I would recommend that you find a community mediation center in your area. Mediation offers a way to express emotions and voice concerns, without having to resort to the formal legal system. A trained mediator will offer guidance in the process and cut down on the discomfort both parties are likely to feel in this situation.

File a small claims action to get some money to replace your cat. Sorry for your loss.

I understand. My cat was just killed by the neighbor's dogs and they won't even have the descency to apologize. I didn't want to seek legal action at first but now I'm going to because of their attitude and denial.

yesterday a lady with 4 irish greyhound dogs on leads came past my house without muzzles, one dog lunged and torn my cat to pieces , our neighbours had to restraint the other dogs , the owner could not get there dog to release our cat and was barely alive when got to vet , they cant belive she had survived due to ligaments missing ect, she was put to sleep. i want the police to acess her dog , she will not hear of it althou admitted her dog had done this before , as i said to her why didnt you use muzzles after that , to me she seems a very iresponsable dog owner and i want to take further action so it does not happen to anyone else , please does anyone know how i legally stand

our neighbor's dog just killed Biscuit today. We have had her for 13 years! :( Our other cat, Raja who we have had for 14 years is crying at the back door! I don't know what to do either....I'm just sad and hurt! Sorry for your loss - as I too know your pain

where was your cat when the dog killed it...I am sorry about the loss of your cat. Was the dog in your yard?

i have had neighboring dogs kill my pets too. i feel sad when stuff like that happens. im sorry that your cat was killed. ask the neighbors to secure any chains or leashes that the dog is put on and from there i cant think of anything else except to get another cat and hope for the best. sorry

hi i had my dog well he was a puppy i had him for more than 3 years and he use to like to play a lot he was little but then we had move for like more than 6 months to the new house but the neighbors dog was big so one time i took my doggy for a walk next thing you know he ran for some little dogs the dogs were chasing him so i coulnt cath him but i got him out of trouble the little dogs left i sceamed crying calling his name but i said he will come back because he hasnt ate breakfast so i put him his little food i had ran out so i went in a hurry to the store and when i came back my mom said he maybe out side were he likes to nap and i saw a fluffy thing in the next door house it was him i thought he was taking a nap he was died the big dog look so happy he just stand up and moved it was so hard but i rember that after that the nieghbors were takling and i said they have to do some thing about what happpen after all he had came back but he thought he could have play with the dog so he just killed him the neighbors were so like they didnt even care he just push my dog and they didnt say nothing they just went back to there house it was bad for me and my family but we felt bad so we couldnt do nothing my mom said neither money or nothing will replace him but the next 3 days of sadness i stup up and say i will report this dog i would fell much better but my aunt said he maybe had killed other little dogs and i would fell better to report him because if this accident happens again to the little dogs i wold fell worse for little innocent cretures i think we shold all the report the dog who killed our little dogs and cats because they cant stand just like that if we report them any ways they will be in a shelter were they take care of animals i went to animal contro and they when a dog kills animals he would kill humans because when kill the never would like to stop killing

If the pet was in YOUR yard, you have legal recourse to have the attacking animal put down or for the owner to receive warnings. So many warnings and the animal is taken. If the animal was off your property, you have no right to anything.

i truly feel for anyone whom loses a pet to age let alone another animal killing it, i come from 40years of parents that devoted them years to resuceing animals, i spent 20yrs myself i recuse cats, and all rodents and my animals are loved and cherisehed better than some parents do thier children, all my animals are my babys!i resuced a cat 20years ago whom then was pregant she had 2 kittens they passed away from being run over and on monday i buried my faithful rottie after 11years, now the one kitten from that litter i still had ginger she was 18years old and since she all my rotties life slept with her when she died ginger as not eaten, noe not 48hours ago a man that walks his staffie past my house without a lead ive told him 2times to leash it on the street as it chaashs the cats, now 48hours ago whilst i was in MY garden with ginger the man walked by the dog jump into my garden and chashed my 18year old cat around i was screaming for him to get the dog when he then shut the gate so the dog was trapped i didnt care if it ripped my arms off that cat was my baby, i tryed to grab the dog servel times whilst pleading and begging him to to something "what do you want me to do " he said, his wife stood there doing nothing, the chashed lasted servel minutes as my cat run for her life throught to my back garden were he still do nothing, i screamed at the woman evil woman i said say, "PLEASE THATS MY 18YR OLD BABY", SHE THEN CARMLY SAID TO HER HUSBAND (monster) go on get the dog, he then went to get the dog and pulled my cat from his mouth and said", its not bleeding", and throw my bay on the ground, no human being should have to live with what i show and how i will feel the rest of my life, the police were call and siad inless its a kid nothing can be done, the RCPSA said the same, "A CHARITY DEVOTED TO THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS, bullsxit. the man saaid it sholud have run faster, the wife said well at leaast my dogs alive and if it helps we will buy you a new cat. whats it a eyes for a eye.18years ive loved and attened evry need og my ginger and someone can get away with that.

i'm sorry for everyone who has lost a cat, dog or any kind animal. Its the owners to blame. I love all animals.

