Is there a Fairfax County ordiance or VA state law that penalizes the owner of a pet that kills a neighbor's pet. My dog killed my neighbor's cat this morning while I was out in the yard picking up tree branches. I'm devastated and don't know what to do. I put the cat in a trash bag but haven't discarded it because my neighbor might want to bury it or do something with it. I'm also thinking about not telling my neighbor. I'm a wreck. What should I do?!

No criminal law against what you described happening. Could be sued civily though. Just tell your neighbor. It's the right think to do.

************thing

Cats are not real pets. Don't worry about that. But you may want to think about your dog and the aggressive behavior. Don't say they have never done this before. Blah. Blah. You better get that dog some training before they attack something a little bigger and more important than a useless cat.

telling is the right thing to do but my neighbor is going to be distraught and probably won't speak to me again.

Tell the neighbor anyway. It's the right thing to do.

Anxiety Wrote:
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> telling is the right thing to do but my neighbor
> is going to be distraught and probably won't speak
> to me again.


This is why people should not allow their cats to roam free outside. My dog would love to chase some cats. But I keep him on a leash because it is what you do.

Don't ignore the poster that warned about your pup being aggressive. He/she could ahve something wrong that could change their behavior.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+3.2-6540

You have to tell the neighbor. They will be worried sick about the cat, and it's not fair to put them through that. Whatever you do, don't present the cat in a trash bag.

For better or worse, pets are considered property under the law. I would imagine the owner could take you to small claims court, but I'd be more concerned about a dog like that living next door, especially if I had kids.

I just don't know how this happened. My dog has never been this aggressive before and seemed remorseful after I yelled and finally stopped him but it was too late. I'm a wreck right now. I'm just going to have to deal with the consequences. I'm heading over to break the news.

Anxiety Wrote:
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> I just don't know how this happened. My dog has
> never been this aggressive before and seemed
> remorseful after I yelled and finally stopped him
> but it was too late. I'm a wreck right now. I'm
> just going to have to deal with the consequences.
> I'm heading over to break the news.

Good luck, you're doing the right thing, keep your dog on a leash next time.

Don't tell them. You dog will be tagged as aggressive and the county can take it and put it down. Just put the cat in the side of the road tonight after it gets dark. The neighbor will think it got hit my a car and everyone will move on with their lives. Nothing good will come from squealing on yourself.

Sooner the better. You might put him in a box before you take him over.

Leash laws apply unless he's in a fenced-in yard.

If it's deemed a danger, you have to get a permit and keep it in a fenced-in enclosure with a warning sign.

Tell your neighbor you're part Korean and you ate the cat.

Animal Control Wrote:
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> Don't tell them. You dog will be tagged as
> aggressive and the county can take it and put it
> down. Just put the cat in the side of the road
> tonight after it gets dark. The neighbor will
> think it got hit my a car and everyone will move
> on with their lives. Nothing good will come from
> squealing on yourself.

You're a disgusting selfish coward.

If killed kitty is still fresh I gladly pay $1.19 a pound.

My neighbor didn't take it to well. I'm just relieved I was able to get it off my chest. I still feel horrible about it.

Anxiety Wrote:
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> I just don't know how this happened. My dog has
> never been this aggressive before and seemed
> remorseful after I yelled and finally stopped him
> but it was too late. I'm a wreck right now. I'm
> just going to have to deal with the consequences.
> I'm heading over to break the news.

Hey, where do you live? I can help with your anxiety.

You did the right thing. I would feel bad as well but you would feel worse hiding. Good job on being a stand up person and doing the right thing...

I agree. You did the right thing.

Def do not tell them. No good will come it. Reward your dog for doing a good thing.

You have 2 choices.

1. You can say nothing, and lie by omission. Then you will need to play dumb. Can you live with your choice to remain silent?

2. Full upfront truthfullness on your part. Go to them with a short to the point story, and an offer to pay for a new cat. Perhaps a bottle of wine or single malt whiskey will help.

If you owned the cat what would you perfer? Tell the truth - It only hurts once.

You can follow up by offering to sponsor a cat adoption. They might not want to do it right at this time.

You can't bring the cat back. What's done is done.

Keep your mouth shut. Get rid of the body.

It sucks but its done.

eLester Wrote:
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> Sooner the better. You might put him in a box
> before you take him over.
>
> Leash laws apply unless he's in a fenced-in yard.


