Poll

I am just curious of everyone's opinions. I have been in a heated discussion over this very thing in another forum. Here is the link so you can see for yourself why I am asking these questions.
http://www.terrificpets.com/forum/7640.asp

 

My dog Sentry 1/2 lab, !/4 pit bull, 1/4 chow, once attacked a dog, but it was because we were sitting under atree in the park and she was tied up and this other dog ran up on us and so she attacked it, she maybe got in a few bites (no blood on the other dog) before I, sitting in the ground in between them, kicked her off as she went to bite the other dog and bit me. That was 5 years ago and I still have the scars. But as she bit me, she immediately cowered away and the dog jumped on top of her, then her owner pulled her off. I didn't do anything really to correct her, because I thought she was protecting me from this other dog. She and I lived in the middle of the mountains in West Virginia in a tent for a year and I wanted her to be able to protect me in case a dog, bear person whatever attacked me, although I would never have trained her to attack.
But if she were to attack another dog just a random dog as we walked down the street, not a threatening dog, I would be very upset. I don't think I would be able to put her to sleep though. If she were to attack a cat and kill it or do serious harm to it, I would take her to a specialists to try to help her. If she attacked a person(non threatening) and caused serious harm, I would be extremely angry at her. I would try the behaviorists and stuff, but I think I wold be too worried about having her myself and maybe maybe have her pts

 

As much as we like to think our dogs are almost human, they're dogs none the less. It's in the dog's nature to prey on small animals and to protect its surroundings from other dogs. A lot of dogs are passive and get along fine with other dogs and smaller animals. Dogs raised around cats can be very tolerant of them. Same with other dogs. But in some cases a dog's prey instinct is stronger and they will harm small animals, example cats, rabbits, etc. I would find it cruel to put a dog down for what is only natural instinct to them. The only way I would if a dog would show a people aggression.

First I would try training the dog to ignore its prey instinct and dog aggression. If that did not work, I would try to make concessions in my home to keep the dog(s), cats separated.

If I was unable to achieve this, I would then think about trying to rehome the aggressive dog to a 1 dog, no cats family only.

A lot of people want to own dogs but don't want to take the necessary time it takes to maintain control. All they want to do is feed the dog, give it some water, and a pat on the head. When the dogs starts to do what dogs do naturally, they just want to put then down.

It's all about being responsible and making some sacrifices and concessions. If a person's dog is breaking through their fence and attacking the neighbor's dog, build a better fence. Don't take the easy way out and put the dog down.

 

I would definitely try everything possible with behaviorists and trainers. If this didn't help, I would have to look at rehoming the dog or having it pts, depending on the situation. But we would definitely do everything possible first to work it out.

 

I had to go post on tp. It was annoying me that everyone who was in favor of having an aggressive dog pts was saying the rest of you thought it was okay for a dog to kill a cat. I really don't think Gina thinks that is okay. The point is that if an irresponsible owner allows their dog to be in a situation where a cat gets killed, that OWNER needs to make sure it never happens again. The OWNER is responsible for the death of that cat, and the dog should not have to pay for it with his life.

 

Exactly Jamiya! That was the exact point I was trying to make. I in no way think it's OK for a dog to kill a cat nor do I think it's OK to allow dogs to fight with each other. When those circumstances arise the proper steps have to be taken to assure it never happens again. To say the dog should be put to sleep is absurd. In some breeds dog aggression and strong prey drives come naturally and that is why it is so important to be well prepared. The problem is people go out and get dogs without ever researching the breed. Then when less then desirable behaviors surface the owner is dumbfounded as to what to do and sometimes that leads to a tragic end for the innocent dog.

 

Been there, done that. I had a very large physically-oriented Shepherd/Malamute mix that killed 2 dogs - unprovoked. Both of the dogs were in our yard and Daisy killed them without hesitation.

First dog was a JRT who was in our driveway barking at our house. My son was 4 years old at the time and when he attempted to go outside Daisy knocked him on his keesta to get at the JRT - she got it and broke the dog to the point it had to be PTS (punctured lungs).

Next dog was later in the summer. My husband and Daisy had gone for a run and there was no one around on our street - not a soul. Everything was so quiet so when he got back he figured he'd let Daisy stay off leash while we were outside doing yard work.

An old poodle wandered onto our yard - Daisy saw it before we could get it. It was HORRIBLE watching what she did to the poor old dog who never even barked at her.

