nearby aggresive dog chasing my cat

[rawlins02]

Thank you @Red Top Rescue for this helpful information.

Lexi is not quite as demanding to go out as much as she did before this incident. I sense some trepidation with the outdoors. Perhaps it's the cold, wet condition. I'm going to build a catio soon, likely in the next couple weeks.

I think it's wise to minimize time outside on supervised walks over the next couple weeks, in the hopes that outside time becomes less interesting.  We went for a 15 minute walk when I got home from work today. She's definitely playing more inside over the past few days than she had been when she was outside more. Could be that I'm able to transition her away from going in and out of the cat door, with me then watching her from the window. Soon she'll have the catio and closely supervised walks.  BTW, here's the big sunny area, with a cat stand I built, where she spends her days. This cat has it made in the shade!

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• rawlins02
• May 2, 2016

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• rawlins02
• May 2, 2016

 

[rawlins02]

I just spoke with animal control. This after I witnessed the offending Dog leaving its property once again this morning. This time to approach another dog being walked. Here one of the photos I took. Dog comes from the property in the background. The nearby part of my property is in the foreground. Obviously my cat will never be there again without me being there with her, and armed to the teeth.

The animal control officer is very understanding and sympathetic to the situation. Agreed with the 'escalating level of force' approach, and that a Dazer and pepper spray may send a strong message if used. I'd like to try them, even if my cat is not threatened, so that Dog associates me and my property with pain. 

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• rawlins02
• May 3, 2016

 

[zed xyzed]

Just be careful with escalation of force, it could result in them escalating issues if your cat goes on their property. It really is a difficult situation you don't want any harm to come to Lexi as a result of retaliation 

 

[Caspers Human]

I agree with that.  You are in a "Damned if you do and damned if you don't situation."

There's no completely happy ending in any scenario.

You say "associate your property with pain" but the way I would phrase it is, "teach the dog to stay out of places where it's not wanted."  If the black dog in that picture is the one that's been giving you trouble, it looks to me like all that dog needs is a good boot in the @$$. 

 

[red top rescue]

From what I read here, Lexi will NEVER be going on their property again.  The Dazer II has worked for me.  Dogs do not come and bark at my fence, despite the fact that people are less than vigilant about the county leash laws.  (Here we DO have county leash laws, so any dog on your property and not on a leash is definitely fair game.  There are not a lot of loose dogs here.  Usually they belong to new people, and once the new people get educated as to the law and also the dangers of annoyed neighbors with guns, most dogs in this neighborhood are confined to their own yards.  Also, a good law we have here says you may not tie your dog out on a chain, so you need a fenced yard or leashed dog walking.  There was one new person who moved here a few months ago and had three dogs that kept coming down to my property and barking at the cats through the fence.  Every time they would do it, I would go out with the Dazer and chanse them home, just walking after them, pushig the Dazer button in short bursts and say8ing "Go home!"  And they did.  They don't come down here at all anymore.  I don't know if the neighbor built a fence or what, but the dogs don't wander down here.

 

[rawlins02]

 
Just be careful with escalation of force, it could result in them escalating issues if your cat goes on their property. It really is a difficult situation you don't want any harm to come to Lexi as a result of retaliation 

Not an issue. She'll never get close to their property. Never has. She knows what's there now, and will be on supervised walks in my yard from now on. And the Dazer II is on the way.

Animal control paid them a visit. It's a Labradoodle.  They trained it to stay away from their chickens (it's like a farm over there) by using a device that emits a bear sound. Suggested we might try training Dog to stay away from Lexi using it. No, that won't happen. I'm building a catio and will train Dog with Dazer and pepper spray as needed. They actually said that's fine with them, should it come on my property.

So I'll be the crazy guy walking around his property with cat rubbing between his legs, swinging a stick. I'd really like to move to a nice big, secluded property away from other homes. One where multiple unrestrained dogs don't pass by on a daily basis, doing their business in my yard.

