My Husky Killed My Cat

[npmommie]

OP I would rehome the dog, you got some good advice about contacting a husky rescue.
I too could not keep a dog that killed my cat, I would never get rid of a pet that had been in my home first either. so for me the cat would stay the dog would go.

I remember when one of our dogs killed a wild turkey right in front of the kids, a couple years ago.
the kids were watching the turkeys ( about 7 of them ) walk thru our back yard to the woods, when all of a sudden one of my dogs literally scaled the fence and caught a turkey and killed it.


the dogs have a large fenced in area in our back on the edge of the woods, I never thought she could get out of it!

anyway the kids were horrified, I was mad at the dog for a minute til I realized it was her instinct she couldn't help it.

the turkeys didn't come around for a long time after that, but now when they do, I make sure all dogs are in and do not go outside!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm coming late to this thread and only had time to skim through (sorry).

I'm of the belief that ANY dog can hurt ANY cat (or person, or other animal) and that none of us are perfect or have a crystal ball. The OP had good intentions of giving the dog a home, in part out of responsibility to the dog, who her DD had originally bought. I believe that's a good thing.

It's not a given that a Husky or a German Shepherd or any other "aggressive" type dog (which is actually a misnomer, as there are many dogs not "listed" that can be far more aggressive than the majority of dogs on any "list") will harm another. It's a possibility, sure, but not a given.

My DH grew up with a Husky and a cat that got along beautifully. At one time there were a bunch of young Huskies running around which also never hurt their cat.

I don't think it's a good idea to kick the OP when she's down. Maybe she wasn't as careful as she should have been. Maybe. But I'm sure most of us have been guilty of the same at one time or another. I know I have been.

I do think that pointing out potential hazards or other viewpoints can be productive for others reading here. Maybe it will help someone else, somehow.

OP, I'm sorry this happened. You must be devastated. I think, given the same circumstances, I'd probably try to find the Husky a good home. I don't know what kind of training and socialization the Husky has had (but if it was your DD's boyfriend and your DD, then I imagine it wasn't high quality - sorry, but I was the same at that age, not saying there are some that age who can train properly, but most probably aren't able). If it wasn't high quality, then you'd have your work cut out for you to start quality training with him now and your other cat would be at risk during training and probably afterward. Dogs are most reliable when they start off with good habits, IME.

It's not clear to me what kind of injury occurred. Did the dog kill the cat or did the cat die from complications later on as a result of the bite. That could make a difference as well. If the dog did not shake the cat to death that is probably encouraging - if not for your home, for another (catless and probably childless) home. I think Husky Rescue is a good option.

 

[DMRick]

You are right, any dog can, but this is a list that the insurance companies have put together, based on their pay outs. After many years working as an animal Lab tech I agree with list. Personally I'd like to see Cocker Spaniels on this list, but this list is more about damage done, not how dogs get along with cats or other animals. These are what the insurance company's believe are agressive dogs to people. I've found they are often agressive with pets smaller than them..I've seen the damage some of these dog breeds have done. If I to choose between a dog not on the list and one of these to get bitten or mauled by, I'll take one not on the list.

I encourage anyone who has a dog on the list to check and make sure if your dog does bite a person, you are covered. Most insurance company's insist on a rider.

I'm of the belief that ANY dog can hurt ANY cat (or person, or other animal) and that none of us are perfect or have a crystal ball. The OP had good intentions of giving the dog a home, in part out of responsibility to the dog, who her DD had originally bought. I believe that's a good thing.

It's not a given that a Husky or a German Shepherd or any other "aggressive" type dog (which is actually a misnomer, as there are many dogs not "listed" that can be far more aggressive than the majority of dogs on any "list") will harm another. It's a possibility, sure, but not a given.

 

[jekajekalynn]

OP.. sorry for your loss..

Don't pay any attention to those few without tact on this thread, they must be enjoying the perfect weather way up on their high horse..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You are right, any dog can, but this is a list that the insurance companies have put together, based on their pay outs. After many years working as an animal Lab tech I agree with list.

There are different ways of looking at this, but a "list" is a thing that makes people feel better, but generally isn't necessarily very accurate.

You have the perspective of working as a lab tech, and I have the perspective of training and owning one of the "bad" breeds, as well as years of study of dog training and behavior.

