Neighbors' dogs attacked our cat. Are we being too harsh?

[Jool-e]

I need some more outside opinions on this. A few days ago our neighbors two pit bulls got loose and attacked our cat. He is doing okay but his hind legs are so bruised he can barely use them and he has several puncture wounds. He still has lots of recovery time ahead of him . He had to spend several days at the vets on IVs and medication and the bill came to over 600 dollars.

We have asked our neighbors to pay this bill and are planning on taking legal action if they refuse. Are we being too harsh by doing this? Our nieghbor is a school teacher (not sure what his wife does) so I know he has a limited budget, and it's not like he made his dogs attack our cat.

HOWEVER, while they are good people, they are very ignorant about keeping their dogs under control. The dogs have been loose before on another neighbors deck and they growled at her when she tried to open her door. They leave them out all day long, not letting them in until it gets dark and they have a very small yard. Also, if I had dogs that did this to someone else's pet I know I would feel terrible and obligated to pay the bill no matter what.

So...what do you think?

 

[LisaR]

Was your cat in your yard and the dogs came onto your property?

 

[pigletgirl]

No, I don't think so. I hate to generalize but pit bulls are notoriously vicious. Are they regulations on them in your town? If so you can definitely take action.

 

[DVCLiz]

I need some more outside opinions on this. A few days ago our neighbors two pit bulls got loose and attacked our cat. He is doing okay but his hind legs are so bruised he can barely use them and he has several puncture wounds. He still has lots of recovery time ahead of him . He had to spend several days at the vets on IVs and medication and the bill came to over 600 dollars.

We have asked our neighbors to pay this bill and are planning on taking legal action if they refuse. Are we being too harsh by doing this? Our nieghbor is a school teacher (not sure what his wife does) so I know he has a limited budget, and it's not like he made his dogs attack our cat.

HOWEVER, while they are good people, they are very ignorant about keeping their dogs under control. The dogs have been loose before on another neighbors deck and they growled at her when she tried to open her door. They leave them out all day long, not letting them in until it gets dark and they have a very small yard. Also, if I had dogs that did this to someone else's pet I know I would feel terrible and obligated to pay the bill no matter what.

So...what do you think?

Where was your cat? My opinion is that anyone with cats needs to keep them indoors always, so I'm unsure if the dogs broke into some enclosure on your property where you felt the cat would be safe, or if the cat was just roaming outside.

Dogs don't respect property lines so anyone who lets a cat out - even a cat who will usually stay close to home and on its owner's property - is taking the chance that an attack like this can happen.

Having said that, I would also feel it was my obligation to pay your vet bills if my dogs had attacked your cat.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I need some more outside opinions on this. A few days ago our neighbors two pit bulls got loose and attacked our cat. He is doing okay but his hind legs are so bruised he can barely use them and he has several puncture wounds. He still has lots of recovery time ahead of him . He had to spend several days at the vets on IVs and medication and the bill came to over 600 dollars.

We have asked our neighbors to pay this bill and are planning on taking legal action if they refuse. Are we being too harsh by doing this? Our nieghbor is a school teacher (not sure what his wife does) so I know he has a limited budget, and it's not like he made his dogs attack our cat.

HOWEVER, while they are good people, they are very ignorant about keeping their dogs under control. The dogs have been loose before on another neighbors deck and they growled at her when she tried to open her door. They leave them out all day long, not letting them in until it gets dark and they have a very small yard. Also, if I had dogs that did this to someone else's pet I know I would feel terrible and obligated to pay the bill no matter what.

So...what do you think?

What I think short & sweet no law to contain your cat, there are laws to contain dogs..doesn't matter the breed...would I feel badly expecting them to pay the bill ? Nope don't get ahead of yourself here re-legal recourse; have you followed up with them about paying the bill ? Hope Kitty will be okay & FWIW I agree re-cat indoors always, if it wasn't attacked by the dogs it could have been another cat, a car, etc

 

[emer95]

I'm so sorry about your poor cat! I'd be heartbroken if anything happened to my cat. I don't think you're being too harsh at all. It sounds like you're being very reasonable. Good luck, and I hope your kitty heals soon. Thank God he wasn't killed!

 

[cheermom1]

Was your cat in your yard and the dogs came onto your property?

I was going to ask the same thing. I do know that when I was a kid we had a boxer in our fenced yard and a neighbors cat would come in our yard all the time. We even told the owners to do something b/c we couldn't always be there. And sure enough our boxer got the cat and there was no cat left. While I feel bad about the cat it was their owner's responsibility to make sure he didn't come in our yard especially after we talked to them about it. The neighbor did try to sue us but he didn't get very far.

I hope your kitty is ok and everything works out. I do know that if the dogs were in your yard I can see making them pay. As it is the owners of the pets to make sure they are being a responsible pet owner.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My wife would be out for blood, so you sound like you have kept it in perspective. If they are the good people that you think, they will pay the bill gladly, thankful that your cat wasn't killed.

