My 12 year old lab killed a 5 month old kitten

[Karen]

As I said in the other thread, I'd consider rehoming the kitten, for its own safety.

[Animal _lover]

As I said in the other thread, I'd consider rehoming the kitten, for its own safety.

I thought of that very solution.
We actually have been trying to find a home for the hound since January to no avail. It is not that easy to find a good home for an animal.Needless to say the hound is staying here at our domain in the woods and the neighbors seem to be OK with the new dog that will visit their yard from time to time.
There are so many cats and kittens where we live that are up for adoption it is a bleak outlook upon first glance,but I will try to look into this a bit in a day or so.We are both,the wife and I , still in shock over what happened.It made no sense the dog has never ever been aggressive towards cats except when she had a bone and then it was just a growl and showing teeth.She is getting old though and so her demeanor may be changing.
In the mean time I am just keeping them separated.
The poor kitten is looking for her sister and calling out for her, this too is a hard fact to deal with for us.
Thanks for your comment.You are correct it is the best answer if it can happen.

[Karen]

Maybe if you have a local pastor you know, see if they know an elder who might be lonely that a kitten would cheer up!

[katladyd]

A few years ago, my precious Miss Kitty was killed by a dog. I would put the dog down because the humane society in our area said a dog that does that may attack anything smaller than itself in the future. Sure enough, we asked that the dog NOT be put down and a year later, it mauled the neighbor's dog and small child. We DEMANDED that the dog be put down then, and it was. I know you love your dog, BUT IT KILLED A LIVING THING!!!!!

[luvofallhorses]

Agreed with Karen. You have to think what's best for your kitten... rehoming her may be best so the same thing doesn't happen as your dog obviously has quite a prey drive and you can't train or love it out.

Sorry for your loss, but even if dogs are raised with cats there is still a chance prey drive could kick in. Prey drive is normal in dogs, they don't do it out of resentment.. it just happens.

[wolf_Q]

A few years ago, my precious Miss Kitty was killed by a dog. I would put the dog down because the humane society in our area said a dog that does that may attack anything smaller than itself in the future. Sure enough, we asked that the dog NOT be put down and a year later, it mauled the neighbor's dog and small child. We DEMANDED that the dog be put down then, and it was. I know you love your dog, BUT IT KILLED A LIVING THING!!!!!

I'm sorry for your loss but just because a dog "killed a living thing" does not mean it would kill anything smaller than itself. I have three huskies and a lab mix....any of them would kill a cat/small animal/bird if given the chance. They did kill a chicken and have killed several wild birds that flew into our yard. Does that mean they are going to kill a small dog or a child? My one husky is fearful of children and strangers so I can't say she's good with kids (though she's never tried to bite) but the other three are great with them. They know the difference between a child, dog, cat, bird, etc. they aren't dumb. My mom has two small dogs and she regularly dog-sits my dogs and my dogs do not try to eat her small dogs, and one is about the size of the chicken they killed (it flew into our yard). My dogs have a prey drive, they were born with it, it doesn't make them vicious child-eating dogs. I just don't let them around cats/birds/small animals.

As far as this case it sounds to me like the dog wasn't necessarily trying to kill the kitten since it was just a single bite she didn't maul the kitten. Older dogs can really change in personality I'm a groomer and I see a lot of dogs I've been grooming for years change when they get old. Dogs that would never try to bite do, they just don't have the tolerance they used to. I definitely would not let the kitten around the dog though if you can't rehome him then keep them separate like you have been doing. My older husky Nebo bit my younger huskies Keva and Skya in the face a couple of times when they were puppies. It was just a "hey I'm the boss leave me alone" bite he was not trying to really injure them but if they were a small kitten it could have been different. Sorry for your loss what a horrible thing to witness.

[Animal _lover]

Thanks one and all.
I do not think Tia was being anything ,but reactionary to the little kitten.I was so startled when this occurred I was trying to get her and the kitten separated and I am sure I over reacted as well towards the dog as I saw the kitten was doomed after the attack.It was more of a quick turn of the head and a snip more than an attack as the dog was laying in the middle of the floor.
I am trying to convince the wife that the kitten needs to be removed to a good home as trying to keep the kitten and the dog apart is a very difficult procedure.Actually rather taxing on the nerves for me.
Tia has had her share of problems growing up and has had both front legs operated on ,her stomach operated on and her right rear leg has a plate to hold the CCL together.She is twelve going on thirteen somewhat deaf and most likely does not see the best,but she never has shown aggression towards a cat except to half heartedly chase them off the cleared part of our property.My dear Brandy who lived until she was almost seventeen would catch field rats and bring them home.Actually brought a deer head home with a 3 point rack one time.We do live in the woods where people hunt.I do not hunt and never have just to be honest.I took the head and left it in the back of the property until some kid heard about it and asked if he could have it and I let him take home the skeletal head.
Friday the kitten gets neutered and then after she recovers hopefully the wife will see it would be best for the kitten to find it a loving home.
I do not ever want to go through the trauma I went through yesterday evening and I am still reeling from the loss .Nor ,more to the point do I want to endanger an animal.

Thanks again for all the comments.

[sasvermont]

I am glad you are doing ok now. It must have been difficult.

Maybe you could arm your kitten with an AK47.

As the dogs gets older, more problems may come up. To be safe, I could find kitty kat a new residence.