My own experience is that statistics aren't always accurate. Statistics are only as good as the people who enter the information. Unknowing people often assign dogs to breeds that may or may not be accurate. Accuracy involves being able to differentiate subtle differences in a dog's characteristics the setting of emotional, often traumatic experiences. Also, what is a mixed breed dog called? How about a Lab or a German Shepherd. Yup, that sounds about right. And which breed to you attribute a bite to in a "designer dog"? What if a labradoodle or a cockapoo bites? Do you assign it to the lab, or the poodle? The cocker spaniel or the poodle? Hmm. How accurate are those bite statistics, really? Not very, IMO.

But don't take my word for it. Here's what others have to say.

The Dog Whisperer’s most aggressive breeds
March 6, 2010 at 3:59 pm by Mark Ramirez

I didn’t catch the show, but apparently the Friday, March 5, 2010, episode of “The Dog Whisperer” takes a look at aggressive dogs.

Over 10,000 viewers voted for what they thought were the most aggressive breeds: while Cesar Millan listed nine dogs that “possess traits that put them near the more aggressive end of the spectrum.”

Those nine, in no particular order:

Alaskan malamute
Boxer
Chow chow
Doberman pinscher
German shepherd
Great Dane
Pit bull
Siberian husky
Rottweiler
(Of course, the pit bull technically isn’t a breed.)

Apparently, when it came time for Millan to say which breed he thought was the most aggressive, he said “none.”

Oddly enough, by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania had nearly completely different results, skewing toward smaller dogs.

That survey found that dachshunds were the most aggressive, followed by Chihuahuas and Jack Russell terriers. It found that rottweilers, pit bulls and Rhodesian ridgebacks scored average or below average for hostility toward strangers. Lowest on the aggression scale were Basset hounds, golden and Labrador retrievers, Siberian huskies and greyhounds.

I guess the difference is that between two dogs with the same amount of aggression, it’s the bigger one that will cause more damage.

This list has many of the same dogs on the Dog Whisperer survey list (boxer, chow chow, doberman, malamute, husky, German shepherd, rottweiler and pit bull) and adds dalmatians and Presa Canarios.

Some will argue, of course, that its all about training — that a dog is aggressive or not because of its upbringing. But it’s hard to deny that some breeds are more inclined toward hostility than others. Do you agree with any of these lists?

Five Potentially Aggressive Dog Breeds You May Not Know About
You’re probably already familiar with dog breeds that have the reputation of being vicious. What may surprise you are these five lesser known potentially aggressive dog breeds.

by Kristie Leong MD October 14, 2007, in Dogs

You probably are already familiar with several breeds of dog with the reputation for being potentially aggressive. These include the Pit Bull Terrier, the German Shepherd, and Rottweiler among others. Although there are many exceptions to the rule, these dogs have earned a certain reputation for less than perfect behavior whether it’s merited or not.

Of course, whether or not a dog manifests aggression has quite a bit to do with how they are trained by their owner. Any dog has the capability of being aggressive if placed in the wrong environment or in the hands of a cruel or incompetent trainer or owner. On the other hand, there are some dog breeds that have the capability of being aggressive that you may not be so readily aware of. Here are five lesser known potential aggressive dog breeds:

The Chihuahua
They’re the tiniest of dog breeds and they look cute and lovable, but these tiny dogs have the capability of being aggressive towards children who they’re not particularly fond of to begin with. They tend to bond strongly with one person, usually an adult, and perceive everyone else as threats to that bond. There are numerous reports of Chihuahuas nipping and biting at both adults and small children.

The Chow Chow
This dog, originally bred in China, is known to be one of the most ancient breeds in existence. They tend to bond with one person early on and do their best to guard that person against any perceivable threat. For this reason, they can be untrustworthy around strangers with the potential for exhibiting quite intimidating and aggressive behavior. No wonder they earned the nickname “the lion dog”.

The Jack Russell Terrier
This lively and energetic dog tends to be feisty and aggressive towards other dogs as well as small animals such as cats, hamsters, and ferrets that live in close quarters with them. On the plus side, they tend to be quite amicable towards human members of their pack and are usually gentle with children. It’s probably not the ideal breed to bring into your home if you have other small animals as pets.

