In the Dog House

Solemn wooos.

Mom says Im a very bad, very lucky dog.

Last night when she was walking me and brother, we spotted a kitty in the middle of the road. Brother & I were on a coupler attached to a flexi leash. Mom locked down the flexi to a short length and she slowly let us pull her toward the kitty then stopped a little bit away from it. Brother & I were soooo excited and curious, our tails were wagging as fast as they could!! Then the kitty stepped towards us and got mad and hit at us and then, I blacked out..

Mom says my natural instincts kicked in and I grabbed the kitty by the throat and wouldnt let go. She said she tried everything- telling me to drop it, prying open my mouth, she even tried hitting me over the head!! But she said I would not let go. The kitty was kicking and clawing at me, and I have a lot of wounds on my face and have to take these big pills. Mom says Im really lucky that the kitty wasnt able to reach my eyes because I couldve gone blind. He dug in right above my eyes and all around my muzzle, even in my mouth, with his back feet though. Mom got all scratched up too trying to help. Eventually I just let go and the cat ran off as fast as it could so mom couldnt even check it or take it to the emergency vet. :/ She says there was a lot of blood though...

She says shes really not mad at me, I dont even know what came over me, but she is still disappointed, and feels bad for letting us get too close. But, the cat did start it after all! We were all expecting the kitty to run off (I know Brock was hoping it would anyway! He likes to chase chase chase), but I guess he was a tough guy..

Mom says I better watch it at home, shes going to keep an even closer eye on me around our kitties now. I wouldnt hurt them mom! She says I might black out again though if something triggers my "pray drive", whatever that is..

Mom also wants me to remind everydog out there who has kitty family members that this is one example of why you shouldn't let your kitty friends outside unattended. She says when she was growing up her family always had indoor/outdoor cats and she's lost 4 kitties- 1 was hit and killed by a car & the other 3 disappeared. A couple years ago she lost her indoor kitty Charlie too when he snuck outside one day and died of unknown causes. And her mom's kitty has been hit by a car too, but luckily survived. She needed an extensive 5 hour surgery and lengthy recovery time though.

I'll leave you with this article by the HSUS:

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It's a Dangerous World Out There

Cats who stay safely at home are protected from many hazards: Traffic. Collisions with cars and other vehicles are common cat killers. It is a myth that cats are "street wise" about cars. Cats are intelligent and alert but, like most other animals, stand little chance against fast-moving vehicles.

Diseases. Rabies and other diseases that can be transmitted to humans are a serious public health concern. And free-roaming cats are far more likely to come in contact with other animals who commonly carry rabies, like raccoons. In fact, cats are more than twice as likely to become infected with rabies as dogs.* There are other serious diseases that affect only cats. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, as many as 15% of sick cats are infected with feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)—and many cats have both. These viruses are fatal and transmitted through contact with other cats. Disease is one reason that two out of three veterinarians recommend keeping cats indoors.

Poisons. Poisons exist on chemically treated lawns, in bait left out to kill rats or mice, and in auto antifreeze—which has an appealing taste—that leaks from cars.

Fleas. Free-roaming cats inevitably pick up fleas and ticks and then bring these pests into the home. Fleas can cause anemia, skin irritations, and allergies in cats—and transmit diseases to humans through their bites.

Other Animals. Other cats, dogs, and wild predators such as coyotes, raccoons, and foxes are potential enemies of cats and often engage in fights that leave cats injured or dead. Outdoor cats can suffer torn ears, cut eyes, abscesses, and other injuries requiring expensive veterinary treatment.

Cruel People. Shelter workers see cats who have been burned, poisoned, or otherwise tortured by children and disturbed adults.

Loss of Home. Fewer than 5% of "found" cats taken in by animal shelters are reunited with their families. That's why outfitting your cat with a collar and visible identification is one of the best steps you can take to keep your cat safe. In addition, having your cat microchipped provides a valuable backup ID system.

* Centers for Disease Control, 2000 data


*Royal*