Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    	I'm so sorry to hear about Spanky. I have the same problem
    	in my neighborhood, and whenever I leave a message on the 
    	dog officer's machine, they don't call me back. I guess they
    	don't think it's important. I just don't let mine out, after
    	seeing the neighbor's Husky walking down the street with some-
    	body else's dead cat in it's mouth! 
    
    	It's so hard to lose a cat (or any pet), esp in such a tragic
    	manner. (This same Husky got my pet rabbit, too). I don't know
    	what else to say, except I know how you feel, and it's okay
    	to hurt about it. 
    

    I am very sorry to about your loss.  some people are really just
    plain dumb.

    I am sorry about the loss of your friend Spanky.  Know that at least
    he was well-loved and will be missed.  Spend time with the other
    cat, because cats know when bad things have happened and they mourn
    just like you.
    
    Perhaps a hand-written letter to Mr & Mrs Irresponsible Dog Owner
    is in order...
    
    Cathy

    I am so sorry to hear of your tragedy. What an awful thing to have
    happen.
    
    Is there nothing that can be done, like calling the dog officer
    or the humane society? When it comes right down to it "they"
    dog owners broke the law by not having their animals  under control.
    
    I wonder what a letter from a lawyer would do? Many times you can
    find a sympathetic lawyer and they will write a letter for you
    for VERY LITTLE COST, and try for some remuineration as the cat
    certainly was worth a lot to you, and it might let those people
    know that you "JUST CAN'T LET YOUR DOGS RUN LOOSE" without paying
    the "fiddler."
    
    You certainly have my sympathy.
    
    Hug Harpo lots and that will help you both.
    
    Barbara

    I'm so sorry.  There's not much you can say to console someone when
    the loss is so needless.  Cuddle your other kitty, as someone else
    said, they know.  And let your neighbor know that ignoring the town's
    leash law doesn't make for a welcome neighbor.
    
    Mary-Michael

    I'm so sorry about the loss of Spanky.  My thoughts are with you.
    
    Jill

    You have my sympathy but unless you go after the neighbor to lock
    up his dog it may happen again to you or someone else.  There are
    more ways than one to stop that type of tragic thing from happening
    again.  Good Luck.
           Ken

    I'm so sorry for your loss, I couldn't reply right away because
    I had tears in the way. I wouldn't talk to the neighbor, I would
    scream to him, the dog officer, the humane society, and anyone else
    I could get to listen before it happens again. Besides having a
    cat, we have a dog and she is always on a leash, we even make sure
    we walk her where she can do her duty that isn't on someone's private
    property. People can be so irresponsible. ArHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
    Jan
    

    I am very sorry about your loss, as others have stated talk to the
    neighbor and the dog officer.  If that doesn't do any good go higher
    up and keep going until someone listens.  
    
    Cindy

    Much thanks to all of you. Cat people are OK. Your sympathy and
    advice are helping to make a tough day alot easier. I called my
    wife and talked she said she let Harpo outside and I'm glad because
    even tough we lost Spanky he was a free cat and not kept in. Better
    to die and have been free than to live captive and suffer. I know
    Spanky was happy.
    

    Damn!  I'm sooo sorry for you!@!!  You can't bring back Spanky,
    but, Hell hath no fury like a pet owner scorned!  I own two dogs
    and 4 cats....I truly sympathize with you!
    
    I would go to the  police station and fill out a complaint, then
    the dog officer CAN'T ignore you.  I'd notify the town clerk, the
    folks that license dogs and by all means get to the owners.
    
    I'm sorry, but if my neighbors dog killed my cat, I'd feed find
    a way to destroy the dog!  The owners of that dog are at fault and
    can be fined!
    
    If you cannot persue this, I'll help you!
    
    Again, I am so sorry for you...I'm so upset, I can't even type right!
    
    Jean

    Aren't you afraid that if you continue to let Harpo out right now
    while the dog is running loose that the same won't happen to him???
    
    I agree that the owners of the dog/dogs are at fault and unless
    you do something about it, the dogs will remain loose..
    
    SANDI
    
    

    I am so sorry to hear about Sparky.  I agree with all of the past
    replies.  GET THAT OWNER!  Talk to the Dog officer, file a report
    at the police station!  Something has got to be done!
    
    I also agree with Sandi.  Letting Harpo out right now could be
    dangerous to him if that dog is still running around.  I would keep
    Harpo in until you have resolved this.  Then if you want, let him
    outside.
    
