What should I have done? -> Updated

[Naio]

A pitbull got my cat this morning. Cat is in the hospital and dog owner gave them his credit card. I finally have a minute to breathe, and am trying to think what I could have done differently, for next time.

I was in bed at the time, and groggy when I got up. I couldn't figure out how to get the dog off my cat. And the cat kept getting away, and then getting caught again. I didn't have a firearm. I threw rocks at the dog, thinking the distraction would help cat get away. That works with cat on cat. I forgot that I had pepper spray in the rig. That may have helped although it doesn't shoot far and the animals were in brush, not visible.

Dog owners, cat owners, what is the way to go in this situation?

After about 15 mins of searching I found the dogs owner and got her to get him off. Then I dragged her dad and his credit card to the ER with me.

But is there any way I could have got that dog off my cat sooner? I am not as strong as a pit bull, nowhere near.

Maybe I should have sprayed them with a fire extinguisher, or a hose. That might have taken as long as finding the owner, though, to get stuff to where the animals were.

I feel like I failed my cat.

[GypsySeniors]

So happy your kitty is home and on the mend.Please don't let him outside again...make him be an indoor cat!!!! And don't let the dogs owner walk away from his responsibility.Good luck and God Bless!!!

[Naio]

Vet intake lady got hold of the owner. He said his credit card was maxed out.

I cried, then wrote on a check, 'This check is NOT acknowledgement of a debt. The debt is P____ Q____'s (dog owner's name) and I will try to recoup it from him. I am just paying so I can take my cat home.'

Not very articulate, but I was super upset. Vet lady gave me the guy's name.

Cat is now home and under the couch, natural habitat of traumatized kittehs. He purred when I stuck my arm under and petted his ear tip.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Crossing my fingers the dog owner realizes he needs to do the RIGHT thing.

[Naio]

The plot thickens.

Vet says cat is doing much better today, and is ready to come home. He'll be 'in hospital' in the bedroom for a week or two, I think.

She said he MIGHT even be able to use a cat box if it is right next to his bed. I set up a waterproof, absorbent bed in case (in a 'cave' of sheets, to hide in).

And I talked to the actual woman who did the intake. She DID get the owner's info, and will make another attempt at contacting him.

As yet unresolved is the question of whether they will let me have my cat without full payment.

But the intake lady was nice about the situation and I have hope for some resolution soon.

[Wanderlost]

Naio wrote:
I had a bad shock on the phone with vet tech just now. When I arrived at ER with cat and the dog owner, and I was filling out intake paperwork, I asked dog owner his last name, to put him down as responsible party. He took the clipboard out of my hands and said he was writing down his name and address. He then took the forms over to the intake window, conferred with the woman there, gave her his credit card, etc.

Vet tech now tells me they did NOT get his last name or address, and that he is not on any paperwork as responsible party. And he is not returning their phone calls.

I feel dumb that I trusted, but the vet intake woman was right there when he said he was writing himself down as responsible party, and she bent over the form with him. I never imagined they were not doing what they said they were doing.

Is there anything I can do, legally? We are looking at about $1000-1500 in addition to the $1800 that he did pay at intake.

If they took his credit card, they have his name -- unless he used a stolen/fake credit card. But you should talk to the vet clinic owner about the vet intake woman not making certain he did put down his information on that form -- why didn't she in the first place? Collusion from acquaintances? She's one of his family? Under the table bribe? Something very smelly there.

Even if there's not collusion going on, the owner needs to make sure the paperwork gets filled out properly every time. Retraining, administrative penalties, someone gets fired -- the owner can do all these as needed to make certain it doesn't happen again.

You do need to file a police report and talk to Animal Control about this situation, since it's pretty clear now the dog owner isn't going to follow through.

[RVcircus]

Go Dogs wrote:

RVcircus wrote:
We keep our cats indoors with the occasional trip to the fenced garden and the dog is leashed or fenced. We have people that let their dogs and cats roam the neighborhood and I've had to chase off aggressive dogs in our yard. With kids that play outside it's always a concern for us. Sadly if that was my cat I would have killed the dog.

Even sadder-the dog and the cat were not at fault. The humans were.

I agree completely. Given the situation you need to decide to end it in your animals favor or do nothing and risk your pet being killed in your own yard. Unfortunately, taking action or inaction can result in the death of one of these animals.

