My dog killed a rabbit

[mrsstats]

and I feel so horrible. My Petey is the sweetest most lovable dog. He never growls, hardly barks, you can take anything from him. We have had a rabbit in our yard for a few weeks. He would go out and park at it etc. Well tonight he got it. I can't believe my dog is a murderer. How am I ever going to forgive him.

 

[gallaj0]

He's just an animal, remember

A member of your family, but still an animal.

 

[phillybeth]

Your dog is not a murderer. He is an animal who acted on instinct. There is nothing to forgive.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This is your pet rabbit or a wild rabbit?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm going to assume that this is a wild rabbit.

We have a fenced backyard and we have tried to keep the rabbits out. One time one got in and I heard it screaming (what an awful sound!!!) and was able to free it. Sheena, our dog, did not hurt it. Another time, though, she did kill a rabbit. I felt awful, but I wasn't mad at her. It's our property and she was doing what comes natural to her. As my sister put it, the rabbits shouldn't come into Mr. Mcgregor’s garden...

I'm not even sure what she would do to the neighbor's outdoor cat (and they know this), even though she's great with our cats. It's a natural hunting instinct that dogs have. One night we were watching tv and I noticed that she had dirt around her mouth and I said, "Sheena, why is your mouth so dirty?" She stood up and spit out a dead chipmunk. Guess it wasn't dirt, but fur. She's killed at least another squirrel. She's spent a lot of time outside today--hopefully there's nothing else dead out there--I'm afraid to look.

Our old dog was never fast enough to catch anything--not for lack of trying, though.

 

[mrsstats]

Wild rabbit that has been living in our yard for the past few weeks. I just never had a dog that killed something.

 

[tiggersmom2]

It is a dog.....that is what dogs do, purely out of instinct. I used to have a Chow Chow that was sweet as molasses to us but one day she brought down a full grown deer. We never had another problem with the garden after that.

 

[Pop Daddy]

maybe he needs some time in doggy prison

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Wild rabbit that has been living in our yard for the past few weeks. I just never had a dog that killed something.

Not all dogs will, but I think that many, if not most will. Rabbits aren't real hard to catch. Sheena used to be fine around certain animals when my sister had her (we adopted her from my sister). She was able to have her around ducks and she was fine, but the rabbits and squirrels are too much. And since the rabbits chew down my blueberry plants and eat my vegie garden I don't think they are as cute as I used to. (Take that with a grain of salt--I'm a vegetarian and would never wish harm to a living being).

Sorry that it happened, though. I would also be upset if I were you, but please don't be mad at your dog! Your dog was just doing what many dogs do. I hate it, too. Here I am, a peace loving vegetarian mom with a rabbit and squirrel killing dog. Ironic, isn't it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It is a dog.....that is what dogs do, purely out of instinct. I used to have a Chow Chow that was sweet as molasses to us but one day she brought down a full grown deer. We never had another problem with the garden after that.

Geez Louise!

You'd think that the rabbits would stay out of our yard since Sheena patrols the perimeter many times a day, but the stupid animals still try to break in. And we have the plants in our yard fenced, too so they won't eat them (and the dogs won't dig them up). So they are basically breaking in to get killed. It's called natural selection...

 

[irisbud]

My Petey has other problems. He catches things: birds from mid-air, moles, rabbits, mice, wild kittens, frogs, etc, Holds them and GROOMS them, then lets them go unharmed. He is a great hunter, he can catch just about anything he goes after, but he must lack a killer instinct (which is FINE by me.)

 

[#1hockeymom]

My jackrat is now in competition with the cat over catching mice in the backyard. The cat is NOT happy!

Your dog is doing what it is supposed to do, just like people go out and buy food for themselves. If it wasn't for the grocer, you'd be hunting, too.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

My aunt had a dog for many years - over 10 - that was about 70 lbs. when she got a new puppy. The older dog grew jealous of the new puppy and killed it.

So, it could be worse. I'm sure in time, this memory will fade. Your love for your dog will still be there, but animals are animals, not humans. Stuff like this sadly happens.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I have a cockapoo that is an amazing mouse hunter! On the other hand, when we have baby chicks the darned dog (male) tries to nurse them!!

 

[jazstar87]

my dog actually killed a squirrel.....she got it too quick before i even notice it was there... it was a baby squirrel, i felt bad and burried the poor thing, but that is the part of life you can't do anything about...

 

[mommy*RN]

My sweet Penny killed a wild rabbit too! It was a couple summers ago and she got loose. I didn't see it, but my neighbor did and he was MAD! They feed the rabbits in their backyard so they are always around. I was upset for awhile too because at the time my DS was little and I thought if she could kill a rabbit how would she be with my DS?!? Needless to say she hasn't gotten away to do it again (knocking on wood) and I've forgiven her. It is disappointing and a bit scarey though...

BTW - she is great my my kids. DS likes to pounce on her when she is sleeping and even though he startles the life out of her she has never nipped or bitten him...

The glowing eyeballs make her look freakier than she really is...

 

[kwdietrich1]

My three maltese dogs worked together (I think, I wasn't there) to kill (and eat-yuck!) a squirel this week. My sweet little 5 lb, 9 lb and 12lb prissy, prima donna pooches are now strutting around the house like ferrocious warriors!

 

[TheDoctor]

When we lived out in the country when I was in high school my cat killed and brought home a large jack rabbit. I came out and he had it on the back door step (this is where he brought his other prizes) That cat was so proud of himself and miffed when we took his prize away.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Your dog is not a murderer. He is an animal who acted on instinct. There is nothing to forgive.

For real. My parents have 2 Jack Russells and they hunt all the time the dogs, not my parents). No big deal. They are just doing what comes natural.

 

[Evil Queen]

My dog has killed possums, rats and even a fox. (Our property sits right on the edge of a canal and tortiose preserve with woods). My dog even attacked one of my outdoor cats. I was mad about that, but she wasn't raised with that cat (she was raised with the 3 indoor ones) so I forgave her finally, because to her it was a "strange" cat.