The Llasa Apso
This is another small dog that looks harmless enough. Originating from the country of Tibet, this dog was bred to be a guard dog which may explain the tendency for this breed to exhibit occasional aggressive behavior. The Llasa Apso can be particularly feisty and unpredictable around children. Though these dogs appear to be cuddly lap dogs, they tend to be independent and strong willed which can be problems if they’re overindulged by their owner.


The Old English Sheepdog
This is another dog that tends to be strong willed and independent with a tendency to nip at other animals as well as children. This is aggravated by the fact that they’re strongly protective of their owners and will become aggressive if they perceive their master is threatened. Generally, this is not a good first dog since an Old English Sheepdog will probably require a good obedience course and firm, effective owner to be socialized properly.

If you plan on adopting any of these potentially aggressive breeds of dog, you may want to consider attending a dog obedience course lead by a competent instructor. Not only can this reduce the potential for aggressive behavior but it can also help to strengthen and solidify the bond between you and your dog.

Aggressive Dogs and Society
By: Dr. Nicholas Dodman
Your dog should be trained throughout his entire life.
What Can You Do to Prevent This Problem

Each year, dogs bite more than 4.7 million people, a number the Center for Disease Control considers to represent an "epidemic." Of that total, more than half a million people require medical attention.

The killing of the woman in San Francisco by a Presa Canario recently thrust the issue into the limelight. It is clearly time to do something about the epidemic of dog bites. Below are guidelines that could help to extinguish this problem.

Bad Breeding Should Be Discouraged

A few years ago Time magazine ran a cover story titled "To the Dogs – the shame of over breeding." They were, as usual, right on the money. Some - but not all - the blame rests on the breeders' shoulders. Indiscriminate breeding practices, with no consideration for temperament, have tarnished the nature of some breeds. Breeds that were "pussycats" 25 years ago are now known for aggressive tendencies.

Commercial, rather than private, breeders shoulder much of the blame. For example, puppy mill breeders have nothing to lose by purveying pups that look like a desirable breed but are temperamentally flawed. Good breeders usually insist on taking back pups that develop unlivable problem behaviors or other defects. The mill breeders are not so scrupulous.

To illustrate what can be done if a breed group puts their mind to it, take Doberman pinchers. The Doberman club became aware that the breed had developed a reputation for aggression and decided to breed out these aggressive tendencies. The result is that today, American Dobermans have a much more stable temperament and have fallen in the ranking of aggressive dogs.

Selection of Breed

Unfortunately, most would-be dog owners know very little about the breed they want to acquire. Amazingly, they'll choose a new dog – a living creature that will share their home for some 10-14 years – in a heartbeat. Would-be owners should fully educate themselves about the breed, including temperament.

Some dogs are specialist breeds that need dedicated and knowledgeable owners, not novice dog owners. You should think twice about dogs bred for jobs that include fighting, intense predatory skills, guarding, and protection. While okay with the right person, dogs with such a heritage may be time bombs in inexperienced hands.

The size of the dog is important. If you don't know how to train a dog and don't have the inclination to learn, don't pick a huge dog of a potentially aggressive breed. While Yorkshire terriers can give a nasty nip, an Alaskan malamute can maim or kill.

Training

Once the right breed is selected, the next critical factor is to train bite inhibition. When pups are young, they will reach an age when they start to mouth and bite moving things around them.

That's normal, but you need to draw a line. The way to do this is to yell "ouch" loudly and withdraw if the puppy's nipping becomes too intense for comfort. This teaches the pup that people are soft and "ouchy" and that the dog doesn't need to bite hard to leave a lasting impression! In addition, socialization to all dogs is vital, right from the get-go. This fact can't be emphasized too strongly.

Socialization is an active process. Arrange pleasant experiences for the pup in the presence of children, strangers, and other pets as soon as his eyes first open. Training shouldn't end after puppyhood, either. It should be an ongoing process throughout the dog's life. And remember, always shield your dog from unpleasant experiences, like being tied up outside next to a school route or getting jerked around by a physical (metal collar) trainer.

