veterinary care for dogs whose owners are on benefits - there are plenty of small charities which will deal with issues concerned with dogs or cats or horses etc but only one which attempts to deal with it all

 

[lucylocket]

You are right, I dont agree. The fencing was checked before we let him off the lead, it is new fencing 8ft high. But obviously soemwhere he managed to get under the fence where we could not see as there are lots of blackberry buches. Also we had the dog 3 monnths not 1, Thanks so much for your sympathy

 

[lucylocket]

Also, we would not have to check the fence the whole length of teh track, the area was one side of a 4 acre field.
However, I dont wish to get into an arguement so will not post again.

 

[katherinef]

So sorry about your dog
you don't need telling but it wasn't your fault nothing you could have done.
sixteen years ago (that long??) I let the dog I had at that time off lead in what i also thought was a secure area. Needless to say she found a gap got out in the road and was killed by a car.
People telling you you are at fault and somehow to blame are misguided.
Would you consider another dog? I did and was rewarded by the company of a fantastic friend for 15 years was pts last December because of increasing age related debilitation.
Once again very sorry for what has happened it is so so distressing and you must not, not, blame yourself.

 

[bessie01]

I am so sorry to hear about your Joe. You can't really blame yourself, although with hindsight I am sure we would all be wiser.
Lurchers are reknowned for their chase instinct and being sighthounds will see rabbits a long way off. Once they start the chase, it would be really hard to get him back.

3 months is not a very long time to have had him and with his breeding and the fact that he was a rescue with questionable history, I do feel it was perhaps a bit too soon to risk letting him offlead.

Saying that, I DO NOT put the guilt or blame on you, far from it. I too have lurchers and have let them offlead in areas that were perhaps risky. It is only now, having become accustomed to the breed, that I am wise to their instincts.

As for the RSPCA, I have mixed views on what has already been said. However, I do think that we should not lose sight of the bigger picture - that is, the rescue of 1000s of animals each year that would otherwise have continued to be in pain, abused, or died awful deaths, the many owners brought to justice for their wicked deeds against them, and the education they do indeed teach.
It is for the sake of the animals that I am now a registered volunteer for them - and happy to be so.