Dogs & Cats

As difficult as it may be for the cats, just looking at the situation, I'd say it would be pretty unfair to tell him to do something about his animal roaming free, so that your animals can do it themselves.

I'd say play it cool, especially considering the dog hasn't even DONE anything yet (aside from looking pit-bull-y)... once you catch it eating babies or something then you may have a case.

 

Cats usually are pretty good about knowing when to make themselves scarce. I wouldn't worry.

 

He might have installed an invisible fence or perhaps it was there prior to him moving in which is one reason he chose that particular residence. If you haven't seen the invisible fence dog collars, they usually have a box on them. It would seem odd that the dog would not stray from his yard, but maybe his dog is superbly trained. I'm pretty pissed at my cat right now so my outlook toward cats is very low. I'll ship my cat to your neighbor's dog so he can have a companion.

 

Once one cat is missing, and there is fur all over your yard.....THEN you can make a complaint etc.

 

I agree, your cats being outside is breaking the law.. so I don't think he is going to be too happy with you complaining about his dogs being outside breaking the law...

 

I have zero tolerance for roaming cats and dogs, for the people that feed them, or for their owners.

I'm sick of having items in my yards smelling like cat spray. Sick of having cat and dog poop in my yards. Sick of hearing cats in heat yowling in the night. Sick of worrying about a wandering dog attacking my kid.

I kill them. I have traps laid out on my property to capture them, and I have them picked up by Houston animal control, where they are undoubtedly put down (I hope).

If you own a pet, you should be a responsible pet owner. If you don't want the responsibility, you shouldn't own a pet. To let a pet roam around demonstrates that you don't care about the pet's well-being, and that you don't care about your neighbors.

I recommend you keep your animals on your property. I certainly recommend you keep them off of mine.

(note: I don't hate animals, just irresponsible pet owners)

-- droxford

 

Eeek. Where do you live?

 

nevermind, too easy.........

 

Droxford,

I agree with you completely. I have scratch marks on my hood from stupid neighborhood cats lounging on it like it's a day at the pool. I don't see any dogs roaming, just cats. If I had a truck, I would aim for them when I am driving. I already aim at squirrels in the road. I would like to set my cat out on your lawn so that you may do with him what you please. I hope he suffers a miserable death. I whipped his butt two days ago for spraying my uniforms I had set out to put away because they were on "his" space, which was the couch. Yesterday, he took a dump on my bed in retaliation. I am at the end. He is lucky I didn't catch him in the act or else I would've crushed his skull with one smack. I am ready to throw him against the wall. I hate him. DIE DIE DIE! I can not put into words the frustration I feel at this feline folly. I think I will hang him from the roof by his tail. Yes, that's what I'll do. I hope he dies.

 

Uncle Tim: If I knew your real name I would call the cops on you. You should be in jail for animal cruelty. And you definitely shouldn't be allowed to own pets.

droxford: You're even worse. Uncle Tim only beats animals. You murder them.

MR MEOWGI: Talk to your neighbor and find out what you can. If you care about your cats don't let them outside til you do. Even if the dog has an invisible fence or whatever, that won't stop your cat from going in his yard. A few years back my (then) girlfriend and I nursed a stray back to health from near death. Sweetest cat ever, but feisty. Got into my neighbor's yard and the neighbor's dog, which was totally vicious but at least fenced in, tried to eat it. Spent hundreds on vet bills and finally had to put the cat to sleep.

Definitely talk to the guy before the city though. Not cool to sic the city on him before you've let him know you're concerned.

Regardless of whether your cats have always been outdoor cats or not, though, it's really not safe to let them out in the city, dog or not. Too many feline diseases, etc. Sucks, but that's the facts. Good luck. Hope it turns out better for me than it did for you.

And I hope someone gets wise to those other two murderous thugs. Animal abuse is an early indicator of psychotic behavior toward humans. Those guys need serious psychological attention.

 

Unlike wild animals, cats are domesticated and can easily adapt to living indoors. We have given our cats the ability to be outside by creating a screened in area for them as well - the feel of outdoors without the safety hazards.

You also must consider the fact that it is FAR more likely your cats will contract infectious diseases including FIV and/or feline leukemia if they are outdoors.

If it comes down to the safety of your animals versus their desire to be outside, bring them in. They can live with being indoors. They may not survive outdoors.

