Greyhound attack... Am I being unreasonable?

[Mitchyden]

I can remember a while back that there was a thread about a dog that was hit by a car and other members blamed the dog's owner for not keeping better control of it. So why should cats be any different?

So yes I am in a way saying that cat owners should be more responsible for their cats.

To me it is a tad hypocritical to say that people need to control their dogs all the while letting their cats out to do whatever they want and to possibly get themselves or somebody injured or worse. I have also come across cat poo in both my front and back garden and it's not pleasant.

These are my thoughts exactly. I do not particularly like cats although I would not harm or want to see one harmed. I have never understood why cats are allowed to roam around doing exactly what they like with no liability on the owner.

When I was a child, our neighbour had approximately a dozen cats which were frequently in our garden, my mum was a keen gardener and got fed up with putting her hands in cat poo whenever she was tending to her garden. One day, one of the cats was killed when it went into a neighbour's garden and the dog attacked it. There was complete uproar from the cat owner as she said the dog was dangerous etc. As far as I'm concerned, the cat was in someone else's property so I don't see how the cat owner could really complain, upset obviously I understand.

I strongly believe that cats should not be allowed to roam around just like dogs are not allowed to.

 

[planete]

Regarding the keeping of cats. I have stopped having cats even though I loved the ones I had over past years. Why? Because I believe it is wrong to deny such an animal the freedom to be a cat and roam and hunt so would not keep one confined, and I got fed up of waiting for them to be run over by the ubiquitous cars where I now live in the built up south of England. I would simply feel selfish if I kept cats in such unsuitable conditions for my own satisfaction. As we also grow some vegetables I can sympathise as well with not liking finding cats offerings in the vegetable beds.

 

[Clodagh]

Seconded Amymay. My husband shoots his dogs, it tears him to pieces doing it but they are working dogs who see the gun and think all good things. He would never take them to the vets, stress them out, argue about the need to PTS then bring the body home. They are shot and buried in the garden or wood.
My lurcher is gun shy so she will have the vet come out (unless it is an emergency) but 9/10 shooting at home is best for our dogs.

 

[Queenbee]

I can remember a while back that there was a thread about a dog that was hit by a car and other members blamed the dog's owner for not keeping better control of it. So why should cats be any different?

So yes I am in a way saying that cat owners should be more responsible for their cats.

To me it is a tad hypocritical to say that people need to control their dogs all the while letting their cats out to do whatever they want and to possibly get themselves or somebody injured or worse. I have also come across cat poo in both my front and back garden and it's not pleasant.

Urgh, your attitude makes me sick. My cat was not hit by a car, it was attacked by a dog, a dog the woman could not control. I see little to no validity in any of your arguments, and yes, I find your attitude rude and full of prejudice. How dare you come on here and insinuate that it is my fault because I didn't take care of my cat????!!!!

MY cat was asleep in a garden! my neighbours garden where she is very welcome. She was hardly running a muck with a big sign saying "bait - free for mauling". The dog was out of control, the women completely unable to control it.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

My cats have been very good at avoiding being mauled by dogs. The only exception was when a nursing queen was killed as she too slow to escape a couple of GSD's that got loose from a neighbours garden. Of course I was devastated as was the owner of the dogs.
However, rather than demand the dogs were rehomed and labelled as dangerous, the owner of the dogs put a different lock on the gate and instructed her children to never use the side gate when the dogs were in the garden.
Quite honestly, the biggest problem I've had, has come from unneutered Tom's attacking my cats, rather than other dogs or even foxes.

Perhaps QB, instead of taking it upon yourself to speak to the rehoming charity, if you'd had a rational discussion with the owner to see if she was confident that she could manage the dog and was willing to always muzzle it on walks, an acceptable solution might have been found without you taking it upon yourself to decide that the dog should be homeless again. Have you given your neighbour a list of dog breeds acceptable to you ?

 

[Queenbee]

Perhaps MSR if you bothered to read the post you would see that I spoke with the owner before I spoke to the rehoming centre. She is NOT able to control the dog. She is eighty and quite frail, in addition she is worried about walking the dog as she knows he is to strong for her, now she and her daughter walk him with two leads, however this is clearly not practical, notwithstanding the fact that her daughter is dying of cancer, soon the woman will be left alone with a dog she can't control. She actually did ask my advice on breeds and I reccomended she speak to the rehoming centre who have contacts with a whippet rehoming centre, a bit smaller for her, something she is very interested in looking into. I have rung the centre and left a message to call me within 24hrs with an update as promised, and will be talking with the council regardless to have specific safeguarding measures put in place on the dog wherever it ends up. On top of all of this, I comforted the woman who broke down in tears, I comforted her when my cat had been mauled by her dog, and went the following day to assure her my cat was still alive and ok

These include
Muzzled at all times in public
An appropriate handler that can control the dog at all times in public
Restriction that it can not be walked past my house.