Where to Buy

Now you understand the importance of socialization, you should know what to look for in a breeder of psychologically sound pups. If you see wire enclosures outside with pups being raised like battery chickens, or if you choose a dog from a pet store, you will be a getting socially deficient pup. A cellar or bedroom in the house is no better because it offers few, if any, opportunities for the pup to gain confidence around people. The critical age for socialization is between 3 and 12 weeks of age. Even at 8 or 9 weeks a lot of opportunities to produce a confidant, well-rounded individual will have been missed.

Unscrupulous Persons

Sadly, there are some sick individuals who set about to a) purchase and b) train "hounds from hell." A number of such individuals contacted Presa Canario breeders after the San Francisco attack to ask where they could purchase these pit-bull-on-steroids facsimiles. Some of the people who crave dangerous dogs just want to impress their friends, others want to attack-train the dogs for protection or intimidation, and yet others want the dogs for pit fighting (still). Techniques used to make dogs mean include isolation, starvation, torture, and aggravation. I think the punishment for these individuals should be the maximum that can be metered out under the law. If you select and train a vicious dog that kills or injures someone you should pay a high price. In the case of the San Francisco attack, one of the people involved is being charged with murder. A high price indeed.

Owners in Denial

Some people just don't know what's going on until it's too late. Just because their dog appears sweet and curls up happily on the rug in front of them they think he can do no harm. This is not necessarily true. As mentioned, all dogs can bite if so inclined, particularly if they are set up for it by earlier experiences or the lack thereof. Warning signs from the dog include:

An obsession with squirrels or other small varmints – indicates high predatory drive. Predatory drive can become displaced on to rapidly moving prey facsimiles, e.g. children, joggers, skate boarders, bicyclists.

Growling, lifting a lip, snapping, or biting family members for any reasons – implies some dominance. Dominance aggression is enhanced if the challenger is of low social standing with respect to the dog, such as a child.

Growling (or worse) at strangers on or off the owners property – indicates fear. Fear aggression is usually worst on the owners' property or on the streets surrounding the property (areas that the dog marks with urine during walks). It is also more marked from the safety of the owner's car or from behind a fence or barrier.

Apprehension around children or strangers without overt displays of aggression.

Conclusion

Should certain of our dog breeds be banned? I don't think so. Even breeds ranking highly in the aggression demographics could have been selected, trained, and contained so that they did not feature in the ranking at all. The problems are bad breeding, uneducated pet selection, uninformed rearing practices, poor socialization, poor leadership, inadequate control, and unrealistic expectations. I favor proper owner education and an owner test as a prerequisite for all would-be dog owners, especially would-be owners of specialist breeds. Owners of aggressive free-ranging dogs should receive mandatory re-education classes at their own expense and should be jailed for a second offense.

There is one possible exception to the owner education and accountability scheme: the Presa Canario itself. These dogs, and one or two other rare large aggressive breeds, are one level of dangerousness above what we are dealing with now, partly because of their size and partly because of their breeding. One breed aficionado of the Presa Canario breed wrote, "As a guardian breed with man-stopping ability - [this dog] will not hesitate to attack anyone whom it perceives as a threat to its family or home. Such an attack could only be a hopeless situation for any man involved." How prophetic this turned out to be.

Until I see a well socialized Canary dog, I will reserve judgment on the beast. As things stand presently I have some reservations about this particular breed's place in society.

 

[si-am]

While some responses were harsh, I believe that they were provoked by the OP coming on here to ask for advice, not sympathy.

I mean, why is this even a question? Either the cat or the dog needs to go (I'd get rid of the dog since she's only been around 2 weeks). No need to keep the other cat in danger-- what a horrible way for it to potentially die.

If it had been a child who was bitten by the dog and the OP wanted to keep it, then I think everyone would be flaming the OP (I've seen it happen right here on the Dis).

 

[bdcp]

While some responses were harsh, I believe that they were provoked by the OP coming on here to ask for advice, not sympathy.

I mean, why is this even a question? Either the cat or the dog needs to go (I'd get rid of the dog since she's only been around 2 weeks). No need to keep the other cat in danger-- what a horrible way for it to potentially die.

If it had been a child who was bitten by the dog and the OP wanted to keep it, then I think everyone would be flaming the OP (I've seen it happen right here on the Dis).

If he bit a child, then definitely the dog would go.