 

Well...I agree with you on the responsible pet owners thing, but damn Droxford. What about people whose dogs escape their yard just one time? I know that my beagles managed to dig out one day, and luckily a neighbor of mine rounded them up and put them back in the yard for me (after blocking the area they dug out). Since then I have repaired the fence so it is virtually impossible for them to get out now - although there is always a slight possibility.

If it is a constant occurence and you feel that your safety/property are threatened, then I understand wanting to call the pound to get the animals off the streets. But if you would attempt to kill my dogs just because they got out once, I think that is a bit drastic. My dogs are like family to me, and I am far from an irresponsible pet owner.

 

I would really like to know where you live too. (not address just a general location)

Uncle_Tim - Well I'm curious about your location too.

One other thing, I was wondering if either of you too have any dogs or cats of your own.

 

I live inside loop 610, near the Heights. Inner loop subdivisions are teaming with stray cats and wild dogs.

If a family pet accidentally gets out a few times... well, that's just gonna happen. No big deal.

It's the pets who are frequently (if not constantly) let loose on the neighborhood that are intolerable. You should NEVER intentionally let your pet loose in the neighborhood. There's a reason it's illegal.

Uncle_TIm: I would recommend you send your cat to the SPCA or animal control.

Batman Jones: I don't really kill them. I just capture them, and turn them over to animal control. They kill 'em. Not only is it legal, it SHOULD be done. It helps control the stray cats and dogs in our city. That's why the city has an animal control department.

Jeff: I salute you! (again!) You sound like a responsible pet owner who truly cares for the well-being of his pet. Bravo!

-- droxford

 

almost forgot...

We (my family) currently do not own any pets, but I had pets growing up (dogs, cat, fish).

Our animals never left our property unleashed.

I want a dog, but wife doesn't want to get any pets until after our kids are a little older (I lost the argument because, in truth, she's gonna be the one taking care of the pets all the time, 'cause she's a full-time mommy).

-- droxford

 

I was just asking with the hope that I would find out who killed my cats. I'm in Spring


I have had my two cats die recently. Both of them in my backyard. One with a blow gun through his neck. (His name was Scamp.) I found him in my vegetable garden. He always laid there when he went outside. I know he was shot in that location because there was another dart in the ground where he was laying.

The other other one, Swinly, was poisoned in my backyard. She was laying against my backdoor when I found her. I found two bars of rat poison. One was either broken up and spread around or it was the one Swinly ate. The other was whole. I also found what I think are bb's, not sure though.

The only time they went out is when I was home and it was always for a hour, maybe two. I have never seen them outside of my backyard in the three years that I have had Scamp and the one year I had Swinly. Scamp would either lay in the garden or on the rocking chair. Swinly was the crazy one, She liked to sleep on top of my barbecue pit. She never looked comfortable, always had her back legs hanging off.

 

Droxford, Bravo. My congrats...

I have no respect for pet owners that can not control their pets, Its like a man sleepin round and then deciding not to pay child support. I was attacked by a dog when I was 5. ****ing owner couldnt keep a leash on his dog. I've hated dogs ever since. And to think he said that his dog doesnt bite, WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE TEETH FOR?
I personally would never go out and hurt a dog, but If one comes up barking to me in MY yard I will pick up a weapon(most probably my baseball bat). I hate it how people leave their dogs on the streets, I have little cousins that like to enjoy the outdoors, and in fear of these animals I can't let them stay in the frontyard without making sure someone is there.
Also Cat owners that let their cats roam around ought to fear getting run over by cars. I mean seriously I almost ran over my neighbours cat coz it was sleeping behind my rear wheel. Luckily it woke up at the sound of my hideous engine...

 

blatz.. wow that's horrible. the cats were in your backyard causing no one trouble. had to have been a sick person to do that.

 

Blatz - I'm sorry. That's terrible. Did you ever report that psycho? Not that it's ever right to kill anyone else's animal (unless they are immediately threatening your life at that moment), but especially when they were on your side of the fence... There must be some sick person in your neighborhood.

My cat was used to being outside before we adopted her. We converted her to being an inside cat/ only going outdoors with tight supervision. Too many bad things that could happen to her out there... not only cars and such, but those people who get a kick out of hurting animals (or who use violence at the first sign of getting annoyed with one). Remember how much bigger you are than these creatures, who don't know they've done anything wrong. I certainly hope no one on this bbs is capable of such a thing... though it sounds like some of them are.