Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 13:06:26 GMT -5
we have agreed to muzzle the dog when we are not with him in the garden until our neighbour has decided whether to rehome .She has done nothing to secure her boundary with chicken wire for example, which would stop the little kittens escaping. The shock of the incident is wearing off now and I am beginning to feel really angry now. Our neighbour through her own negligence has caused this kitten to suffer. We now know that they had taken their eyes off the kitten on a previous occasion and it had come into our garden, yet they still didn't take any action to prevent this happening. It was we now realise an accident waiting to happen. What really upset us was that she rang the RSPCA and Greyhound rescue who so she says wanted or name and address as they thought it was disgraceful that we havenot muzzled the dog after this incident . Unbelievable ! I think her initial reaction of it was "all their fault ,and they dont blame us" has gone now that the vets bill has arrived and she is like a woman possessed. I must stop this now as it is taking over my every waking thought so thank you all for your comments it has helped. Jo xx She is being unreasonable, the fact of the matter is that a greyhound even with a muzzle on can harm a kitten. Any breed of dog that gets a kitten, muzzled or not, has the potential to do alot of harm simply because of the size & fragility of a kitten. I would of thought/ hoped that this incident was a reality check for her but it doesn't sound like it  Explain to her that even muzzled any dog can harm a kitten. Can you reinforce your boundary with chicken wire? |
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Post by loopylou on Aug 29, 2008 15:18:50 GMT -5
Your neighbour is unreasonable,we have two cats who Molly and Suggs will chase in the garden yet are fine with in the house,they also chase the neighbours cats.Luckily the only way they have access is over the 6ft fence so as soon as my two hear the fence rattle they start barking and the cats usually scrabble back where they came from.I always check the garden first and both my dogs have bells on their collars and tags that clink so they can be heard by the cats..Suggs never chased until recently but is now the worst of the two going on regular cat patrols so much so I never leave my door open unless I accompany them outside which is a pain.You have to do what you are comfortable with but if your neighbour lets her kitten out she must realise it could come to a sticky end one way or another
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Post by franjan on Aug 29, 2008 18:00:35 GMT -5
Just seen this thread. A few months after we got Baloo he was mooching at the bottom of our well secured garden when next doors cat jumped out at him. He picked it up and shook it, but immediately dropped it when told. It ran away and disappeared for days - we had the job of going to our neighbour and telling him, and we didn't know how the cat was. The problem was he refused to put a bell on its collar as he wanted it to kill rats and birds  . It was feral really, and Baloo was the one needing treatment for claw cuts (one right next to his eye - fortunately not in it). When we told our neighbour he just said - don't worry I'll get another one!!! Nice!!! Afterwards, we always checked the garden before letting the dogs out, and tried a few different things to deter the cat (who survived), but nothing worked. It was just a case of being careful. Don't feel that you're responsible though, as others have said - your garden should be a place where your dogs can run free. As long as your neighbours realise this, the care of their pets is their responsibility. Good luck with your situation  |
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Post by lurcherlot on Aug 30, 2008 4:37:49 GMT -5
There is no way you have to muzzle YOUR dog in YOUR garden .... it is up to your neighbour to keep her cat safe. There is no law protecting cats, because they roam - with dogs, it is up to you to fence your dog within your property. There may well be a legal requirement for dogs to be muzzled in a public place, but not in your own garden. |
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Post by sharron on Aug 30, 2008 9:58:29 GMT -5
I have been reading this thread with interest, As my neighbors cat died over the Christmas period. yesterday Zeb went completely mental at the fence, that divides our two gardens. My daughter was outside with him and looked through a small knot hole to see there was 2 very small cats in there garden. I have not been able to see the cats or my neighbors so dont know how old they are or if they do belong to them.
They know that Zeb is not a cat friendly dog, as we have told them when we got him and they have seen and heard him when he has seen one.
I really hate to think what he would do to a kitten. But if they do came into the garden then, i'm sorry but it is Zeb's garden.
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Amber
Ironing Piling Up
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Post by Amber on Sept 6, 2008 15:56:25 GMT -5
Oh no, poor you. But why let a small kitten out, especially knowing that there are big dogs next door?
Could become very awkward with your neighbours, but I really think - stand up for your dogs and stand your ground. Do not pay any of the vet bill. Explain that your dogs have the right to be free and unmuzzled in their own garden - and IF they are going to let a kitten out loose and unsupervised, they unfortunately, they must take the consequences of that. It really is a shame for the kitten, but I agree with Lisa - anyone with an outdoor cat (let alone a young kitten) needs to be realistic about the risks that they run.
A friend told the RSPB sonic cat scarers seem to work in her garden (the noise doesn't affect dogs or other animals apparently).
I don't have a cat scarer, but thank goodness, none of the close neighbours have cats.
One came in a couple of months ago and Petra chased it with serious intent to kill - it somehow got away unscathed, but not seen it since!
If she had got it, I know she would have killed it - in which case, I would have dug a big hole in a secluded part of the garden and given it a decent burial.
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