[4X4Dodger]

Naio wrote:

dspencer wrote:
By all means I hope your precious kitty survives this. Let's hope this dog wasn't running loose and out of control, heaven forbid this could happen to a child or adult for that matter.

Yes.

4X4Dodger wrote:

If the Cat was in the dogs yard and the dog was protecting it's territory, I dont think there is much to be done. This is nature at work.

However if the dog was running loose then you need to call animal control and report this.

Nope.

The pit bull was running loose. The cat was in my backyard, 160 feet from the street, 500 feet from the dog's yard. The dog came into my backyard and that's where it found the cat.

I don't know if it would have done the same thing to a small human child in my backyard. Maybe if the child ran.

Then as I said you need to call animal control and the police.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Naio wrote:


Is there anything I can do, legally? We are looking at about $1000-1500 in addition to the $1800 that he did pay at intake.

Small-claims court. You should be able to look on a county parcel map to get his name and address. He's already stepped up and shown he's the responsible party by paying the first chunk. Take lots of notes and photos. Should be easy-peasy.

[magnusfide]

Naio wrote:
Thanks so much, everyone who has posted good wishes :). The vet is cautiously optimistic.

You know how you bond more deeply with some animals? This cat is like that for me.

Prayers for a complete recovery for your cat. Our hearts go to you both.

[GypsySeniors]

The dogs owner is a complete schmuck!!!!! What a liar and a cheat...he must live in the area...I would try to find out where he lives and file a report and complaint with the police and city animal control...I am surprised he got away with the deception in front of the vet employee... I am glad Kitty is improving...he is lucky that dog didn't kill him. Good Luck and keep us posted.

[Naio]

dspencer wrote:
By all means I hope your precious kitty survives this. Let's hope this dog wasn't running loose and out of control, heaven forbid this could happen to a child or adult for that matter.

Yes.

4X4Dodger wrote:

If the Cat was in the dogs yard and the dog was protecting it's territory, I dont think there is much to be done. This is nature at work.

However if the dog was running loose then you need to call animal control and report this.

Nope.

The pit bull was running loose. The cat was in my backyard, 160 feet from the street, 500 feet from the dog's yard. The dog came into my backyard and that's where it found the cat.

I don't know if it would have done the same thing to a small human child in my backyard. Maybe if the child ran.

[Naio]

Update:

Kitty is still in hospital. They are keeping him for another night because his pain level is too high to control with home meds. They have him on IV fentanyl. He has bruised lungs and a lot of muscle damage, but no broken bones or ruptured organs, etc.

I visited him today. He did not get up, but purred and reached for me whenever I moved away. I got him to eat about a teaspoon of food, the first he would take in 24 hours. After 20 minutes visit he was worn out.

I guess he will be spending a few weeks in bed when he gets home. At this point he cannot get up to use cat box or anything, just pees where he lies. But he will heal.

I had a bad shock on the phone with vet tech just now. When I arrived at ER with cat and the dog owner, and I was filling out intake paperwork, I asked dog owner his last name, to put him down as responsible party. He took the clipboard out of my hands and said he was writing down his name and address. He then took the forms over to the intake window, conferred with the woman there, gave her his credit card, etc.

Vet tech now tells me they did NOT get his last name or address, and that he is not on any paperwork as responsible party. And he is not returning their phone calls.

I feel dumb that I trusted, but the vet intake woman was right there when he said he was writing himself down as responsible party, and she bent over the form with him. I never imagined they were not doing what they said they were doing.

Is there anything I can do, legally? We are looking at about $1000-1500 in addition to the $1800 that he did pay at intake.

[GypsySeniors]

Naio...How is your kitty doing....I hope he is able to recover...thoughts and prayers are with him and you....I know it is a heartbreaking situation.

[Dave_Jeanette]

Go Dogs wrote:

Even sadder-the dog and the cat were not at fault. The humans were.

X2

[Go_Dogs]

RVcircus wrote:
We keep our cats indoors with the occasional trip to the fenced garden and the dog is leashed or fenced. We have people that let their dogs and cats roam the neighborhood and I've had to chase off aggressive dogs in our yard. With kids that play outside it's always a concern for us. Sadly if that was my cat I would have killed the dog.

Even sadder-the dog and the cat were not at fault. The humans were.