If a cat gets killed, is the dog owner at fault?

[Anonymous]

It happened with my sister's dog. It's friendly with people but it killed the neighbor's cat. The couple got emotional, upset and want her to burial services.

Is she (the dog owner) at fault? Should she be held responsible or that's too much? After all isn't that nature? Dogs hate cats since the beginning. Cats are a prey to them.

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

Her dog (well our family dog) just doesn't like cats. The cat got too close and so it got killed.

[Effably]

Should? Probably. Dog should not have been roaming the garden if no one was home/near. A cat being bit to death is not a quiet affair.

As for legal terms they differ a bit from place to place. Most of the time cats are treated as wild animals despite having owners. This means that the cat destroying your property would not lead to the cat owners holding liability. Similarly because it is a wild animal the normal "property" charges that pets go under would not apply.

Of course depending on the situation animal cruelty may or may not apply. As she reasonably should have been within earshot and dogs normally do not go for neck-snapping (although it happens).

As for the logic it has absolutely nothing to do with nature, and dogs and cats are by no means natural enemies. Cat people and dog people maybe, cats and dogs no.
The logic is instead about whether or not the animal can be controlled. Cats are seen as near impossible to control and that's the core reason for legal liability or in this case lack thereof.

But well, animal cruelty is a maybe depending on circumstance.

[crossdressingrihno]

Depends

Where was the dog located was it inside a fence?

If your dog is in your yard and it's fenced in then it's the cat owners fault because they let their cat roam about whenever it wants
It's actually bad to let your cats roam around freely people do it anyways because they don't realize what they're doing but it's actually quite bad also I can't tell you how much property damage cat owners are responsible for because it's a lot cats ruin property all the time including the property of other people

If the dog is giving free rein we got a friend or anything like that then yeah it's obviously the dog owners fault but yeah your dog in your property not your fault

[Daniela1982]

Depends on in whose yard the cat was in. If the cat came into the dog's yard that is the way the cookie crumbles. I am a cat lover myself and wouldn't want my cat killed. She is mostly an indoor cat. But cats like to roam and you can't keep them from wandering. They can get in a tiff with any animal out there. We have coyotes in our neighborhood and they have been killing cats. So no, it is not the dog owners fault. Now if the cat was in your own yard and some stray dog attacked and killed the cat then yes, the dog owners would be responsible as there are leash laws that are supposed to keep dogs from running all over the neighborhood and doing things such as this, or pooping in people's yards. In some states if a dog is attacking one of your animals you can legally shoot it.

[gabby100]

In the UK where i live. The dog owner is responsible for the dog. Outside it should be on a lead. And in some classes of dog they should be muzzled, the we are talking about. Farmers can shot dogs that worry their sheep.
But this is UK , in the US, THE LAWS COULD BE A LOT DIFFERENT..

[exitseven]

In my state if a dog wanders onto a neighbor's property and kills chickens or other livestock it is legal for the property owner to shoot the dog. The same goes for a cat.
If you have a dog it is your responsibility to secure it so things like this do not happen.

[UniquelyBasic]

As the dog owner she is responsible for her dog but they probably won't do anything to her as they may just take the dog away, if its starts to become a serious problem or the cat owners call the dog in.

[Asker]

My sister doesn't want to pay for anything. She believes she's not responsible but her dog wasn't loose, the cat was. The cat was on her property, porch when it happened.

[UniquelyBasic]

Well if it happened on her own property then she may get away with it.

[Jessica405]

Yes. The dog owner is at fault. A dog should be under control at all times, if outside an enclosed area, like a house.

The grey area is if the dog is in its own garden and a cat strays into the dog's territory.

[SnakeBoop]

Your sister is responsible for keeping her dog under control.
Unless the cat jumped into your sisters garden (even then, your sister has precautions she should have taken) then she'd be at less fault.

[lrina]

it depends. was the cat in YOUR backyard? if so, then it's not your fault. but if the incident didn't happen there then yes, you should have watched over the dog more carefully.

[t-8900]

The cat owner is at fault for letting their cat out of the house. If an animal can't be kept on a leash whilst the animal is not in their on property rhen they don't need an animal

[AviatorTom]

A pet owner is responsible for their pet. You are wrong about dogs hating cats and cats being prey for dogs. I know of several people who have both dogs and cats and they get along just fine.

[genericname85]

i would say this depends on who'se property it happened. because if the cat left you property, someone else can't be helt accountable for what happened to the cat.

[Asker]

It was on my sister's property, on her porch.

[genericname85]

well it's not in your sisters accountability to prevent the cat from getting on her property. it's the neighbors obligation to care about that.

[Passion_Devil]

If the dog ran free, I would say so. But if the dog is just in the yard doing guard dog stuff, you can't blame em. Cat should have stayed on its own turf.

[Apulu_3]

Depends. If the cat was annoying the dog and got killed in your sister's property then she isn't at fault.

[douride2]

There isn't enough information to make an informed decision here. Like where was the dog or cat leashed or unleashed?

[Asker]

The dog was unleashed but it was on my sister's property, on her porch. The cat was unleased and roaming around my sister's property.

[douride2]

I would think the dog owner shouldn't be at fault.

[Anonymous]

I would have thought so.

The dog is property.

The cat is property.

You own and are therefore legally responsible for something which damaged or destroyed someone elses property.

[TrillXHippy]

I’m so happy that I can read. It is not your sister’s fault end of story

[Twalli]

If a cat enters our yard and our dog kills it, the cat owner is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Depends whose property did it happen on

[Asker]

It happened on my sister's property

[Asker]

on her porch

[Opinion Owner]

So the cat came over there then I would say it's not her fault

[driven159]

where was the cat

[Asker]

Roaming around on my sister's property.