A warning

[Alysser]

My opinion might be unpopular here, and no I don't know what happened to make brody'smum feel this way but prey drive is a HORRIFIC thing to experience. Take it from someone who saw a cat kill a bird and not being able to do anything to stop it...this was years ago and I still remember the feeling vividly. While I have watched footage of wild animals killing prey it's different seeing your everyday house cat(or dog in this case) kill something. They're your babies, and you just don't expect that out of them. I've read some cases on here in which a beloved family dog killed a cat, the owners did understand this however the shock isn't so easy to get over.

However, I see where you guys are coming from to, I still call them my babies and the like, but it's not harsh to say something like that after witnessing such a thing it is a horrible thing to see sometimes.

Brody'smum, I'm sorry you witnessed something terrible, I really am but please don't hold a grudge to your pets. It really is only instinct.

[Karen]

I learned about prey drive when I was 4 years old, my neighbor friend had just gotten a baby rabbit. I was visiting ( just across the field, and she took it out to show me, set it on the ground, and my beloved Sheba killed it instantly, then set it back down. It didn't even look damaged, there was no gore, but our parents had to explain prey drive to us.'

It didn't mean Sheba was a bad dog, they explained, but that she had this instinct, and we should be careful to never let small animals around her.

[Twisterdog]

Dogs are both ... prey driven killers, and our cuddly babies. Humans are the same way ... our sweet cuddly little kiddos beat the crap out of each other on the playground sometimes, too.

Predators are violent, it's how they survive. We are predators, too.

I'm sorry if your dogs showed you their wild side. It is indeed ugly, frightening and disturbing. But it's also natural.

[BC_MoM]

My opinion might be unpopular here, and no I don't know what happened to make brody'smum feel this way but prey drive is a HORRIFIC thing to experience. Take it from someone who saw a cat kill a bird and not being able to do anything to stop it...this was years ago and I still remember the feeling vividly. While I have watched footage of wild animals killing prey it's different seeing your everyday house cat(or dog in this case) kill something. They're your babies, and you just don't expect that out of them. I've read some cases on here in which a beloved family dog killed a cat, the owners did understand this however the shock isn't so easy to get over.

However, I see where you guys are coming from to, I still call them my babies and the like, but it's not harsh to say something like that after witnessing such a thing it is a horrible thing to see sometimes.

Brody'smum, I'm sorry you witnessed something terrible, I really am but please don't hold a grudge to your pets. It really is only instinct.

Fair enough. It is quite traumatizing, but there should be no need for shock. I've seen a cat attack and maim a baby rabbit. Because of the high energy and adrenaline at flyball, I've seen a little Rat Terrier nearly kill a Border Collie.

I still think it is harsh to say "Brought home to me that I share my home with animals not cuddly toys and that they should be treated as such." I feel sorry for her pets that she is feeling that way right now.

[The Gnole]

I'm inclined to agree with the original poster, pets are first and foremost animals.
They are not your 'baby' and you are not their mumsie or daddy, you are their owner. By all means shower them with affection, regard them as companions or as something that brings you solace at the end of a shitty day......but dont think anything other than that they are responding to the care provider.
There has been mention that it is all down to instinct, so the animal shouldn't be blamed....in fact there is a post saying human children do the same. So you dont chastise a child for violence? If a partner is unfaithful thats ok...its only instinct to breed? I'm a meat eater, if I cant afford shopping does my instinct condone killing and eating your beloved terrier?
See my point? As humans we have the thought process, as animals they dont.....if instinct takes over they will kill, as all predatory creatures do.
All the original poster said was that they saw a side to their animals that brought home the true 'nature' of the creatures. And as a responsible adult/owner of an animal that has an inherent dangerous streak, her views have changed. There is no mention of punishment, lack of care or a bullet to the head for the animals action, just an honest statement that these are animals and she will now be treating them as such.