 

[DMRick]

I'm speaking from the perspective of helping the vet try to put back the parts of the attacked dogs/cats and telling the family we couldn't save them. I've also had the displeasure of cremating cats that were unlucky enough to be one of the dogs on the lists 'toy' where they died right away and never had a chance to survive.

We have been told by every single person that their dog, or their neighbors dog, or their relatives dog was a sweetheart. Would never hurt a fly. Until it killed or maimed an animal, or human. The dog next door to me on the list was one of those sweethearts. Bundy was a dear, and my own grands played with him, until the day I was outside and their kitten wandered by and he picked it up and tossed it in the air and broke it's neck while their young children watched. They had recently had a new baby, and they felt the dog was jealous. He was put down that evening..they just didn't want to take a chance. They loved that dog, but they no longer felt they could trust it.

We also worked with breeders..the trouble is a lot of these dogs are not trained.

Do other dogs not on the list bite? Yes, but they don't usually do the damage the ones on the list do.

You have the perspective of working as a lab tech, and I have the perspective of training and owning one of the "bad" breeds, as well as years of study of dog training and behavior. .

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm speaking from the perspective of helping the vet try to put back the parts of the attacked dogs/cats and telling the family we couldn't save them. I've also had the displeasure of cremating cats that were unlucky enough to be one of the dogs on the lists 'toy' where they died right away and never had a chance to survive.

And I've spent decades doing my part in owner education IRL and right here on the Dis.

We have been told by every single person that their dog, or their neighbors dog, or their relatives dog was a sweetheart. Would never hurt a fly. Until it killed or maimed an animal, or human. The dog next door to me on the list was one of those sweethearts. Bundy was a dear, and my own grands played with him, until the day I was outside and their kitten wandered by and he picked it up and tossed it in the air and broke it's neck while their young children watched. They had recently had a new baby, and they felt the dog was jealous. He was put down that evening..they just didn't want to take a chance. They loved that dog, but they no longer felt they could trust it.

Well you and I both know that uneducated, ill-informed and uninterested owners are a big part of the problem of many bad dog behaviors. Complacency, or believing "your" dog will never bite, is a big mistake that, unfortunately, is very common.

the trouble is a lot of these dogs are not trained.

Bingo. Or socialized.

Do other dogs not on the list bite? Yes, but they don't usually do the damage the ones on the list do.

While this is true, there are many owners of small dogs who create bad behaviors in their dogs and they are very much menaces as well, especially to children. They can rip apart and scar a little face pretty well, too. I myself have had three bites in my lifetime - all from small dogs. I've had a lifelong scar on my hand to prove it.

In the case of my favored breed, German Shepherds, I think a big injustice has been done to the breed. Way too many people get them for protection, don't train or socialize, and in many cases actually train them - on purpose or inadvertently - to bite. (Although their bite is different than most dogs' bites. They generally do not maul. They are more likely to give a one time bite when they're warnings go unheeded.) There is nothing better than a well behaved, well socialized German Shepherd dog, in my biased opinion. They are a very dedicated, intelligent, noble breed of dog. But in the wrong hands, they can bite, for sure. And sadly, it's seen too often. However I've also seen that just about every mutt known to man gets listed as a German Shepherd. Whether they actually are or not is another story.

But I digress. My original points were that not all Huskies bite, that any dog can bite, and that aggressive dog lists aren't always all they're cracked up to be.

You do good work.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

From the Dog Bite Statics Website:

Facts & Stats about Dog Bites & Dog Aggression

Dog between one and five years are involved in more dog bite incidences than dogs older than 6 years. Male dogs are more frequently involved when compared with female dogs.

Mixed breeds and not pure bred dogs are the type of dog most often involved in inflicting bites to people. The pure-bred dogs most often involved are German shepherds (many of whom are in law enforcement and protective roles) and Chow chows.

The list of breeds most involved in both bite injuries and fatalities changes from year to year and from one area of the country to another, depending on the popularity of the breed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document that a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than an unchained dog.

Canines not spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than sterilized ones.

The breeds most often involved in fatal attacks are Rottweilers and Pit bulls.

