Pit Bull Mix Attack

[jrsygal37]

I'm very upset. I just found out that my neighbor's Pit Bull mix brutally attacked and killed a cat that was in his yard. I realize that this is somewhat different then a dog running loose and attacking because the cat was in his yard but even still I truly believe if a dog can brutally attack like this then it is dangerous. The dog's owner (The wife) was extremely upset. Hysterical over the fact her dog killed the cat. She tried in vain to stop the attack but could not get the dog off the cat. He just kept shaking it. She wants the dog gone but her husband said no. They've had the dog since a pup and he's probably about five to seven years old now. They now have two children. The oldest being three and an infant. The dog growls at the little girl when she crawls on the floor towards the ball. After the attack she contacted the vet who told her that it was completely normal for this dog to brutally attack and kill the cat because it was protecting it's terroritory. I could be wrong but to me protecting his property would be to chase and bark at the cat not brutally kill it and also continue even with the ower trying to stop the attack. I am such a wreck over it. I am petrified that this dog will get loose and next attack and kill one of my Yorkies. I do not walk my dogs. I keep them only in our back yard. The yard is fenced in with a cyclone fence but years back when the neighbor decided to get this dog as well as a Rotti (The Rotti was a sweetie and passed away a few years back) I also added a stockade fence in front of it as double protection. What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel that this was a "normal" thing for a dog to attack like this just because the cat was in his yard or do you think this dog should be considered a dangerous dog? Elaine

[QuickSilver]

That's a very sad story. I do think unfortunately that this is normal dog behavior. It sounds like basic predation to me. Smaller dogs go after gophers, squirrels and birds. Bigger dogs go after bigger prey.

Now as to whether this dog might consider a yorkie prey - that's an open question. It sounds like you have a secure fence and at least you are aware of the potential danger.

[RowdysMom]

I'm not sure it is normal behavior or not, perhaps, but I would still be very upset and I do think the dog might consider a yorkie "prey" and might attack. I am very afraid of dogs that attack, I would be so nervous - even with the fence.

[kalina82]

i think it was normal behavior. He did probably bark and try to chase the cat off the territory. well he won the game of chase and his "prize" was to kill what he was chasing off. He was defending his territory so you can't really blame him. if it was a squirrel you probably wouldn't think as much of it. If this was an isolated incident i wouldn't be worried. However you said that the dog also growls at the baby so THAT i would be concerned about. Sounds like the owners need to take the dog back to training or hire a trainer to come to the house to correct the dog properly. I wouldn't be too concerned about your dogs since they are in a secure yard. i'd be more concerned for the two kids. if you are friendly with the family then maybe you can suggest a trainer or behaviorist to help with the guarding behavior (his yard and the ball, for example).

[jrsygal37]

Even prior to the attack I was ALWAYS cautious with the fact two big dogs lived next door and that was irregardless of the breed. I'm really fearful for their two young children. I think the mom is too or she would not be telling her husband to get rid of him. It's a very sad thing. They had two this particular Pit and a Rotti. They truly love their dogs. They spent $5000 on the Rotti to have his hips fixed and then lost him to bone cancer. I really feel sorry for them. She was so so upset over the attack and tried everything to save the cat. My question really was not so much whether or not I should worry about my Yorkies ( I do that anyway. LOL) I'm really looking for insight as to whether this would be as the vet said "Normal" behavior or whether it should be considered dangerous and aggressive behavior. I have to boys and they play ball outside the house. Somethings this dog is outside of it's own house. It concerns me.

Elaine

[cataholic]

Three of my dogs will kill cats or small wildlife but they like other dogs even small ones and kids. Most dogs will at least chase a cat and if they catch it they will play with it usually. They don't always mean to kill it but it happens. If I were the owners I would not let the children around the dogs when they have toys or food. That is just dangerous anyway. Maybe you can talk to the mother about it.

[oopsmyhalofello]

What an awful situation for your neighbor (the mother) to be in. If I were in her place and my dog did that, and also growls at the baby then I don't care what my husband said the dog would need to be rehomed. As much as the dog is part of their family, the kids safety would need to take precidence. IMO

As far as the dog attacking the cat, it's prey instinct... would we worry if our dogs had killed a bird, squirrel, chipmunk or mouse. Probably not, because they aren't domesticated animals. I wouldn't think a dog would have the same thoughts though. I would be concerned about my smaller dogs around a dog that would kill cats though, sounds like you have a pretty safe environment so yours should be perfectly fine.

One question for you, if you are out walking your yorkie can your neighbors dog see you? If so what type of reaction does he give? We had a large breed dog in our neighborhood that would go balistic when I walked by their yard with my dogs. It was very scary and confrontational.. I knew without a doubt that it if was able to rip apart their chainlink fence like he was trying to there would have been a full fledged attack.

[BLowry]

I would think this is normal...Although I wouldn't want a dog that killed another animal...that being said...my BIGGEST concern would be that dog growling at the crawling baby!!! Can you even imagine what he could do to that baby!! And this HAS happened before..As much as I love animals..I would agree with the wife....I would have gotten rid of the dog.