I believe leash laws only apply if your dog is running unrestrained outside of your property. If on your property there is still the potential that the dangerous animal law might apply.

The greatest damage is likely going to be relations with the neighbor. Most people will simply assume that their beloved pet couldn't possibly have provoked the attack, or even if they allowed their beloved pet to run free, it was solely the other pet owner's responsibility to prevent the attack. The second is of course bull shit. If you really care about your pet's welfare, then you need to make sure they are in a safe environment. That condition does not exist when you are allowing the pet to roam free.

Which brings us back to the first. The problem here is that we are talking about animals who haven't been socialized well enough to read each others cues. The dog comes up to the cat, possibly to scare it off or possibly just to check it out; The cat arches, hisses and then reaches out and takes a swipe at the dog with its claws; The dog then responds by catching the cat in its jaws, bites down crushing bones and internal organs and it is "good bye Fluffy".

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> eLester Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sooner the better. You might put him in a box
> > before you take him over.
> >
> > Leash laws apply unless he's in a fenced-in
> yard.
>
>
> I believe leash laws only apply if your dog is
> running unrestrained outside of your property. If
> on your property there is still the potential that
> the dangerous animal law might apply.
>
> The greatest damage is likely going to be
> relations with the neighbor. Most people will
> simply assume that their beloved pet couldn't
> possibly have provoked the attack, or even if they
> allowed their beloved pet to run free, it was
> solely the other pet owner's responsibility to
> prevent the attack. The second is of course bull
> shit. If you really care about your pet's
> welfare, then you need to make sure they are in a
> safe environment. That condition does not exist
> when you are allowing the pet to roam free.
>
> Which brings us back to the first. The problem
> here is that we are talking about animals who
> haven't been socialized well enough to read each
> others cues. The dog comes up to the cat,
> possibly to scare it off or possibly just to check
> it out; The cat arches, hisses and then reaches
> out and takes a swipe at the dog with its claws;
> The dog then responds by catching the cat in its
> jaws, bites down crushing bones and internal
> organs and it is "good bye Fluffy".


Which is the natural order of things. Dog's kill cats. Cats trespass on a dog's property at their own risk. No need to lose sleep over it. Next time, tell your neighbor to keep his shitty cats off your property.

Your dog is very, very dangerous. Once it gets a taste of the kill it will naturally become bored of killing poor little innocent kitty cats and may well move on to bigger prey such as babies and small children. One possible solution, to end this uncontrollably dangerous beast, would be to get an axe and take matters into your own hands....

We also don't know what breed of dog it is. Even it's been socialized, it has natural instincts that take over if it's an aggressive breed.

Did it happen in your yard?? Or, were you on common grounds and your dog was off the leash where he shouldn't have been? If it happened on your property, then tough shit for the cat, not your fault at all. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Sorry I missed this when it first posted. I consider myself to be an expert at these things. Being that your dog is antisocial, it will probably happen again. Please read my self help book below:



http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10583.Pet_Sematary

OMG my neighbor has been in such a state of grief and had a heart attack last night. I can't help but think it was the stress of not having her cat. I blame myself and feel terrible.

If she dies it might the answer to your problem

I wanted to go to the hospital to visit her but its snowing now. I'm a wreck!

I have a new cat for her. Dogs are no problem
Attachments:

Dont beat yourself up over it. Once we had painters in our backyard and they witnessed my dog batting a cat up in the air through the fence! Thankfully no damage done from what ai can tell. Just be sure to keep your dog fenced in or ona leash when outside the fence before other neighbors start freaking out and giving the dog a bad rep. Animals will be animals but just follow gje pet laws and you are covered.

Okay, at first look I thought this was a troll thread. After seeing OP's subsequent posts I started to believe in the story. Then we get to the ole "heart attack" post.

What's say you FFU....troll or no troll?
AYE

Where did this incident occur? If the cat was unleashed and running loose on your property, it was entirely the cat owner's fault.

If your dog ran into the neighbor's yard, you are at fault.

You are cold and heartless. Tell you're damned neighbor! They're going to be distraught either way. I wouldn't talk to you either if you killed my cat.

Troll?