From 1979 to 1998, at least 25 breeds of dogs have been involved in bite related deaths. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers were involved in more than 50 percent of these incidences.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I came across this re dogs and cats from Cesar Millan (Dog Whisperer):

Dog Not Getting Along with Cat

Hi Cesar:

I just adopted a two-and-a-half-month-old Blue Nose pit bull. She is pure-bred and very gentle but still a puppy. My challenge is I have two one-year-old cats, and they have been hiding since the dog came into our household.

The dog lunges at them to play, and it freaks them out. I think the dog just wants to play with them. What should I do to get them to all live together peacefully?

Cathi Lane

Dear Cathi:

The only reason that dogs or any animals will hide from each other is that they sense the energy from a newcomer is not stable enough. That would be the reason that they are hiding. Because the reaction of the cats is to run away from the dog, it makes sense for the dog to go into predator mode – and remember, dogs are natural predators! – and keep tapping into their weakness. Because he is a puppy right, now he is coming from a playful point-of-view, but if we don’t start regulating the behavior right now, this playful behavior can turn into hunting behavior, or dominant, territorial, or aggressive behavior.

The cats don’t see your dog as a “scary pit bull”; they see him as the unstable energy he projects, so we have to make sure we empower the cats by lowering the energy of the dog. That means that whenever the puppy is around the cats, he is in a low-level energy state. That means the puppy has to be vigorously exercised before he comes and meets and greets the cats. That way, the cats will begin to sense a softer energy coming from the puppy. The cats are already overwhelmed, and they are clearly telling you they don’t trust this dog. It’s your responsibility to keep the family balanced by keeping this dog at the highest level of calm-submission possible, in order for the cats to become calm-assertive in front of him. You do this consistently and with discipline and eventually the cats will tell the dog what to do. Then the cats will be safe to be with the dog. Of course cats can bully a dog, too, so the behavior can totally turn around to where the dog can be hiding from the cats if you empower the cats too much. It is important to understand balance and be able to read the energy of your animals, so no matter what species you choose. your whole household will always remain balanced and peaceful.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan

 

[DMRick]

You do good work.

Thank you. I like to think so..almost 400 kittens have passed through my house in 8 years. I have 3 playful ones here now, found on a freezing day, in the underground roots of a tree.

Because of what I saw next door (and it will never leave my mind), however, (my group is great, they let me make the choice since I'm the foster mom) I do not adopt out my kittens owners of the breeds on the list. I've had too much first hand experience. Do they get angry at me? Yes, but my babies come first and I have to do what I feel is best. Kittens are stupid..they will tease the heck out of a big dog and run..and the dog runs after them.

I think in the OP's case, unless she can separate the animals, I would rehome the dog to a cat/young child free home.

 

[pixiewings71]

I own a Siberian Husky. She is the sweetest dog I have ever known. However, I would never trust her around my chinchillas. Huskies have a strong hunting instinct - and they can't help themselves. But she doesn't always hunt. Sometimes she just wants to play with small animals - particularly moles and mice in the back yard. I swear she just slobbers them to death then brings them in as presents. (There's no blood or signs of trauma - they are just soaked in Husky slobber. In fact, they probably died of fright.)

OP - I'm so sorry for your loss. If you don't keep the Husky, please find a Husky Rescue group. You can find one online. They will find a suitable foster home until they can find a good fit for a forever home. DH and I plan to do Husky Rescue someday. We love the breed and have a good set up with our home and yard for this type of animal.

This really means nothing. My cat had NO signs of blood or trauma, she was breathing heavily but that was it, she was simply breathing as if she'd been running from a dog, which she had been. The damage was 100% internal, the neighbor's dog literally crushed my cat to death. This is what your dog is doing to whatever he's bringing in the house. He's not breaking skin but he is crushing the prey to death. They aren't dying of fright, altho I'm sure that's part of it. My cat lived until we were about 3 minutes from the emergency animal clinic, my regular vet isn't equipped to help so when I called them (after I found out what happened, I was inside when the attack occurred and didn't see it) they sent me to SPEC (the emergency clinic). It took Rogue about 30-45 minutes to completely die, we didn't realize there was a problem at first and again I didn't even know it had happened. I was in my bathroom and my oldest DD witnessed the attack, she went out to get Rogue, brought her inside and told me what happened, we called the vet, the recommended we take her to SPEC, we left. Rogue died on the way, there was nothing that could be done. The vet thought she had been run over by a car the damage was so severe, she was so crushed inside that the vet thought it was a car not a dog.