    Holly, tabby, silver, snooks, micki, and legasea
    

    
    
    	I too add my sympathies to the long list.  Please keep an eye
    on Harpo, because one the dog knows a cat lives there, he'll be
    back.  I too lost my 16 yr. old Tabby to a neighborhood dog.  The
    cat was in his yard sleeping under the apple trees.  I called the
    neighbors and THEY paid for the Vet bill (he was alive when we
    got home and I immediately took him to the Vet, but he was too old
    and the injuries were too severe to save him), plus they paid for
    the cremation.  They OFFERED and I accepted.  I too own a dog and
    he thinks cats are fun to chase, but he is NEVER outside without
    supervision, but the cats are and THEY come into my yard.  I know
    it's hard to keep a cat under supervision, but is it my responsiblity
    when the cat comes into MY yard? It's a tough question.  I've got
    my dog under control and in his yard, but it's a tricky situation
    when a cat shows up....so far my dog has behaved and listened to
    me, and so far the cats as soon as they spot him run home, but I
    feel it's the cat owners responsiblity to keep an eye on their cat
    too.  Please do not think I am faulting you, since your cat was
    in it's own yard, as was my cat, but if I had to do it over again,
    I'd keep my cat inside and KNOW it would be safe.
    
    	Just my opinion.....
    
    	-Dee
    

    Also add my sympathies to the list.  It is truly devastating to
    have to suffer a loss at the hands of someone else's stupidity.
    
    If there is anything I can do to ease your suffering and help with
    the pursuit of the owners of the dog, please feel free to call on
    me at anytime.
    
    Kathy Morrell
    223-6188
    

    

    I am also so sorry about Spanky!!
    
    Another idea for going after the irresponsible neighbors:
    
    If you have a local paper write an article or editorial.  You don't
    have to mention any names (thereby avoiding a lawsuit against you
    if it was possible) but you can list your name and address.  You
    can be a lot of other people will figure out who the careless,
    irresponsible dog owners are!  That may help to get some local
    pressure going.
    
    One other thing, you might want to consider getting another
    playmate for Harpo--he'll be so lonely without Spanky!  (And
    there are so many unwanted, unloved kitties out there.)
    
    Again, I'm so sorry.
    
    Barbara

      How absolutely horrible and SO unnecessary!!!!!!
    
           In my town and all the surrounding ones as well, when things
    like this happen, it gets published in the paper. The cat owners
    can take the matter up with animal officer and the town itself.
    There have been many SUCCESSFUL banishings of these horrible dogs.
    A lot of the time, the dogs get put down. They are unquestionably
    a nuisance, and should not be allowed to be free. What's to stop
    the same dog from killing a child, or someones livestock and other
    pets????  You must take action!  Take it up with the town, get hold
    of that animal officer even if you have to go to their house at
    night. This is a serious problem which could get a lot worse if it's
    not stopped now. How do you know the same dog hasn't already been
    doing things like this?  Dogs like this are a real problem. The
    owners should definately be notified about this, and what your
    intentions are. And don't be happy when they say they'll keep it
    on a leash. You know it will get free - they always do. There are
    so cases of this in my town, and very frequently small children
    are often hurt as well as small animals.  There are some choices
    for you, but don't let them get away with it!!!  That dog should
    not be loose!
       Course, if all else fails, the other alternative is to load the
    double barrel, and when you're hurt and angry, that always sounds
    like the best solution.  Maybe it still is.
    
                                         Denise
    

    First, I'd like to express my condolences over your loss of Spanky.
    When I was 10 years old, we lost a cat to the police chief's dog, and I
    still have the scars from pulling a second cat out of that same dog's
    mouth, not to mention the horrible memories.

    While I understand that this is an emotion charged issue, and that
    people have some very strong feelings about how to deal with the dog,
    I'd like to ask that this note not turn into a shoot-the-dog battle
    ground as similar topics have in the past. If you have an opinion to
    express, please feel free to express it. However, if you want to flame,
    please do it off line.

    Deb
    co-moderator

    ...and, afterall, Spanky's owner is looking for someone to talk
    to rather than noters who are talking about "killing dogs" for revenge.
     I don't think that was Spanky's owner's intention, especially since
    he feels sad about his own pet's bad misfortune.
    
    Just my opinion.
    
    To Spanky's owner - my sympathies to you and yours.
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunky
    

    In my original note, I wanted to say I'd shoot the dog, and realized
    that would be less than poor taste!  I'm glad I left the line out!
    
    The next thing that peaks my interest is that someone mentioned
    a husky walking down the street with someones cat in his mouth...
    
    Was the dog that got Sparky a Husky by chance?  Unfortunately,
    as beautiful as huskies are, it is natural for them to do that!  I
    had a frightening experience at the shelter between a husky, a
    kitten and me!  Talk about scars! 
    
    Anyway...please, Keep Harpo in...and do pursue the neighbor issue!
    Most of us will help you if we can too!  I told my husband about
    you last night, and he just left the room!  That means he was hurting
    and could not look at me!  8^{ 
    
    Again, I'm sorry for what you are going through!  Can I help?
    
    Jean
    
    381-1008
    

    I, too, am very sorry and upset over your experience.  Our heartfelt
    wishes to you all.
    