 

[rawlins02]

 

[red top rescue]

You might try putting a baby gate at the bottom of the steps.  That will make the deck a safe space for Lexi if she happens to get out and a dog is loose.  She should be safe on her own deck.  A friend of mine lost a cat to a neighbor's dog when she was just hanging out on the deck with her cat, cooking barbeque.  The dog came out of nowhere, up the steps, grabbed the cat and broke her neck with one shake.  There was no time for her to do anything!  Since then she did put up a gate, but of course it was too late for that cat.  Heartbreaking.

 

[rawlins02]

 
You might try putting a baby gate at the bottom of the steps.  That will make the deck a safe space for Lexi if she happens to get out and a dog is loose.  She should be safe on her own deck.  A friend of mine lost a cat to a neighbor's dog when she was just hanging out on the deck with her cat, cooking barbeque.  The dog came out of nowhere, up the steps, grabbed the cat and broke her neck with one shake.  There was no time for her to do anything!  Since then she did put up a gate, but of course it was too late for that cat.  Heartbreaking.

So idea is that Lexi easily bounds over the gate and up the steps, but dog, not being as agile, can't pursue as easily?  Or are you suggesting that this will help limit dogs from coming up steps and getting at her while she's on the deck?  I have to say, if a dog ever came onto my deck I'd be inclined to beat the snot out of it. Last year a neighborhood dog being walked off leash chased her up a tree in the back yard. I scolded the dog, it cowered on the ground, and I started whacking it with my fist. The woman escorting the dog was rather shocked. Guess I have short fuse... 

 

[red top rescue]

Or are you suggesting that this will help limit dogs from coming up steps and getting at her while she's on the deck? 

Yes.  My friend's cat was killed by a dog that came on her deck while she was there with the cat.  There was no time to stop the dog, it was over in seconds.  So yes, put a gate at the bottom of the steps so dogs cannot get on the deck at ANY time but particularly when Lexi is there.

As for leash walking, we had a case here recently where a woman took her little white fluffy dog out on a leash just on her own lawn for a late night bathroom trip and a pit bull came running at them.  She tried pushing her dog under the parked van to save it but the dog grabbed the woman by the leg and pulled her away from the van and the little dog came out and was killed by the big dog.  The woman ended up with severe bites to her leg and was in the hospital.  The dog is in custody of Animal Control and the case is still pending.

The point is, prevention is the best way to protect your animals.  I don't think a stick is much protection.  Pepper spray is better if you can get to it in time, but a gate is best of all because the dog will never get on the deck.

 

[rawlins02]

I'd have to constantly go over or around it, or take it down, as she'll likely go down the steps and over it all the time. I'm finding that after 5 days she's getting her confidence back about leaving the deck. Possibly not a hassle for me in the early evening when she's inclined to stay put. Once I Dazer all the neighborhood dogs a few times threats should be minimized.

 

[kittens mom]

I call AC over all dog issues, barking and astray. I had one of my SIL's filthy untrained beasts kill a cat sleeping on my porch feet from me. A sweet little feral learning to trust.

I promise you . The dog running loose is the one that will cause you problems eventually.

Our county ordinances clearly state dogs are not allowed to roam. Astray dogs are considered public health threats and a menace. The dogs often pay the price. The real public menace are the owners who are usually responsible for the damage their dogs do as well as the life of the dog when it has a bad ending.

 

[rawlins02]

 
I call AC over all dog issues, barking and astray. I had one of my SIL's filthy untrained beasts kill a cat sleeping on my porch feet from me. A sweet little feral learning to trust.

I promise you . The dog running loose is the one that will cause you problems eventually.

Our county ordinances clearly state dogs are not allowed to roam. Astray dogs are considered public health threats and a menace. The dogs often pay the price. The real public menace are the owners who are usually responsible for the damage their dogs do as well as the life of the dog when it has a bad ending.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

The owner of nearby Dog told animal control it's been trained to stay away from chickens using a bear horn. I really want to pepper spray that F-er should it ever set foot on my property again. 

Things will get easier when I build an enclosure on the deck. I just got an estimate from someone coming to replace old planks and paint it. I've decided to enclose the entire deck, as I don't really entertain out there very frequently, and mosquitoes are a nuisance in summer. Then I'll add a secure, enclosed walkway going to a nearby tree. Hoping she'll be content with this setup. I've started another thread seeking comments on catios.