 

[{97702}]

I find it hard to believe that they would allow a restriction that would not allow someone to walk a dog past your house when they would be doing so in a public area? And if the dog is muzzled and with an appropriate handler, why should it not be walked past your house? Just curious, not wishing to be confrontational (for a change...!!)

 

[{97702}]

Dear Alec, bad things happen sometimes, unfortunately things go wrong despite every ones best efforts but for the majority of us the vets needle is a peaceful passing for our animals. The vet comes to my house to inject my dogs, cats, and Floppy the goat in their homes and on their own sofa, not the goat. The majority of us would not have the skill to despatch any animal even if we thought doing otherwise would be letting someone else do our 'dirty work'. I value the huntsmans services as much as the vet and I always say thank you and give them a gift.
My one armed next door neighbour once asked to borrow a shot gun from another neighbour to put destroy a cat, they were more concerned about the vets fee than the animals welfare. Who wants the thousands of people doing botched jobs with animals for practice, you do not need to be qualified in any way to realise its not a good idea.

Second this entirely - the idea that an individual can destroy their own dogs in this way is a potential recipe for disaster. Personally I appear to have been very lucky, as every dog I have had PTS (and there have been a great many over the years, both my own dogs and others) have gone quietly to the vets and have had the lethal injection without fuss.

 

[bonny]

Perhaps MSR if you bothered to read the post you would see that I spoke with the owner before I spoke to the rehoming centre. She is NOT able to control the dog. She is eighty and quite frail. I have rung the centre and left a message to call me within 24hrs with an update as promised, and will be talking with the council regardless to have specific safeguarding measures put in place on the dog wherever it ends up.

These include
Muzzled at all times in public
An appropriate handler that can control the dog at all times in public
Restriction that it can not be walked past my house.

I think you are getting this totally out of proportion, your cat is fine, and regardless of what you think, this woman is entitled to have a greyhound or whatever else she wishes. You've told the rehoming centre your concerns and I think you should leave it at that. Dictating where the dog walks or with whom is not your business!

 

[Queenbee]

I find it hard to believe that they would allow a restriction that would not allow someone to walk a dog past your house when they would be doing so in a public area? And if the dog is muzzled and with an appropriate handler, why should it not be walked past your house? Just curious, not wishing to be confrontational (for a change...!!)

Lol, please see control measures on this link... It's standard across the uk but certain councils may have additional bylaws, for example one poster has already mentioned a bylaw they know of in one county that requires all ex racers to be muzzled.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/controlling-your-dog-in-public

 

[bonny]

Lol, please see control measures on this link... It's standard across the uk but certain councils may have additional bylaws, for example one poster has already mentioned a bylaw they know of in one county that requires all ex racers to be muzzled.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/controlling-your-dog-in-public

It's one thing to have a by law that affects everyone, another to dictate what individuals can and cannot do themselves, the latter is a matter for the courts, not the council.

 

[Queenbee]

I think you are getting this totally out of proportion, your cat is fine, and regardless of what you think, this woman is entitled to have a greyhound or whatever else she wishes. You've told the rehoming centre your concerns and I think you should leave it at that. Dictating where the dog walks or with whom is not your business!

Actually it is, it is also my legal right since my cat was attacked. Two days ago a vet and I discussed the incident and he said it was very rare for a cat to survive. Plus the woman is frightened, doesn't feel she can control him and feels she has made a mistake taking him on. It is my right to protect my animals and I am responsible for ensuring their safety!

 

[Queenbee]

It's one thing to have a by law that affects everyone, another to dictate what individuals can and cannot do themselves, the latter is a matter for the courts, not the council.

Actually not entirely, owners can be fined up to £1000 for an incident where a dog attacks a pet, and certain measures (as previously discussed are put in place) it's that simple, it's the law and your opinion on it doesn't make it less so.

Just to clarify that point (see this link for control orders that can be issued by the council)
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/dog-control-orders

 

[bonny]

Actually not entirely, owners can be fined up to £1000 for an incident where a dog attacks a pet, and certain measures (as previously discussed are put in place) it's that simple, it's the law and your opinion on it doesn't make it less so.