Regardless, can't wait til your wonderful, tame dog kills a child. Explain a human body in the trash can, idiot

xx Wrote:
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> You are cold and heartless. Tell you're damned
> neighbor! They're going to be distraught either
> way. I wouldn't talk to you either if you killed
> my cat.
>
> Troll?
>
> Regardless, can't wait til your wonderful, tame
> dog kills a child. Explain a human body in the
> trash can, idiot
-------------------------------------------------------
The OP told the neighbor after some trepidation. Apparently, the neighbor has been grieving ever since and recently had a heart attack. OP thinks it because of the grief of dead cat causeed by OP's dog.

BTW: this shit sounds like a life time channel movie lol

Was the cat in the dogs yard? Was the dog fenced in or contained in another way? Was the cat on a leash? There are leash laws for both cats and dogs in Fairfax. My guess is the cat wasn't leashed and got in the dogs yard. Too bad.

This thread was an experiment. I bet a friend that I could get at least a dozen morons to bite on an obviously troll posting. I won, and my friend now understands how the media could easily dupe gullible Americans into voting for a total failure like Obama.

P.S. My neighbor passed away. It took some work with a pillow during my visit to the hospital, but she finally went with Jesus to join her cat. No more anxiety! Thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions!

Anxiety Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This thread was an experiment. I bet a friend
> that I could get at least a dozen morons to bite
> on an obviously troll posting. I won, and my
> friend now understands how the media could easily
> dupe gullible Americans into voting for a total
> failure like Obama.


+999999999999999999

Anxiety Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This thread was an experiment. I bet a friend
> that I could get at least a dozen morons to bite
> on an obviously troll posting. I won, and my
> friend now understands how the media could easily
> dupe gullible Americans into voting for a total
> failure like Obama.

--------------------------------------------------------
The story is true.

OK first of all when cat owners let their cats roam wild and free like a stray dog they immediately have a MUCH LESS LIFE SPAN than cats who are kept INDOORS. Dogs natural instinct is to chase and play with any small animal. If a small kitty cat gets into the backyard of a large dog who wants to play or chase the cat, cat hisses, dog bites, cat dies and whose fault is it at the end? is it the dogs, the dog owner, or the cat owner who let his cat become used to roaming outside with the possibility of being attacked, lost, stolen, or killed by another animal? SMART PEOPLE what do you think about it? Whose fault is it?? I think it is the cat owners fault. It should be animal abuse and the cat owner should be fined.

Korean BBQ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Your dog is very, very dangerous. Once it gets a
> taste of the kill it will naturally become bored
> of killing poor little innocent kitty cats and may
> well move on to bigger prey such as babies and
> small children. One possible solution, to end this
> uncontrollably dangerous beast, would be to get an
> axe and take matters into your own hands....

OP is an idiot bullshitter but he did bring up a real topic since most pet owners in this county have dogs.

logic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> xx Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are cold and heartless. Tell you're damned
> > neighbor! They're going to be distraught either
> > way. I wouldn't talk to you either if you
> killed
> > my cat.
> >
> > Troll?
> >
> > Regardless, can't wait til your wonderful,
> tame
> > dog kills a child. Explain a human body in
> the
> > trash can, idiot
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> The OP told the neighbor after some trepidation.
> Apparently, the neighbor has been grieving ever
> since and recently had a heart attack. OP thinks
> it because of the grief of dead cat causeed by
> OP's dog.
>
> BTW: this shit sounds like a life time channel
> movie lol

Anxiety Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This thread was an experiment. I bet a friend
> that I could get at least a dozen morons to bite
> on an obviously troll posting. I won, and my
> friend now understands how the media could easily
> dupe gullible Americans into voting for a total
> failure like Obama.


Haha, I was just reading through the thread and figured it was a troll at the neighbor having a heart attack.

P.S. You spelled "Boehner" wrong.

I have a confession. I started this thread and didn't realize people would take it so seriously. Then I made it worse saying I made some stupid bet. I've been wetting the bed thinking about this. Mom says telling the truth will set me free. I'll be in the 5th grade next year and I'm going to be a good boy from now on. Hand on my heart.

Anxiety Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a confession. I started this thread and
> didn't realize people would take it so seriously.
> Then I made it worse saying I made some stupid
> bet. I've been wetting the bed thinking about
> this. Mom says telling the truth will set me free.
> I'll be in the 5th grade next year and I'm going
> to be a good boy from now on. Hand on my heart.

That's stupid.

2 words = ASIAN RESTAURANT