dog attack on cat

elsien

franklin.adele wrote: »

Ive been told they take the dog out to public parks and let it off its lead,they told me themselves they are aware of its history of being trained to kill small animals is this ok?! Surely is should be kept on a lead even though i dont think it would attack a person what about the other animals?

They should muzzle it in those circumstances. Personally, I'd use a lunge lead rather than off lead with a dog like that.

franklin.adele

charlie3090 im so sorry to hear about your cat,its awful isnt it,i want to try and prevent it happening again,i also found the rspca to be useless. I did contact the dog warden and he has spoken with them and they said they would make a more secure fence but he seems happy to leave it at that they dont enforce anything. I am going ahead with the small claims as she clearly said she would cover the bill in front of my neighbours. I do feel very bitter towards her she has her pet still and we have lost ours and my daughter and her friend are still having nightmares about what they saw its very traumatic though he put up a good fight according to her my cat made a mess of her dogs face which is one of her reasons not to pay though this whole thing wouldnt be an issue if she hadnt been negligent and she has told 3 different stories of how the dog got out makes me wonder if they are trying to hide something like its happened before. Thanks for you all help and support its very much appreciated and i now have a better idea of where to go from here.

sheramber

The police are not very competent on the Dangerous Dog Act unless a bull breed is involved.

Have a read of this

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q653.htm

franklin.adele

I wrote a pre small claims letter with the citizens advice and received a reply basically saying they are shocked because they thought we had come to an arrangement and they were upset i had sent the dog warden but he has said he is happy the dog is not a danger to people or other dogs and with the measures they put in place to stop it happening again. He told me they said they would put up a higher fence and said it could get out over the gate so they would make that higher but none of this has been put in place. I do feel they dont care at all they never apologised to my daughter for what she saw and has been through and dont seem concerned with preventing it getting out in the back over the fence. I emailed the local police to ask if they can do anything and they rang me back and took details and gave me a crime ref number. I feel like they have pushed me into going to the police but if it got out again and did it again i would feel responsible. It also looks like they are going to make me go to small claims aswell,they have put us through hell with what happened to our boy and it feels never ending. Have i done the right thing my heads a mess i could do with some advice from people who are clearer thinking and not involved directly. tia

Gavin83

franklin.adele wrote: »

I wrote a pre small claims letter with the citizens advice and received a reply basically saying they are shocked because they thought we had come to an arrangement

What arrangement do they think you’ve come to?

What do you actually want as an outcome to this? I’m not really sure why you’re involving the police or expect them to do, the dog warden has already been out and assessed the situation.

sheramber

The police have more authority than the dog warden to ensure that the dog is kept under control. If necessary they can prosecute under the Dangerous Dog Act and a court order can be used to ensure they do take steps to prevent the dog escaping again.

The OP says they have not take the action they said they would.

Paying the vet fees is also a reasonable request.

franklin.adele

They originally said they would "cover any vets bills" then back tracked when they saw it and said they would need to discuss it to then say they would pay a bit of it and needed to go away and discuss it again,just to get them to offer to help with some was difficult my sister did most of the talking i was to upset. When they left to "discuss" again we called the police for advice who said as i have witnesses legally they should have to pay. So there was no actual agreement,when i said this to her i was shouted at and told i wouldnt get money out of them and that my cat hurt her dog. What i want is for it to not happen again and the dog warden has spoken to them on the phone and said they told him the dog could get out over the gate (dont know if its happened before or if thats how he got out in this case for them to know the dog can do it) and they would make sure there was fencing put up at a height this wouldnt happen,i asked if he had set a time limit as i thought it was what they did like a dog control order but he said all he can do is turn up and see if its done. I have been checking and actually know their neighbour who has said she has mentioned that they fix the fence anyway as it is broken and she is concerned it will get into her garden and there are no signs they are going ahead with this and she doesnt think they will going off what she knows of them,she has complained of the dog barking late at night while they are out and the woman has said her kids are noisy when she brings it up. I want my little girl not to be hysterical when our other cat goes out and for there not to be a repeat of this for anyone else and i would like them to pay the bill as they said,we have lost our pet and my daughter is traumatised by it all i think we have paid enough and it feels as if they are not even the slightest bit bothered about our loss or anyone elses worries about it happening again,i would be gutted if it was the other way round not tormenting them with the chance it could happen again and causing financial distress.

Gavin83

In all honesty they should be covering your vet bills and I’m sure if you took them to court they’d rule in your favour. It does appear that this is the action you’ll need to take. Of course asking them to cover the vets bills is a reasonable request.

They’re clearly in the wrong here, I just wasn’t at all clear as to what you wanted as an outcome. I think you’ll struggle to get them to modify their garden in all honesty but you are of course welcome to keep trying.

franklin.adele

Bit of an update and request for further advice? I contacted the police,after a few weeks they finally came out to see us and gave a crime reference,took details and said they would speak with the owners,my friend who was there and the dog warden. Nearly 3 weeks on i just chased it up,i was told they spoke with the owners the same day who are sticking with the 3rd story that it escaped out of the 1st floor bedroom window and lept over a metal 7 ft gate and that they think it was a one off situation and that the case had been closed which was explained to me shortly after their visit? I never heard anything from them and assumed they were chasing it up with the dog warden,my friend never received a phone call as they said they would call her as her daughter was there and is terrified of dogs now as a result. He also said it was a case of nature taking its course chasing my cat,which i told him my cat was lay in next doors garden so was not chased,and that my daughter was scratched because she had hold of our cat,again not correct as she tried to pick him up but the dog lunged and caught her. I dont understand how they can think this is ok,the owners admitted to the dog warden the dog can escape from their back garden and said they would put up a higher fence to prevent it,it seems its ok for a child to be hurt if this dog gets out again because it would be their fault for being nearby??
"I spoke with the dog owners on the day I spoke to yourself. They appear to be responsible dog owners of a legal breed of animal.

On the day in question their dog jumped out of a window and this is why on that occasion it was able to run into the communal yard.

The dog is always on a steel restraining leash when it is in the yard which the owners have shown me.

The local dog warden has visited as you stated. They have no concerns with regard to the animal and I am satisfied that this is a one off occasion where nature took its course and a dog chased a cat and unfortunately your daughter had a hold of the cat and was scratched by the dogs claws, thankfully her injuries were not serious.

If you have any further concerns regarding the neighbours dog. Feel free to contact the local dog warden again and he will possibly make a second visit.

Crime number 134743E/19 is now closed as was explained to you shortly after my visit to your home address."
This is a copy of what they sent,it was not a communal yard it was my neighbours back garden also the dog warden did not visit he spoke on the phone with them and no one contacted me about this since the officer came round and he did not contact my friend,can i take this further? Im not happy they have done their job children and animals are still at risk the owners told different stories about how the dog got out,under section 3 of the dogs act its classed as being dangerously out of control as it injured a person and another animal and people are concerned for their pets and childrens safety out back?
Hope you can help!! I feel so let down all i asked is they make it safe and prevent it happening again i dont want the dog to be harmed.

sheramber

I feel so let down all i asked is they make it safe and prevent it happening again i dont want the dog to be harmed.



You do not want the dog harmed . What do you want done to 'make it safe and prevent it happening again?


This is by Cleveland police but may apply generally
https://www.cleveland.police.uk/contact-us/21905.aspx

https://www.victimsofcrime.wa.gov.au/I/if_police_don_t_lay_charges.aspx?uid=2520-8566-9332-6294