 

[kathie859]

1) Are they liable for your cat's vet bills? It depends on where your cat WAS when attacked. If the cat was in it's own yard, then heck yeah! However, if you were letting your cat roam the neighborhood, I don't think you're in any position to throw stones

2) HOWEVER, you need to report the incident to animal control. You say the owners are clueless owners. What if the next victim is a child? How would you feel having kept silent?

I hope your kitty recoups from her injuries. Maybe she'll be happier inside now. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[minkydog]

I need some more outside opinions on this. A few days ago our neighbors two pit bulls got loose and attacked our cat. He is doing okay but his hind legs are so bruised he can barely use them and he has several puncture wounds. He still has lots of recovery time ahead of him . He had to spend several days at the vets on IVs and medication and the bill came to over 600 dollars.

We have asked our neighbors to pay this bill and are planning on taking legal action if they refuse. Are we being too harsh by doing this? Our nieghbor is a school teacher (not sure what his wife does) so I know he has a limited budget, and it's not like he made his dogs attack our cat.

HOWEVER, while they are good people, they are very ignorant about keeping their dogs under control. The dogs have been loose before on another neighbors deck and they growled at her when she tried to open her door. They leave them out all day long, not letting them in until it gets dark and they have a very small yard. Also, if I had dogs that did this to someone else's pet I know I would feel terrible and obligated to pay the bill no matter what.

So...what do you think?

No, I don't think you're being too harsh. Your neighbors should be on their knees begging your forgiveness, wallet in hand. The sentence I bolded is very telling. Nothing like some financial pain to get someone to get serious about training their dogs. Be prepared for some pushback--"we don't have the money, they're really sweet dogs, blahblahblah". Your neighbor may not have made his dogs attack your cat, but the law says he's responsible for any damage his dogs incur. If you haven't called animal control, I think you should. How many neighbors are going to have to have an "encounter" with these out of control dogs before something gets done? Yesterday, the neighbors can't even go out on their deck. Today, your cat is seriously injured. What happens tomorrow? A child gets mauled? A little old lady gets knocked over and breaks a hip? The dogs go after your cat *again* and KILL IT?

Sorry, but your neighbors needs some sanctions. The fact that they know these uncontrolled dogs are causing problems and have not done anything to remedy it tells me that they are going to need a serious "come to Jesus" moment.

 

[merryweather20]

I need some more outside opinions on this. A few days ago our neighbors two pit bulls got loose and attacked our cat. He is doing okay but his hind legs are so bruised he can barely use them and he has several puncture wounds. He still has lots of recovery time ahead of him . He had to spend several days at the vets on IVs and medication and the bill came to over 600 dollars.

We have asked our neighbors to pay this bill and are planning on taking legal action if they refuse. Are we being too harsh by doing this? Our nieghbor is a school teacher (not sure what his wife does) so I know he has a limited budget, and it's not like he made his dogs attack our cat.

HOWEVER, while they are good people, they are very ignorant about keeping their dogs under control. The dogs have been loose before on another neighbors deck and they growled at her when she tried to open her door. They leave them out all day long, not letting them in until it gets dark and they have a very small yard. Also, if I had dogs that did this to someone else's pet I know I would feel terrible and obligated to pay the bill no matter what.

So...what do you think?

How did you have your cat under control? Did the dogs break in to your house?

 

[disneyfans95]

If the dogs came on your property and got your cat, then yes, you should seek compensation.

If your cat went on their yard and got attacked, then you are out of luck..

Either way, wish your pet a fast recovery!

 

[Mermaid02]

The dogs shouldn't be roaming the neighborhood and neither should your cat. It really depends on where this all happened.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Depends on where the cat was. If the cat was on their property then they should not be liable.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

How did you have your cat under control? Did the dogs break in to your house?

 

[Jennasis]

Make 'em pay.

 

[crashbb]

Depends on where the cat was. If the cat was on their property then they should not be liable.

What if it happened on neutral territory? As in, the dogs and cats were in the road or in a third neighbours yard? Just curious about the legal ramifications.

I agree with others that the neighbours are only liable if the cats were in the OP's yard (not sure about neutral territory, but I would think they weren't liable there either).

 

[princessmom29]

I think if the cat was on your property then yes, they are responsible for the bill. This thread is likely to get nasty quick when the pit bull owners here get hold of it. I personally am with you that they should be doing a better job of containing them. I have had the experience of exiting my back door to the neighbor's angry pit and having to call them to retrieve her before i could get out of my house. She was literally charging the door snapping and snarling at me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What if it happened on neutral territory? As in, the dogs and cats were in the road or in a third neighbours yard? Just curious about the legal ramifications.

I agree with others that the neighbours are only liable if the cats were in the OP's yard (not sure about neutral territory, but I would think they weren't liable there either).

I would think that if you have leash laws the owners would be held accountable for the damages.

 

[disykat]

The only time I would say it is NOT their responsibility is if your cat was inside their fenced yard. That is the only place their dogs should not be under their direct control.

I have a dog and even if something was in the unfenced portion of our yard and she attacked it I would consider us liable. It is our responsibility to keep her under control.

I'm not crazy about cats wandering about the neighborhood, but I've never seen one of them attack anyone. Some of the neighbors that don't contain their dogs however....