You have a strange way of seeing the world, understable I suppose as your cat was the first in history to be attacked by a dog so I guess it calls for very strict conditions about what this woman can and cannot do in future. Last question before I cannot look at this ridiculous thread anyone, what would you do if the woman and her greyhound did walk past your house again ? Call the police ?

 

[TrasaM]

Queenbee. How's pussy doing? Has she got over the shock? My two are currently being plagued by some new cats on the block and my very tiny female is doing a staunch job of protecting her territory.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Yep, did read the post Queenbee. If the lady was able to get to the rehoming charity and deal with them to choose a dog, surely she's competent enough to phone them herself for advice after the incident ? It seems you responded in an overly dramatic way and have crushed the confidence of the woman who is now worried that you are watching her like a hawk.
Now you're off to the council to further your crusade against the dog and owner. Why do you want the council to ban the dog walking past your house and to dictate who walks the dog ? Words fail me.

 

[{97702}]

Lol, please see control measures on this link... It's standard across the uk but certain councils may have additional bylaws, for example one poster has already mentioned a bylaw they know of in one county that requires all ex racers to be muzzled.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/controlling-your-dog-in-public

That is Northern Irish legislation not English? ETA - even the link you have given to the English website doesnt not give allowance to stop someone walking a dog past someone's house....

 

[Queenbee]

You have a strange way of seeing the world, understable I suppose as your cat was the first in history to be attacked by a dog so I guess it calls for very strict conditions about what this woman can and cannot do in future. Last question before I cannot look at this ridiculous thread anyone, what would you do if the woman and her greyhound did walk past your house again ? Call the police ?

No dear... It's just the law

 

[{97702}]

You have a strange way of seeing the world, understable I suppose as your cat was the first in history to be attacked by a dog so I guess it calls for very strict conditions about what this woman can and cannot do in future. Last question before I cannot look at this ridiculous thread anyone, what would you do if the woman and her greyhound did walk past your house again ? Call the police ?

You couldn't call the police as it would be a civil matter....

 

[Love_my_Lurcher]

You have a strange way of seeing the world, understable I suppose as your cat was the first in history to be attacked by a dog so I guess it calls for very strict conditions about what this woman can and cannot do in future. Last question before I cannot look at this ridiculous thread anyone, what would you do if the woman and her greyhound did walk past your house again ? Call the police ?

I agree. The thread and the OP are getting out of hand. First the OP goes on a tirade and gives both the rescue centre and woman a hard time. Now she is trying to get the council/court to implement some kind of weird restriction on where the dog can be walked. If that's not enough the poor woman who adopted the dog is having to deal with her daughter's horrible illness. On Monday I attended the funeral of somebody who had been battling cancer for years. It ended up going through her whole body and in her last months a tumour had been pressing against her spine which paralyzed her. I also lost a friend last September to an illness which was similar to cancer. She was bed ridden for her last couple of months and believe you me the last thing that those two families would have needed was a person like the OP harassing them.

 

[Queenbee]

Yep, did read the post Queenbee. If the lady was able to get to the rehoming charity and deal with them to choose a dog, surely she's competent enough to phone them herself for advice after the incident ? It seems you responded in an overly dramatic way and have crushed the confidence of the woman who is now worried that you are watching her like a hawk.
Now you're off to the council to further your crusade against the dog and owner. Why do you want the council to ban the dog walking past your house and to dictate who walks the dog ? Words fail me.

Because she can't control it, and it chases cats?????!!!!! Honestly, people are not allowed to have a dog out in public that they can not control... This isn't my law, it's THE law.

And no, my response did not knock her confidence, her daughter was screaming at her that she told her she shouldn't have the dog, that it would be too much for her, she said to me "he's just too strong" she also said to me when she came to my house later that she had made a mistake getting himand she was scared of walking him because of the incident and his strength. At this point, the only conversation I'd had with them was at the time of the incident when, to be fair I was only concerned with asking them to leave with their dogs so I could get my cat out from under the car and check her over. I didn't create lack of confidence or lack of control or strength... They voiced these to me, I completely agreed, and yes I spoke with the rehoming centre, to express that this was an inappropriate homing, that he was too strong and a better match could be made for both dog and owner. They told me they would update me, they have not. The old woman is petrified of walking him, this is not my fault. I want the dog muzzled and in the right hands, and yes, if it is in my power to exercise my right to not have the dog walked past my house where my cats are, I see absolutely no reason why I damned well shouldn't exercises them. Although hopefully the dog will be rehomed with someone more appropriate, and the elderly lady have a more apropriate dog she can control. it's unfair to the woman and to her dog.

