I think our dogs have killed neighbour's cat

[chris watton]

The neighbour's cat stupidly ventured into our garden, and two of our sausage dogs attacked it. The neighbor then ripped off one of the fence panels to get at the cat, saying 'have your dogs killed my fking cat'. What could I say! I got the dogs off as soon as I realised what was going on - I couldn't really do any more, as our garden is fully enclosed (not now though, with a fence panel ripped off...)

It may not be dead, but in shock (hopefully). But I am sure our lives are going to be hell now. Could he ask for our dogs to be put down?

[Gingerbread Man]

Dogs naturally chase cats. If the dogs attacked a Human, they'd be brown bread, but as your dogs were in your garden, it wasn't your fault that the cat came in.

[clarkmagpie]

I'd have thought your dogs will be fine as it's the cats fault.
Terrible situation though.

Surely a cat would be able to batter sausage dogs?
I'm sure ours would give it a damn good go and if it were to be loosing, it would be able to scramble up a fence.

[davepoth]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/dangero...

Which seems to suggest a dog can't be "dangerous" if it's in your own garden. It must be a pretty bloody stupid cat if it's come into your garden where it knew that dogs live.

[Marf]

I don't believe so, no, but I'm not 100% on that.

As a cat owner I'd hate to see my cat injured by a dog, but would I blame the dog if my cat was in its garden? No way, it's a risk you take letting a cat out and about.

[chris watton]

We have had cats too, and we do feel awful, but I did all I could as soon as I heard the dogs squealing - I couldn't do anymore. And now we can't let the dogs out until the neighbour gets a new fence panel (his side)

No other cats enter our garden, they seem to know that we have dogs - we have lived here for over a year now and no cats have ever entered the garden of doom.

That's our Saturday gone to pot....

[bexVN]

Whilst it is distressing for all involved I am pretty certain that no one could force you to put your dogs down. You have a secure garden and the act entered in, if they'd got into the cats garden that'd have been a different scenario.

Could you not sort the fence panel even though it's his side.

Hope the cat is ok.

And to those who think a dachs couldn't over power a cat look up what they were originally bred for.

[chris watton]

bexVN said:

Whilst it is distressing for all involved I am pretty certain that no one could force you to put your dogs down. You have a secure garden and the act entered in, if they'd got into the cats garden that'd have been a different scenario.

Could you not sort the fence panel even though it's his side.

Hope the cat is ok.

And to those who think a dachs couldn't over power a cat look up what they were originally bred for.

I hope the cat's Ok too, poor thing. The fence is now fixed. Trouble with our neighbours (semi-detached)is that they never speak, we have been here since November 2010. Even when we say hello, he just puts his head down! The first time I have ever heard him speak directly to me is today, with the words 'have your dogs killed my fking cat'

I can certainly empathise (being a dog and cat lover), but there's not a lot more I could have said or done. I cannot stop our dogs from going in our garden - hell, we paid a few hundred more to make sure there were no weak spots in the fences, to keep them in safe. If a cat chooses to venture into the area we have fenced off for the dogs (the bottom half of our garden, we have chickens in the top half), then there's very little I can do.

[Deva Link]

chris watton said:

The first time I have ever heard him speak directly to me is today, with the words 'have your dogs killed my fking cat'

...and next time will be when he presents the vet's bill.

[stuartmmcfc]

At the time I can quite understand his reactions, even if I don't agree with them.
If he's a reasonable sort of bloke I''m sure he'll be around to apolgise and help mend the fence.
If he's reasonable....

[chris watton]

Deva Link said:

...and next time will be when he presents the vet's bill.

I have given this some thought. I was thinking of offering £100 towards the bill as a friendly gesture. But another part of me is saying that it's not really my responsibility, as we have done all we can to secure the dogs in our property and are not in any way liable.

A tough one.....

[E31Shrew]

chris watton said:

Deva Link said:

...and next time will be when he presents the vet's bill.

I have given this some thought. I was thinking of offering £100 towards the bill as a friendly gesture. But another part of me is saying that it's not really my responsibility, as we have done all we can to secure the dogs in our property and are not in any way liable.

A tough one.....

I wouldn't!

[mrmr96]

E31Shrew said:

chris watton said:

Deva Link said:

...and next time will be when he presents the vet's bill.

I have given this some thought. I was thinking of offering £100 towards the bill as a friendly gesture. But another part of me is saying that it's not really my responsibility, as we have done all we can to secure the dogs in our property and are not in any way liable.

A tough one.....

I wouldn't!

Don't set a precedent for yourself. I'd offer sincere apologies and understanding, but stick to the point that your dogs were in your garden and his cat came in - and when it did you did your utmost to intervene. I have two cats, so can see this from both points of view, but ultimately the cat came into the dogs space.

[chris watton]

Robsti said:

MTFU it's only a cat!

TBH, that's exactly how I now feel. These things happen....

[LukeSi]

Tell him to pay for/fix the fence panel or you report him for criminal damage. Cats are free roaming, the dogs were confined to a garden, the cat entered knowing full well that dogs were there, he damaged your property he pays.

[PH]Go smash his wife's backdoors in[/PH]

[bexVN]

LukeSi said:

Tell him to pay for/fix the fence panel or you report him for criminal damage. Cats are free roaming, the dogs were confined to a garden, the cat entered knowing full well that dogs were there, he damaged your property he pays.

[PH]Go smash his wife's backdoors in[/PH]

I think the OP actually said it was the cat owners fence so he damaged his own fence and he has already fixed it.

[Japveesix]

Sad situation (I'd initially furious and very upset if a neighbours dog killed our cat) but he has to be realistic about it and accept it is in no way your fault.

I'm surprised that dachshund would kill a cat, especially as modern ones are more show than working dogs, but apparently they did.

Don't offer him anything but a genuine apology, you don't need to. Also be a bit wary and keep an eye on your dogs, he might be a mad anti-dog cat lover already and could resort to nasty revenge/poisoning etc if he's really bitter about it.

[LukeSi]

bexVN said:

I think the OP actually said it was the cat owners fence so he damaged his own fence and he has already fixed it.

Ah yes just noticed, no issue then, OP you are responsible for nothing, cats are free roaming animals.

[Hugo a Gogo]

those German sausage dogs are one of the wurst breeds for this sort of thing

[ali_kat]

I think your dogs did well to catch it! IF they have killed it, then I'd guess it wasn't well in the first place!

I've seen cats & dogs fight, had my (previous) cat go up against our Doberman, Springer and Jack Russell and make them quake with fear the next time they tried to chase him (okay, so he was a BIG ginger tom cat from farm stock - but )