that's terrible. if it were me, i think the neighbors are responsible for allowing their dog to roam. This is why dogs shouldn't roam around!! If you dont want to put the dog down, then you should ask the neighbors to buy you a new pet and tell them that you do not want to see the dog out of their year/fence/house. Tell them that you will call the cops if you see the dog out. And, then dont bluff. Actually call the cops so you dont put other cats in danger. :-(

When I was 7, we had these neighbours who had 2 dogs, both were vicious, but the owners were to lazy to walk them so they let the fence open once a day and let them roam. My 19 yr old cat, who was still very healthy at the time, was sleeping on our front porch and the dogs cornered and killed her. My dog jumped out a window and tried to save her kitty, they badly injured my dog, who was a puppy. The people didnt get the point that the dogs should have been put down till they attacked someones child who was playing in a fenced in backyard. They always said "Their just playing!". Well they ended up taking the parents of the child to court for throwing things at the dogs to scare them away. They lost, both dogs were put down, they had to pay the equivalent of what the parents of the child would have had to pay with hospital bills, plus double the vet bills for my dog. And the owners were arrested and charged.

I'm very sorry to hear about your cat...

make them buy you a new one

I totally feel for you. I have well had 6 cats. My youngest cat was killed yesterday by a staff dog, who's owner didn't have a lead on it. My cat suffered a broken back and wounds that I have never seen before. He died on the way to the vets. The owner hasn't even been back to say sorry or anything. It was awful seeing my cat mauled and dragged all over in a vicious manner. More should be done to force dog owners to be responsible owners. It was no fun having my son see his cat in the that state, or seeing me clean up all the blood. I've got the police coming to see me in the morning. I doubt they can do much, but I won't be letting this drop. No animal should die the way my poor cat did. It's not the first time this dog has killed a cat, so I will do whatever it takes to ensure no other cat owner goes through this. Even thinking of taking the dog owner to the small claims court, not for money, but to make her have a lead on the dog and maybe a muzzle too. I hate to think what this dog could do to a child.

I have cats running all over my neighborhood. you can have one of them!!! i have any color you want too!!! :)

Ask for an apology.?

Our cat Buffy was killed last week by our neighbours dogs. We think he lost his balance up a palm tree, while hunting and fell into their yard over a high fence, we had never seen him attempt to climb near the boundary as he was scared of the dogs and kept well away. He didn't wander and was kept inside a lot especially at night. He was a lovely little puss of a timid disposition and I just feel so sad. He was so loved. We miss him terribly, he was only 18 months. I feel guilty as I was painting inside and didn't hear a thing. Although the dog's owners apologized to us they are not responsible dog owners and have had many out of control and neglected dogs over the years. In 25 years we have only lost one cat this way. Our neighbours also have cats and more kittens expected so I worry about the safety of their own cats. Talking to the dog control ranger was all I could do. Now we are in the process of building our fence higher maybe using a strip of corrigated iron. and putting iron around the trunk of the palm so no other cats can climb it. I am also thinking about an electric fence system designed specifically to keep the cats in. Actually we feel like moving. Keeping our cat inside all the time is not an option as we have a good backyard with gardens and trees that the cats so love being in. I feel very sorry for any one who has lost a cat this way.

I would just bring charges against the owners. If the dog is allowed to continue on this path he will kill more, and it may be a child he mauls next time. I'm sorry for your kitty, I watched my own cat get mauled to death when I was a child and it is a horrible thing to have happen.

my cat well kitten still as he was only about 7 months old got killed this morning by the next door neighbors dog. This is the second time in a year now. the same dog killed my other cat well Kitten of about 8 months old jasper too in the same way. next door never walk their dogs, they are always barking all the time through our high fence at the cats, but it was a cold stormy night last night and they have a shed with a hole in the front for their dogs to go in when its raining (because they never walk them and they only have a small back yard)so my cat like the one before even though he could of come in through the cat flap must have sought shelter in there and when they let their dogs out in the morning instead of taking the things for a walk the cats tried to escape but the dog got hold of them and squeezed the life out of them. its one of them snow dog type of things like half wolf. my cats are crying and looking for Boris now but i just had to bury him in the back garden. I hate that dog for what it has done and i hate it bloody owners, but i suppose there is nothing i can do apart to feel sorry for the poor dogs and their poor sad sad owners. the funny thing is though the dogs owner owns a pet shop and she neglects her bloody dogs. how sad is that. sado's

I'd ask the neighbor to buy me a new cat.

You haven't given a lot of information. Was you cat out unleashed? Did it enter your neighbors property? Was the dog unleashed? If you cat was out roaming then you were most likely in violation of the law. I know it's still sad and no animal deserves to die. The best you can do is to ask for an apology.

When I was a kid, we had a Siamese who 'owned' the neighborhood. Then one day 3 dogs attacked her together. They killed her, but not before she killed one outright, and damaged another badly enough that it had to be put down. We never got so much as an apology for it.