 

[Love_my_Lurcher]

Actually it is, it is also my legal right since my cat was attacked. Two days ago a vet and I discussed the incident and he said it was very rare for a cat to survive. Plus the woman is frightened, doesn't feel she can control him and feels she has made a mistake taking him on. It is my right to protect my animals and I am responsible for ensuring their safety!

How on earth can you say that you are responsible for ensuring your cat's safety when she is allowed to roam the streets where ANYTHING could happen to her? I know she was very sadly attacked and I truly am glad that she is okay, but the next time it could be a car and she might not be so lucky.

Even if it were seen as acceptable to let dogs roam the streets then there is no way that I would allow my dogs out on their own. There are far too many dangers out there.

 

[Love_my_Lurcher]

Because she can't control it, and it chases cats?????!!!!! Honestly, people are not allowed to have a dog out in public that they can not control... This isn't my law, it's THE law.

And no, my response did not knock her confidence, her daughter was screaming at her that she told her she shouldn't have the dog, that it would be too much for her, she said to me "he's just too strong" she also said to me when she came to my house later that she had made a mistake getting himand she was scared of walking him because of the incident and his strength. At this point, the only conversation I'd had with them was at the time of the incident when, to be fair I was only concerned with asking them to leave with their dogs so I could get my cat out from under the car and check her over. I didn't create lack of confidence or lack of control or strength... They voiced these to me, I completely agreed, and yes I spoke with the rehoming centre, to express that this was an inappropriate homing, that he was too strong and a better match could be made for both dog and owner. They told me they would update me, they have not. The old woman is petrified of walking him, this is not my fault. I want the dog muzzled and in the right hands, and yes, if it is in my power to exercise my right to not have the dog walked past my house where my cats are, I see absolutely no reason why I damned well shouldn't exercises them. Although hopefully the dog will be rehomed with someone more appropriate, and the elderly lady have a more apropriate dog she can control. it's unfair to the woman and to her dog.

Well what breed of dog do you think would be acceptable for this woman? Earlier on you said she would have difficulty controlling a Chihuahua.

 

[Queenbee]

Well what breed of dog do you think would be acceptable for this woman? Earlier on you said she would have difficulty controlling a Chihuahua.

Perhaps you would like to read the thread in full before asking a question I have already answered.

 

[zigzag]

Sorry but if you allow your cats to roam , you have to put up with the consequences. As sadly I did.

 

[Queenbee]

Just got a call back from the centre, the guy who runs the whole charity, not the idiot who placed the dog with this woman. He has recieved a message from the lady (idiot) at the kennels to say it is sorted, he has asked for more clarification on how, we can only assume the dog has been removed. He has been really helpful and actually agrees, this dog should be muzzled at all times in publicly have an appropriate handler. the new owner will be made fully aware of its history and chosen very carefully, with instructions to muzzle in public. He is going to message me back with a full update as soon as he has one, and personally oversee this, as he recognises the severity of the issue and the impact on all involved. Funny how some people on here seem to believe that this is excessive, but he does not, neither does he understand why this dog was re homed with this woman in the first place.

 

[Queenbee]

Sorry but if you allow your cats to roam , you have to put up with the consequences. As sadly I did.

No I should not have to put up.... With an out of control dog... This is unacceptable and not something anyone should have to put up with as it should not happen

 

[dogatemysalad]

Sorry but if you allow your cats to roam , you have to put up with the consequences. As sadly I did.

This is true. Perhaps the OP will also seek a ban on traffic passing her house and neighbouring cats too.

 

[Queenbee]

This is true. Perhaps the OP will also seek a ban on traffic passing her house and neighbouring cats too.

I find your comment quite childish. I wonder why it is seen as so abhorrent to some that I insist that a dog be kept under control. It's is just as important for the dogs safety. And the dog and the elderly lady should never have been put in such a position, you seem to be under the misconception that this is all about my cat, it's not, it is highly important to me that the dog has an appropriate home, an elderly vulnerable lady is not left with a dog she is frightened of walking because she can't control it and yes, that steps are taken to ensure that the chances of this dog attacking another cat are minimised as much as possible. This has not been a fair deal for anyone involved, cat, dog or owners.

 

[{97702}]

He is going to message me back with a full update as soon as he has one, and personally oversee this, as he recognises the severity of the issue and the impact on all involved. Funny how some people on here seem to believe that this is excessive, but he does not, neither does he understand why this dog was re homed with this woman in the first place.

No, he recognises the bad publicity that is affecting his charity as a result of this incident and is trying to mitigate it - he is a manager, and must put aside his personal views on your complaint to deal with the matter professionally.