[ARCHIE]

IMO, any dog who would violently kills another animal I would not want
nor would I be happy living next door too. I know dogs chase squirlles,
cat's and rodents but if a domestic dog tears it apart with force enjoying
it that's not a dog for me, Yorkie or whatever. That's just my honest opinion.
I would take this action, Elaine, as a precaution to be extra watchfull
over our babies.
I truly feel this woman needs to stand up to her husband and demand
this dog be re-homed for the safety of her children. Growling at a baby
crawling on the floor is enough of a warning in my eyes. It dosen't matter what kind of breed it is. It's her duty as a mother to protect her children and her husband needs to get real on this matter. If anything were to happen to that baby I would hold him soley responsible. There lives would never be the same.
Why take a change on an innocent baby's life? Ignorance is all I can
think of.
Be safe. I would feel sick also. Scary situation.

[chattiesmom]

You have every reason to be concerned. It is hard to believe that someone (hubby/dog owner) can be so blind as to the fact that if the dog was protecting property, and it growled at the baby for going near the ball that it would also attack and kill the child.

I hope that you reported the incident to Animal Control. In my area there are very specific requirements for keeping a "vicious" dog and right or wrong, certain breeds of dogs are considered vicious. Pitts and pit mixes are one.

[BamaFan121s]

It doesn't surprise me that the dog would attack and kill a cat in it's own yard. What DOES surprise me is the fact that the dog is acting aggressively towards the children! That is just begging for disaster. Any dog can react in an unpredicted manner, but when you have one that is already outwardly showing signs of aggression....!

Sorry, but if it came down to a question of my child's saftey, the dog would have to go. If the hubby didn't like it, he could go too!

[MindieRose]

I think it's normal dog behavior to go after a wild animal in the yard. I don't think it's normal dog behavior to go after another domesticated animal. They seem to know the difference unless they have never been around a cat. Some dogs just hate cats though, it's hard to say. Can't say I blame them. Even though I have 2 cats myself, I can totally see why a dog wouldn't like them. My older cat is terrible to the dogs, lol. That doesn't give them a reason to shred them to pieces though, of course

[greyacresmom]

I am hoping that you guys will take this to heart and understand what I am going to say.

"IMO, any dog who would violently kills another animal I would not want
nor would I be happy living next door too. I know dogs chase squirlles,
cat's and rodents but if a domestic dog tears it apart with force enjoying
it that's not a dog for me, Yorkie or whatever. "

Those that truly believe this, are truly being short sighted.

Many/most dogs are/can be preditors.

Think about it. Yorkies are trained to be ratters...Jack Russells were used to flush foxes out of dens. I am sure that they killed some in the process.

My Greyhounds will chase anything that really moves fast. If a cat were to come onto our property and the Greys were to see it..oh yea...sorry guys...that is what they do...they chase and kill. IT IS IN A NUMBER OF BREEDS.

My one Grey with his superfast movements was able to catch a bird in mid flight. Beautiful to see the gracefulness of these animals, yet horrid to think about.

Do they "enjoy tearing them to pieces?" I hardly think so. Mine tend to bring the bunnies that they catch and try to play with them in there bed. They never understand why they don't play. Cosmo even brought me a live bunny one morning. I am the one that gave it a heart attack when I tried to take it back outside.

Please, a lot of you talk all the time about how people say things that upset you about your dogs. Well this is one that really upsets me. You are taking a "general" about a dog and saying how you could not have one. Makes me feel very defensive about mine.

Granted, a lot of people on YT only know about Yorkies. I happen to know about a lot of different animals. I research any dog breed that I come across and try to learn something new about them everyday.

I also know that this wasn't something that was directed at me..but some of you are sadly grouping a bunch of animals together and saying how AWFUL AND SICK, ETC.

Please in a situation like this, it might be better to say how sad that it happened and how you hope that they can help the dog with training...

NOT ALL DOGS THAT KILL WILD LIFE ARE BAD. It is a breed characteristic that with greyhounds: has been fine tuned for 5000 years.

[BamaFan121s]

I understand that dogs can display their natural predetory instincts. I know that one of my girls would rip apart any small furry thing that moves if given the chance and just drools over my bird. (But yet is afraid of frogs!) That is not the part that bothers me--that I could deal with.

But in this situation, there is clearly a lack of training and disclipline with this dog and the husband seems very unconcerned by it. It's the fact that the dog seems to be viewing the children as it's "prey." The type of dog that it is all the more reason for concern. Not because I'm under the popular misconception that "all Pits are evil,"but because fact is, the dog is physically built in a manner that if it *did* turn on the children, it could seriously hurt or even kill them. A bite/attack from a dog like that is much different than if you caught a Yorkie on a bad day. Should the owners have implemented a more strict training process with the dog from the beginning? Yes, it certainly sounds like it. But when it's already to the point that you don't have full control of the dog, and the safety of the children are an issue...sorry, but kids first, dog second.

[Yorkiekids]

Having two kids in my house, and having the dog kill once I wouldn't take a chance with my kids.