Not at all - she's talking about the LIVING cat. You're stating she is talking about the dead cat.

Would you like to read it again?

The OP had the dog for 2 weeks. After a week of getting the pets used to each other and seeing them interact without any issues I think any of us would have assumed things are fine between the pets. It's not like this happened on the first day of the animals meeting because she let an unknown dog roam the house.

I feel awful for the OP because I'm sure this was very traumatic for her and I don't blame her for what happened. But what bothers me is that she seems to be:

1) Considering keeping both of them, which I don't think is an option even if she kept them apart. It would be cruel and unfair to keep the kitty locked away from the family.

2) Considering keeping the dog and getting rid of the cat. I just can't imagine why she would keep a dog that killed her cat AND get rid of a cat who was there before the dog.

If this were me I would immediately rehome the dog to a home with no other pets and no children. I can't even imagine even still wanting or loving a dog that killed my cat. (I understand it's just the dog's instinct, but still...)

Thank you. I like to think so..almost 400 kittens have passed through my house in 8 years. I have 3 playful ones here now, found on a freezing day, in the underground roots of a tree.

Because of what I saw next door (and it will never leave my mind), however, (my group is great, they let me make the choice since I'm the foster mom) I do not adopt out my kittens owners of the breeds on the list. I've had too much first hand experience. Do they get angry at me? Yes, but my babies come first and I have to do what I feel is best. Kittens are stupid..they will tease the heck out of a big dog and run..and the dog runs after them.

I think in the OP's case, unless she can separate the animals, I would rehome the dog to a cat/young child free home.

You do good work!! We have 2 cats and a kitten right now. The cats we adopted from someone who rescued them, we talked long and hard with them about cats and dogs (we had our GS mix at the time) and kids before we made the choice to adopt. That dog was a rescue too, he lives with my DD22 and her DDalmost2 now, he's the best dog ever. The kitten we have my DD14 found on a cold wet rainy night, no Momma kitten so DD brought him home, he had a sister but she didn't make it. Tigger, the kitten, is now almost 4 months old, he weighed .5 lb (yes, half a lb) when we brought him home, today at the vet he weighed in at 5 lbs. He had his last set of shots today, his next visit will be for his neuter & rabies shot. We told DD when she brought the kittens home we couldn't keep them, then we lost Ninja (one was black, Ninja, the other was orange, Tigger, they were our Halloween kittens, found on 10-20 lol) and she was heartbroken, she got up with Tigger and fed him every 2 hours, gave him his medicine (antibiotic just in case) and made sure he was cleaned, ie she gave him baths! LOL She has been his Momma since he was 4 weeks old, on Christmas Day we told her she could keep him, she cried. Our dog (mini doxie) thinks the kitten is hers, she cleans him, she plays with him, she "protects" him from the other 2 cats, they are best friends. It's the cutest thing ever. BUT we weren't sure how she would react to the kittens so we were very very careful, if she had shown any signs of aggression there is no way they would be in the house together. I'm not sure what we would have done, the dog belongs to DD11 and has been here longer, I'm sure we would have contacted a rescue had there been problems. But I will say I'm sure glad there aren't problems, we love that little kitten like you would not believe.

I still stand by my first post, OP you need to rehome the dog. Call a rescue, make sure they know that he killed your cat so they can put the dog in the right home, that's what rescues do with dogs. The rescue we got our GS mix from had a dog that had aggression issues, I can't tell you how many times the rescue group told us they had her back again because someone was stupid and didn't follow the rules they gave when they let them take her. She couldn't be around other dogs, cats, kids, she had to be with adults only, no one listened and she kept coming back to the rescue. A good rescue will find the right home for the dog!
And YES the DOG should absolutely go, the CAT was there first!!!!

 

[mhsjax]

And I've spent decades doing my part in owner education IRL and right here on the Dis.


Well you and I both know that uneducated, ill-informed and uninterested owners are a big part of the problem of many bad dog behaviors. Complacency, or believing "your" dog will never bite, is a big mistake that, unfortunately, is very common.


Bingo. Or socialized.