    As for the perpetrators - the dog was only the natural instrument
    of the human's inconsideration and/or stupidity.  It is just possible
    that the owner will be sympathetic.  In any event, for Harpo's sake,
    and that of any other creatures in the neighborhood (kids, perhaps?),
    pursuing this to a resolution would be the best for all concerned.
    I too will offer any assistance you might require.
    
    Gary

    Five years ago, Sheba, my (indoor) bluepoint Siamese, escaped. She was gone
    for 10 minutes when we found her with front leg in the jaws of a neighbor's
    G. Shep. and she was being shaken like a dish rag. The dog was chained
    in his own yard. The dog's owner was so upset that they wanted to
    know if I wanted them to destroy the dog. As upset as I was, I tried
    to make it clear that it wasn't their fault or the dog's in this
    case. It would be bad enough if one of us lost a pet. Luckily, Sheba's
    only problems were shock and a mangled leg. An orthopedic surgeon
    spent hours putting the leg back together and even now, at 18, you'd
    never know she had been injured.
    
    On the other hand, one of my best friends had a pet rabbit killed
    by a neighbor's husky. It is instinct for Huskies to kill small animals.
    Lovely dogs in other ways, I believe it is up to the their owners
    to control them. Although the dog brought home "kill" almost every
    night, the owners refused to keep it tied or confined. The dog had
    attacked neighborhood children and small dogs tied in their own
    yard. The owners of the dog offered to replace the rabbit. How do
    you replace a rabbit that has been carefully cared for by a little
    girl for 12 years? ...and how do you erase the memory of that little
    girl going out to care for her aged, but healthy pet ...and finding
    it dead in a dog's jaws?  The dog was once hit by a train ...and died
    as the result of being struck by an Auto.  I'm sure if you asked
    them today these people would still say "It's cruel to confine a
    dog". Strange how people who love their pets can have such differing
    views on responsibility...
    
    Linda

    The idea of lawyers sound fine in principle, but in practice it
    is VERY expensive besides the three letters at $60 a shot in general
    principle we thought renumeration for lawyer services was in order,
    to start that type of action took many hundreds of dollars and we
    are pursuing on the grounds that just because justice is slow when
    things go wrong, that people should not be able to act wrongly just
    because they realize most people won't bother with the hassle. 
    It will take at least another year to be heard in court and we started
    in Feb 88.  If we had it to do over again, I guess we would have
    just stuck with letters and let the other go!
    
    Good luck in solving the problem.  I can just hear the neighbor
    now "  I paid $XXXXXX for this house and I can do what I want and
    if you do not like it it is up to you to move and sell out."  That
    is what we did.
    
    Cathy

    Just a quick update: It seems that the dogs in question are not
    local nieghborhood dogs but, a couple of strays. Which make it even
    more difficult to resolve.
    

I can certainly sympathize with you!! I had the same thing happen to my
Beau Beau just a few months - he was my baby -- and it happened right 
outside our bow window and we were sitting in the livingroom.  I had left
all the doors opens as I normally do when the cats go out, so when they 
want to come in they do.  Beau Beau had made it to the bottom stair and that's
where I found him - 1/2 hour after letting him out!!  I was very broken
up and his litter mate and playmate, Boo Boo was fading on us fast -- she 
would cry and look for him, wouldn't eat or drink and go into hiding. This
went on for a week -- at that time we had some personal tragedies besides. The 
other cats were just too old for her -- so we got Lightning (8 weeks old) for 
her to play with -- she's wasn't too happy at first but he's has such a
bubbly personality, that they are now the best friends.

My heart aches for you -- the only thing that got me thru was that we
had rescued these kittens from an animal shelter when they were 6 weeks old --
so he had at least had 8 wonderful months with us and he will never be
forgotten.  My arms still ache for him but all the wonderful antics he
used to do still live on. 

		Marian
		(mother of five felines)  

    I am so sorry to hear about the desaster that visited your home.
    
    Where I live there is also a cat killing dog, owened by people
    that are irresponsible. Up here in the small towns in western
    Mass a stray dog is very easy to deal with. If the dogs owner
    is not known to the dog officer the anaimal is put down.
    
    Kirk

    I'm sorry about your kitty....I would be devestated too...
    
    Please remember the dog was acting the same way a cat does when they 
    catch mice, birds, chipmunks etc....don't lock your other kitty
    up like a prisoner, I belive animals were meant to be free                 
                                                              
    Nature sure can be cruel sometimes...              
                                                       
    

         In many ways it makes it easier to fix the problem if the
    dogs are strays.  You don't have to fight a dog owner/neighbor
    to fix the problem.  You only have to point out the animal/s to the
    city and make sure they take care of the problem.  Not an easy
    thing sometimes but usually easier than having to deal with/
    make an enemy out of a neighbor.  Good luck.
    
      Ken