I loved Daisy and she was a wonderful family member but I could not keep a dog that would so ruthlessly kill another animal like that. Hell she was larger than my son although Daisy had never in her 5 years olf life even growled at anyone. But watching her wipe out those 2 dogs was nothing I wanted to see repeated. Even though the other dogs were in our yard I wouldn't wish that kind of death on any living creature - and my dog did it - that's why we had her PTS and it was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life.

 

I too just had to reply at TP. You can read what I wrote it's under the username sophie_12345_1999. It isn't right to pts your dog for what comes naturally. I would never consider that as an option.

 

I could not just pick one. This is a touchy subject. It all depends on if the dog was defending itself, or just blatantly killing. If in defense I would try an retrain if thats possible. I actually would not want my dog to not defend itself. But with the killing, as much as it would kill me I would have to protect all others and have it pts. Its sad. But some things have to be more important.

 

when my Daisy killed the 2 dogs there was no self defense involved at all. Those dogs didn't stand a chance in hell the moment Daisy trained on them. And to have the owners standing around in tears (although we never heard from the JRT's owners until Daisy killed the poodle) was heart-wretching. The poodle belonged to some people who were working in the yard of their house that they were putting on the market - the dog was 10 years old and just wandered away. The dog never once barked - didn't even see what was coming.

And I could never have given Daisy away and spend the remainder of her life wondering how she was being treated and I have had firsthand experience with that "if you can't keep her please call me" stuff - people never do they just hand a pet over to the next person in line. I wouldn't have done that to her.

There are no rescue groups around here for mixed breed dogs so my only option was the shelter, which 10 years ago was a kill shelter and they would have put Daisy down. So I rather have been the one to make that decision.

I also believe in the death penalty for people who take other people's lives with no regard.

I read the posts on the other board regarding this subject and it seems most people posting have never been through anything like this (yes some have but seem to think it's acceptable). I saw walk a hundred miles in someone's shoes first. As a pet owner/guardian I think it's unacceptable for anyone's pet, regardless of breed, to kill or maim another person's pet...if someone's dog came along and mauled my Sadie there's no way in hell I'd just shrug my shoulders and say "dogs will be dogs" - I'm afraid I wouldn't be very forgiving or tolerant.

My cats are inside only and I don't have birds or rodents in the house to tempt them. Yes they will catch the ocassional mouse inside the house but usually I'm pretty quick at getting said rodent and putting it in the neighbor's yard before the cats can kill it.

 

It would really ahve to depend like most of you stated. I know Smokey is Male dog aggressive and cat aggressive. SO I take the precautions to prevent anything from happening.

In any case a dog should be evaluated and steps should be taken to assure that it won't happen again.
Plain and simple. There are the rare occasions when a dog can have a slight Stroke, or brain contusion that just completely disorients the brain and they turn agressive out of self defense and become unpredictable. In that case, I can see the dog being PTS. A dog that continuously attacks, can not be retrained or helped, and despite every effort to keep him restrained fails, then there are no other optios but euthanasia.

But before people run off and pts their animals, they need to have done all the work possible to find out why this happened, what they could do to prevent it, and spoke with a behaviorist and trainer, and most importantly their VET.

 

This is what has always come to mind for me regarding dogs killing cats....Almost everydog i know LOVES to chase squirrels- they're usually too quick to be caught, but I know of a couple cases where a friend of mine actually found that their dogs had killed a squirrel or a rabbit, etc. Though it is certainly not pleasant to have your dog bringing home a dead animal, it isn't really frowned upon, and people certainly don't put their dogs to sleep because of it. What my question is, is how is a dog supposed to know the difference between a squirrel or other such small furry animal, and a cat??? To them, it is just another small creature to be chased and mauled-- I just think it's crazy that when a dog kills a neighbor's cat or something like that, that people actually consider putting that dog to sleep! I mean, it is their natural instinct to do this!! Granted, I think that dogs can learn to coexist with cats and learn not to hurt their "denmates," but killing a random cat? I just dont' understand how we can expect a dog to know the difference between a domesticated "pet" and a wild rodent!

Just my thoughts

 

Very true, puggleowner. It's a human thing to differentiate - the dog has no idea! Just like we are appalled at the thought of eating a dog or a horse and in some other cultures it is perfectly acceptable.

 

I agree Jamiya... Where we eat cows they don't....same thing I know.

But as Puggleowner said, Dogs don't know the diffrence unless taught the diffrence.
Like I said before. It really all depends on ALL the circomstances.