While this is true, there are many owners of small dogs who create bad behaviors in their dogs and they are very much menaces as well, especially to children. They can rip apart and scar a little face pretty well, too. I myself have had three bites in my lifetime - all from small dogs. I've had a lifelong scar on my hand to prove it.

In the case of my favored breed, German Shepherds, I think a big injustice has been done to the breed. Way too many people get them for protection, don't train or socialize, and in many cases actually train them - on purpose or inadvertently - to bite. (Although their bite is different than most dogs' bites. They generally do not maul. They are more likely to give a one time bite when they're warnings go unheeded.) There is nothing better than a well behaved, well socialized German Shepherd dog, in my biased opinion. They are a very dedicated, intelligent, noble breed of dog. But in the wrong hands, they can bite, for sure. And sadly, it's seen too often. However I've also seen that just about every mutt known to man gets listed as a German Shepherd. Whether they actually are or not is another story.

But I digress. My original points were that not all Huskies bite, that any dog can bite, and that aggressive dog lists aren't always all they're cracked up to be.

You do good work.

I love German Shepherds, but personally never owned one. The ones I have come in contact with are very socialized and very well trained. Also these dogs that I have encountered would literally die before they let anyone, especially children in their family be hurt by someone. It is amazing to see the protective and gentle nature they have with the kids in their human families.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I do not adopt out my kittens owners of the breeds on the list.

So you wouldn't adopt one out to me, then?

Three of my dogs:

This is the danger of "lists", IMO. They give people a false sense of security and don't take into account responsible owners. Here, we can't get a cat, yet the cat may be placed into a home of a dog not on the "list" and that dog may very well harm the cat. I don't get it.

We welcomed a family of cats into our home a couple of years ago that we rescued from under our shed. Mama Cat was a complete witch to my dog, yet my dog acted like a complete lady with her and her kittens. This is the same dog who grooms our hamster every night.

It really does depend on the training and socialization of the dog. Any cat coming into my home would be pretty safe despite the German Shepherd that lives here. My DH and I (and our kids, who I've trained to train) would see to it. I know there are many Dis-ers here who also have dogs and cats, and some of those dogs are also on the Naughty List.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I love German Shepherds, but personally never owned one. The ones I have come in contact with are very socialized and very well trained. Also these dogs that I have encountered would literally die before they let anyone, especially children in their family be hurt by someone. It is amazing to see the protective and gentle nature they have with the kids in their human families.

Yes. When they are trained and socialized, they are really great dogs.

 

[OK!]

OP, I'm so sorry to hear of what happened to your cat! I've never owned a husky, but our neighbors did and it killed my cat when I was about 7 years old. Absolutely heartbreaking. The same dog later attacked our German shepherd and mauled him, basically destroying the muscles in his back legs. He lived through the attack but was never the same and ended up having to be put down well before his time because he just couldn't walk anymore. I'm sure there are thousands of stories of huskies that are wonderful and wouldn't hurt a fly, etc., but it'll be a cold day in hell before I own one.

 

[Tiggeroo]

OP - I am so sorry you are going thru this. I'm sure you are very distraught. I'm also so sorry some people need to bash you. This was an accident! A terrible one. I wouldn't keep the dog if you are going to have other cats though. It would probably happen again. I would go back to the person you obtained him from, if possible and ask them to take him back. If that didn't work I would contact rescue groups. The dog doesn't have to be put down. But I would probably not have him around animals or small children. I hope it works out. We had to have an aggressive dog put down and it was one of the hardest things I've done. Some extreme people blamed me. It was the animals instinct. This same instinct would serve him well in the wild.

 

[DMRick]

So you wouldn't adopt one out to me, then?

No. You can still get a kitten..just not from me. Others in our group may adopt out to you as will other groups. Just not me. Your dogs may be just fine with a kitten, but I have to go by my experience and my responsibility to these babies (and I appreciate our rescue group giving me that choice. If they didn't, I wouldn't foster). If I personally knew you, then it may be a different answer, but I don't.

 

[DMRick]

This is the danger of "lists", IMO. They give people a false sense of security and don't take into account responsible owners.

Again, the 'list' is made up by insurance company's and what their pay out because of claims. These are the dogs that have done the most damage to people. It's not just pulled out of the air. I'm going by my own experience, not what the insurance company has. I just happen to agree with them, except I would add cocker spaniels.