Bo killed a cat

[jackie]

This is really hard to write, I still feel really upset by it.

Yesterday, I took the dogs out for a walk, then took them to field behind my house. A cat ran from one end to the other and Bo chased him into the bushes. I tried to go after him when I heard the cat hissing, but I couldn't get through the branches. I was calling Bo, but he wasn't responding, the neighbor's kids ran out and I made them get my boyfriend. I then saw Bo carrying a cat in his mouth on the other side of the bushes. Finally he came out with scratches on his muzzle. I leashed him, ran home, and put him in the bathroom, and went back to see if I could find the cat. I looked for fifteen minutes with the kids to see if the cat was moving, but couldn't see anything.

I feel terrible, sick to my stomach when I think about it. I don't know how to reprimand him for this, and am scared it might turn into a regular thing. He leaves my cat and the other cats in the complex alone, but the strays and unknown cats he always wants to go after. I haven't let him offleash since, and I just don't know what to do.

I wasn't going to post this, but I don't know who to talkt o about this. My boyfriend and friends think this is no big deal, That it is "nature", but I really don't want him to be animal aggressive.

This is more of a vent than anything. I just really hope he killed the cat, and it isn't hiding anywhere suffering. :(

[caseysmom]

Maybe the cat got away. It is nature, maybe you should get a long 50ft lead when you take him out if there are cats around.

I would be upset too that is a traumatic thing to go through for sure. {{hugs}}

[jackie]

I am planning on buying a huge lead when I am home for christmas, until then I have put two leashes together to walk him on.

I am sure the cat didn't get away. :(

[senorita02]

Last summer Face my Rott got hold of a neighborhood cat who was wearing a collar i guess it was the neighbors behind us, anyway i saw him shaking him violently in his mouth & then Senorita tried to join in, luckily i got out there in time and he dropped it when i yelled at him, and the cat ran up a tree the poor thing was afraid to come down for a loong time, but i know how u feel kinda cuz if they had killed the cat i would of been devastated, we have a lot of strays around and i really have to watch my two cuz they come into our yard once in a while.
It isnt your fault , they're all still animals and will do what animals do.

[caseysmom]

I am not sure what to do, its definitaly not going to do any good to punish him. I think when they see a running critter their instincts kick in.

[ramanth]

When our neighbors had Malamutes they found a stray cat dead in their pen. Not sure whether it was alive and thrown in or dead before it was put in there. Either way it upset them greatly and they buried it.

I've seen Kia chase stray cats but she's never bothered them once they stop running.

I'm so sorry you had to go thru that. If the cat is gone, it's likely it's injured but not dead. The cat would be right there where Bo left it.

[lv4dogs]

Punishing him won't do any good now.
It is nature but that doeesn't make it any better.

I would just put him on a long lead when you are anywhere where other cats may be.

[jackie]

I'm so sorry you had to go thru that. If the cat is gone, it's likely it's injured but not dead. The cat would be right there where Bo left it.[/

I couldn't get to were Bo left it, I just went back to see if there was movement in the bush, or if the kitty was crying. omg :(

[pnance]

I'm so sorry you had to go throught that. I agree with the others, though in trying to keep him on a long lead. It may be his nature and you may not be able to change that. Nikka my pointer/chow mix doesn't bother out indoor cats at all, but I'm fairly certain she'd hunt and kill an outdoor cat if I gave her a chance. I've never tested that and I hope I never will.

[tikeyas_mom]

i wouldnt be too worried about it
hes just got a small prey drive.
Tikeya leaves cats alone when theyare indoors,
but being outside is a totally different story.
she'd loves to chase them if she had the chance too.
I would try the long lead idea, or maybe take him to fenced in dog parks instead?
good luck, (((hugs)))

[Glacier]

I'm sorry that this happened. My dogs killed one of my own cats this spring--Dominique in my siggy. It has been one of the worst experiences of my life. But the dogs aren't to blame. They were just being dogs. Dominique was where she shouldn't have been and I somehow let her get there. Her death is my fault. My dogs are like Tikeya, just fine with indoor cats, deadly with outdoor cats. Dominique had somehow got outside.

There's no point punishing him. He has no idea he did anything wrong. I'd keep him on a leash, especially when off your property. I'm not sure about the laws in your area, but where I live my dogs could be declared "dangerous" for going after a cat if they were off my property. Keep an extra close eye on him with your own cats as well. My dogs knew Dom very well, but when she was in a different spot, they couldn't tell who she was or that they weren't allowed to chase her.

Again, I am sorry. Godspeed little kitty.

[jackie]

Thank you all for being so nice, I thought some people were going to bash me for not being in control of my dog.

Glacier, I am sorry to hear about Dominique.

[caseysmom]

Jackie, Stuff happens to all of us.

[Jessika]

That's why I NEVER let either of my pups off of a leash while in public. Charlie, anyway. He can't be trusted. Not because I'm afraid they're going to chase an animal and run off but just the thought of them getting loose and something, anything like this happening makes me upset.

Just don't trust him off a leash anymore??? And maybe the cat got away. If you can't find it, there's a good chance. :)

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I'm really sorry that happened. :( Once he found the cat, there was probably nothing you could have done. I remember one time when I was a kid our dog went after a groundhog, and wouldn't be called off for anything- I guess instinct just takes over. Hope you feel better soon.

[LKPike]

we had a similar thing happen a couple months ago. Frankie killed my baby chicken, we had her in the back birds room until she was old enough to put out with the other hens and rooster. I laid down to take a nap and about an hour later the conure and cockatoo started screaming, when I got up a few mins later found him outside with the baby chicken deceased. Its a "natural" thing, Greed, Jealousy, wanting to be protective of the ones they love, anything. Frankie probably did it out of jealousy because I was spending so much time with them but you really can't be mad at them for it. They don't understand why its wrong, and you can't really punish him for it. Just do evreything in your power to PREVENT it.

[cyber-sibes]

Prey drive is just one of those things I don't think you can train them out of. my dogs have always been very trustworthy with my cat indoors. But I caught them once chasing him outdoors, he went into their kennel, and I was really afraid they were going to hurt him. The huskies do kill loose animals all the time, mostly squirrels and rabbits, but fortunately no cats to date. Keeping a leash on them is really the only way to stop them if they start to chase something. Recall just doesn't work. Poor kitty :(

[poofy]

I hope you feel better, and that the cat is well and home :(

[jackie]

The only thing to do is keep him leashed, which makes me a bit sad, he loves his "free" time. I just got back from the morning walk and Bo just sat there and looked at me like, "let me go play mom".

We are looking at buying a home in the new year, and hopefully we can find something with a decent sized yard.

[Alysser]

I am so sorry you had to go through that! Sassy is great with cats. She has never tried to chase them and doesn't even care. I would be devasted to. That's why just in case Sassy changes her mind, I won't let her off the leash,

[areias]

Aww, I feel for you. Luckily mine haven't killed a cat, (yet) but they did get a squirrel once. It's kind of a horrible feeling, but part of life I suppose.

Would it be possible to get either a really long line, or an electronic collar? I'm not sure of yours or anyone elses feelings on e-collars, but it's a thought.

[jackie]

Would it be possible to get either a really long line, or an electronic collar? I'm not sure of yours or anyone elses feelings on e-collars, but it's a thought.

I am going to get a long leash. I don't think I would feel comfortable using an electronic collar on Bo, but using it my boyfriend on the other hand....