CALL 911 -- MY DOG IS A KILLER

[speckledhen]

It's very sad about how ill the poor cat was, but your dog was just doing what dogs do. I had a boxer mix myself with a strong prey drive, never left his fenced yard. Neighborhood cats would jump into our yard and he would execute them very efficiently without a scratch on him. It was just his nature and the cats werent where they should have been.

 

[Alleyoops25]

I would still worry about a sickly cat that just appeared. Some vaccines dont actually protect your dog from all diseases. We had a 7 month old dog that got distemper after he had the shots. Since the cat smelled aweful there is a really good chance that it had a injury some where that was infected.OR it could have had a urinary infection. We also had a cay who had chronic urinary infections. Every time she got one we could smell her. Since it was thin is there a possibility that you have a nieghbor that has become over ran by cats? I ask this because if the cat didnt have enough food, and it has been to cold out to catch anything it might have came to you to look for food. HOpefully that its the last two chioces.

As for your dog...He was acting on a instinct. usually a dog will chase anything that will run from it. Unfortunatly the cat could run fast enough. Now that he has kill a cat be warry of other animals near him. Just like when people say that after they kill the first chicken they become obcessed with killing more chickens. So now he is apt to kill other cats or even other animal. But there again that is something every dog owner needs to do. lets face it our dogs and cats arent four legged babies ( no matter how much you love them) but are naturally predators. And it never fails when there is a complaint against a dog who let's say kills a chicken. The owners of the dog 95% of the time will say "oh no, fido wouldnt hurt a fly" because they have forgotten that they have instincts that cant be trained out f them 100%. I am not saying you are a bad dog owner, in gact you sound like a very caring person. But I was tryiong to make you see that it happens to almost all pet owners who dont ever think their dog would kill anything. And then how shocked they ar when the dog goes and and kills something. I have also done this with my dog. And as sad as it was I was lucky that she ate my pet rabbits, not smeone elses animals.

You were doing the right thing, and i am sure you this will actually make you a better pet owner because you now know what your dog is capable of doing.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If the fence was one to keep Wally in, I think you need to do something so he can't jump it again once it is fixed.

 

[Justino]

barey it in the Pet Semetary lol im reading that book right now

what a bad dog!!!

 

[Picco]

I had a boxer mix myself with a strong prey drive

You would never guess it by their personality or their looks but boxers in my experience have an incredible prey drive. I have had one female in the past who was a chicken killer and I have one now that kills anything she can find. She is the sweetest dog and I trust her 100% with people but definitely not with other animals. She has killed chickens, ducks, robins, wrens, blue jays, gold fish out of the pond, a betta of the counter, and a fawn. She killed 5 garter snakes in one day and had them all on her bed when we got home (she knows how to clear a room!). Its really amazing that she can do this with that squished snout. She was socialized with small animals from 6 weeks on but this seems to have done little good, although she is great with other dogs. She is contained with an invisible fence so I don't have to worry about her getting the chickens anymore. I would recommend the breed to anyone because they are such sweet dogs that are easy to train and love to cuddle, but I have to warn people about their intense prey drive.

I would definitely take Wally to the vet to get revaccinated for everything and give him a really good bath... who know what that cat could have had. If possible take the cat's body so it can be tested for rabies.​

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

Sorry I did not mean to sound shocked ~~ I knew Wally was capable of killing something as small as a cat, I dont plan on letting him keep doing it though - so right now he is on a chain in the yard till the perment fence is put up ( the one they are using was a quicky job - when we moved here there was no fenced yard at all - so we had to do something to give them a yard )
Like with all our dogs, we start them very young with socializing - take them for walks in the park, cars rides, walk around the neighborhood, we take them to parades, block parties, the county fair, -- that way they see lots of people and all kinds of animals.
We have taken Wally to several places with us - they were having a july 4th party at the park and we took him - he would show interest in other dogs and give out this funny puppy bark wanting to play ( we never let him get to close ) he never once hurt anything, he does bark at horse's ( i think because they are bigger than him? ).
For the most part he is a great dog - listens fairly well, knows some very basic commands, house trained that kind of thing. We also know that he is VERY strong and full of energy and that together could be a bad thing LOL
I work with our dogs when they are pups - I play with the ears ( like a small child would ), I also put my hands in the food dish while they are eating so they are not food aggressive, I pull ( gently ) on thier tails - everything a small kid would do so when it happens the dogs are not alarmed.
They are also taught that when on the leash and someone comes up to pet them - to sit first - that way if it is a child they dont get knocked over ( once at the park a small girl came up covered in cheetos cheese - Wally REALLY liked giving her kisses LOL )

we do everything we can to make them good dogs - I am very sorry for the poor cat - but I will make sure Wally does not have the chance to do that again to another cat - I know if given the chance he would kill the chickens/ducks but it would be more like playing with them to rough rather than killing them for the fun of it - Wally is scared to death of little baby chicks - and the teenie weenie puppy we have.

Julie

 

[Beekissed]

I have read several articles and stories where dogs and other animals can sense when another animal is diseased and will kill it, even when it is out of character for a dog to do so. Instinct maybe? To protect his family and pack from disease? I think he should be commended! He probably saved your animals from being exposed to something. Unfortunately, he might have become exposed in the process, so it wouldn't go amiss to have the local animal control or vet do some tests.

 

[5.0 Clunker]

Bully breeds are great people dogs but not so great with other critters. I have a pit bull that is about four I love this dog and he is one of if not the best family dog I have ever had, I have horses and the chickens he has ever bothered the horses or the chickens or even the cats. I have never seen a more gentle dog around kids aswell, but.......the other day I bought home a full grown goat that I got from a buddy and it seems like every time I turn my back the dog is tring to kill the goat I have to make sure I tie him up when me or the wife arnt home.

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

We did take Wally to the vet - and he checked out fine, we also heard from the animal shelter that took the cat and ran some test - they said the cat was suffering from feline lukema ( sp ) and it was starving because it was unable to hunt for food since it was weak from being sick, also the cat had some serious fur issues going on - very dirty and nasty but they dont think it was mange. Wally got a booster shot - just to be sure - but he is acting fine - we have been putting him on a chain when we are not home - and during the summer months when they are able to sleep outside he will have to have the chain on during the night, but during the day when I am home and able to keep an eye on him he is allowed to go " naked ".

there have been several other cats around the house since Wally killed the sick one and he has not tried to get at them - he will bark at them but not try to jump the fence- so it must have been the smell of the sickness that made him attack the poor thing.
I even have a large black-n-white stray that jumps in the chicken yard and hangs out with them and the dogs leave him alone


Julie

 

[Moonwalker]

We have 4 dogs at the stables and they will chase and kill (and eat!) rabbits, moles and other small animals, even wild turkeys. But they won't touch any of the animals at the barn! We have run across cats out on the trails and they will chase them, but not the ones at the barn.