Traumatised hound owner

[ellieraven]

Next door neighbours cat was in our garden today as it often is, usually having poo. My greyhound Kym has been aware of the cat and has sat waiting for it to come into the garden before. Well today she caught it and killed it and I am totally mortified. My husband did try to save the cat but Kym wasn't having any of it, (he got injured,mainly by the cat) I think the cat actually died of shock. I had to take the dead cat wrapped in a towel round to my neighbour, well you can imagine.....I was crying, she was crying....nothing I could say except sorry really. She is devastated and I feel terrible. She doesn't seem to attach any blame to us as she said the cat should'nt have been in the garden. The sensible side of me has kicked in and has wondered if she could take legal action ? Just to top if off my husband is thinking of returning Kym to the kennels as he's worried she may attack the kids (shes so docile and placid usually) I've tried to tell him its an inbred instinct but not sure I can convince him. (we've only had her 2 months ) Thoughts anyone ?

[lurcherlot]

Sadly these things do happen Greyhounds are trained to 'see it, catch it' but you are not responsible for the death of your neighbour's cat .... your dog was in your garden, the cat came into your garden - just one of those dreadful accidents.
I can't see the logic of your husband wanting to return Kym She has never bitten your children to date, so why would she start to do so now? It's small furries she wants to chase .....


Edited to add a link to a similar instance ......
greyhoundgap.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=37268&page=1

[Deleted]

Sorry to hear about your neighbours cat, but sadly these things can happen, with any breed of dog, not just hounds.

You are all naturally shocked by what has happened but there is absolutely no reason why because your dog has attacked a small furry mammal is going to start savaging children.

There is a thread here about a similar incident which shows that you are not alone with your experience greyhoundgap.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=New&action=display&thread=37268

[andywillow]

So sorry to hear about the cat As the others have already said you are not responsible, the cat came into your garden. I know for a fact all my hounds would do exactley the same if a cat wandered into our garden, I also know that they wouldnt attack my kids. Sadly these things happen, please dont let your husband return your dog, she is only doing what greyhounds can do given the chance

Sue

[ellieraven]

Thanks for your messages, the lady has just been round to return the towel I used to wrap the poor cat in (washed !) sorry...she is still very upset, I think I will buy her some flowers to apologise. The cat fought back savagely and Kym has some nasty claw wounds, I have bathed them etc but I think I will take her to the vet tommorrow, she hasn't moved from her bed and she's looking very sorry for herself. My husband is just reacting to what has happened, I don't think he will send her back. He'll have alot of explaining to do with the kids if he does....

[Jen Wren]

I'm sorry you had to go through this I dread the day a cat is stupid enough to go into my garden (most of them wouldn't dare)

Your dog was doing what it's instinct is telling it to do. Greyhounds have been trained to chase small furries and that is what they'll do, well most of them anyway. You are not alone and as the others have said there are many other incidents that have been posted here before.

Firstly, your neighbour would not be able to take you to court because your dog was under control in your garden, it was their cat who was trespassing. It's very decent of your neighbour to see this especially under such stressful circumstances.

IT IS NOT YOUR DOGS FAULT. Please ask your husband to reconsider returning her, any breed of dog is capable of killing a cat, not just Greyhounds. Remember dogs also are trained to be human companions and it is not their instinct to hurt humans. Most cases of dogs hurting children is because the child has been left unsupervised with the dog and has upset it in some way, or just that the owners have badly trained the dog and was not under control by the owners.

As you said, your dog is docile and sounds like she is very good with the kids. As Nettie said there is no reason why a dog should suddenly change and attack your children.

[francesd]

What a sad situation for you, that must have been really difficult to deal with and particularly shocking for your husband trying to physically save the cat.

I can only reiterate what others have said and hope that once the shock of this has subsided a little more your husband will appreciate that this is a situation that could happen to many of us with greyhounds/lurchers and probably many other breeds of dogs. It doesn't mean that your children are at risk.

I think it's a good idea to take Kym to the vets if she has scratches, she may well need some antibiotics.

Take care

Fran
x

[Letty's Mum]

No advice as this is just what I have always dreaded happening myself. It could happen to anyone with a dog.
To you and >:(to Kym
Helen & Lettice x

[handh]

I dread this kind of thing happening to me, next door's cats like to sleep on our shed roof, and sometimes they lie on our driveway too. The thing is, greyhounds are trained to chase small fast-moving things - children are too slow and too far off the ground to be worth bothering with, there's no way a child moving would trigger off the chase instinct the way a cat does.

to you and your neighbour - and your neighbour can't take legal action for her cat being on your property. Sorry for her loss

[Lisa]

Ive had it happen here once it can happen to any of us and is a horrendous and heartbreaking thing when it does.

Its a natural reaction for most dogs not just sighthounds and often doesnt boil down to a prey thing when an intruding animal is in the garden but terrotory.

Your dog doesnt pose harm to your children anymore now than she did before and isnt likely to start turning on them. There is a world of difference between cats and kids. The only advice I would give is just ask them to watch her for the immediate time as Kym will be really really sore for a few days I know how much cat cuts and sores can hurt especially if they get infected. Our boy nearly lost his eye and lost his third eyelid due to the cat incident in our garden. Incidentally the cat attacked him

[vickyb]

So sorry, I can't begin to imagine how awful it must be for all of you. I hope your OH has calmed down. As everyone says it's not just a greyhound thing, but they have the speed to do what lots of other types of dog would if they could. I hope you can keep her and forgive her for what is a natural behaviour. Cats kill birds and mice etc but no one stresses about that the same way as when dogs get cats, double standards?

Vicky

[madaboutgreys]

Huge sympathy for you and your family. I agree with everything everyone has said. Please don't take Kym back - she's still your same old loving Kym, still as good and safe with your children as she has always been.

Just to say too that I am so impressed with the way you and your neighbour have handled this. Am I the only person who has read this and entertained the ignoble thought of not fessing up to the neighbour? That must have taken so much courage on your part. And your dear neighbour, being wise enough to recognise the cat's share of the blame even through her tears.... and returning your towel, washed.

Hugs to you all.

[ragsysmum]

My girl Tru killed a cat before she came to me and there is no doubt she would do so again given the chance. However, she is fine with people and kids, has never even growled at anyone even when she is sore or hurt somewhere but will still chase and kill anything small that moves...bird, mouse, squirrel etc. I don't think there is any connection in their minds between small furries and humans and the behaviour does not transfer from one to the other.

[Jane and Sara]

I agree with ragysymum - Bob came to me because he had killed a cat. PLEASE don't let your husband return him - that is what Bob's old owners did to him and he was SO traumatized - he didn't know what he had done wrong - he has been with me now for about nine months and is completely settled but I still think there is something rather sad about him. He is my 'heart' dog, the one dog I would trust with my life. He always wears a muzzle when he is out - although I must admit I don't always put it on when he is in my garden (something I might yet live to regret).

[elmuervo]

Oct 10, 2008 3:44:26 GMT -5 madaboutgreys said:

Huge sympathy for you and your family. I agree with everything everyone has said. Please don't take Kym back - she's still your same old loving Kym, still as good and safe with your children as she has always been.

Just to say too that I am so impressed with the way you and your neighbour have handled this. Am I the only person who has read this and entertained the ignoble thought of not fessing up to the neighbour? That must have taken so much courage on your part. And your dear neighbour, being wise enough to recognise the cat's share of the blame even through her tears.... and returning your towel, washed.

Hugs to you all.

Hear, hear.

She's still your beautiful Kym, and she needs your support now more than ever.

to you all.

Jo
x

P.S. Madaboutgreys - I, too, would have entertained that thought . . .