Maybe 2 weeks ago, my family had a small get together in my back yard, that lasted well into the night, when it was all said and done with the gate to my privacy fence wasn't shut all the way and my dogs got out. The next morning our neighbor comes over saying our dog killed their cat. We offer him our sympathy, and he tells us he's going to call the dog catcher. The dog catcher comes and tells us we have to either find a new home for our dog or it will be put down and we have 10 days. Now, i can understand how you're sad about your lost cat, but now not only do you feel pain but me (the dog owner) feels pain too. Some say I deserve it, but like i said the fence was left open after a get together me nor anybody in my family had any idea it was open. Honest mistake.. anyways we found a new owner for our dog who is kinda sketchy but i dont want our dog to be put down. He picked her up today and our other dog we've had since we've moved to the neighborhood is now whining, crying and running back and forth lookin out the windows for the other dog. It's easy to say "Oh that dog needs to be put down" or "the owners arent good owners and dont walk their dogs", or take the owners to court. But why not be the bigger man and forgive your neighbor and their dog(s) not make them suffer the same and sometimes even worse pain.. this wont bring your beloved pet back..

I am so sorry for your tragic loss. As the owner of four cats, my heart goes out to you. In my opinion, your best course of action would be to grieve your loss, forgive your neighbor, and find someway to honor the little soul that shared it's life with you.

A lady up the street from me had staffys that killed one of my 7 week old kittens early one morning. He was beautiful, grey and white, and she said I should have had my gate shut. I don't like having my gate shut because it sticks all the time and I think she should have had her dogs on leads. I didn't know the kitten had got outside and thought he was inside with his mother and two siblings. She offered to bury the poor little thing and now has the dogs on leads so I'm still on talking terms with her.

If you have a cat and it gets in MY yard, and my dog kills it. Tough. If you really, really love your cat keep control over it.I know it's a cat, but it's my back yard. I'm not going to punish my dog by not letting it go outside.

We have cats roaming our yard and peeing in the sandbox all the time. When the kids are in the backyard, the sandbox is uncovered and as soon as they come in, I cover it back up. We have had to replace the sand 4 times this year and also paid $100 to make covers for it. I've shellled out $500 for sand and wood to keep the cats out of the sandbox b/c toxoplasmosis can KILL MY KIDS. I don't feel sorry for anyone who ALLOWS THEIR ANIMALS TO ROAM. If your cat was killed in your neighbor's yard, it's no ones fault but your own. Next time your cat "sneaks" out or runs out the door, or you let it out, remember that you are endangering all of your neighbors children who may play in their urine and feces. Keep your animals on your own property, and if you can't please keep them indoors.

My 7 year old cat was killed last night by my friends dog. Crazy to see how common it is. I am so sad, he was my little man and I feel somewhat responsible because I allowed the animal in my house. My friend apologized and left crying. I havent talked to him since (he had driven from NY to visit me in Fla and just drove right back a day later). My cats brother just keept roaming around the house meowing, looking for him. My baby died in my arms. We buried him and placed a candle in the spot. He had a great life and he is now looking upon his little family that misses him so much! I am sorry for everyones loss on here and hope you find peace with your pets death. People please socialize your animals. If you know they are not good with other animals keep them away. Take NO chances. Thats the mistake I made. Here is the dog that killed my baby: http://unknownorl.deviantart.com/art/Primo-142000705

This is long. I am going to play devils advocate here. I will be as unbiased as I can be, seeing as I have two medium sized dogs. First, I will say that I empathize with the loss of your cat. I know what it means when we say that a pet is a member of the family, and do not want to minimize your loss in any way. I have felt the loss of a dear pet, and would be heartbroken to lose my two babies, Maya and Levi, a pharoah hound and coonhound. I wish your baby a safe trip over that "rainbow bridge". For the most part, there is no legal expectation in most cities and counties that cats should be on a leash. In fact, while there is a legal expectation that we should pick up after our dogs as well as restrain them (with the exception of off leash areas) while in public, the same is not technically expected of cats. So in this sense, legally, you win. Now, While I certainly empathize for the loss of your pet--I am going to caution you that you really should use your common sense when allowing your cat to roam at will. Think about what role your own personal responsibility may play in this. Let's consider the nature of most dogs. Most dogs were bred for some sort of function--my dogs were bred for hunting, for example, though they are not trained hunters and are not used for that purpose. Labs are bred for retrieving game, dachschunds/beagles bred for digging out small game, etc. My dogs have been well socialized around people, children, and other dogs. One of my dogs lived with cats for a good while, and I have pictures of them sleeping together. The other has not, and I would not expect him to behave as though he has around them. Dogs will do what they are bred to do instinctively. A small cat running around looks like prey, and they are inclined to go after it. ESPECIALLY if said cat is on their territory (did YOU allow YOUR cat to go onto your neighbor's property? If so, you need to think about your own responsibility in this) Would you honestly expect your cat to sit and play nice with a mouse running around on your kitchen floor? REALLY? What if the neighbor let his pet mouse roam at will, and let's say that despite the fact that you kept your cat on your OWN PROPERTY it happened to wander over to your place and run around in front of your cat? What would YOU say if the neighbor then whined and cried about how YOUR cat killed HIS mouse? Now what if it was a different situation--what if your free-roaming cat wandered out into the road and got hit by a passing car? Would you sue the driver? What would your argument be? "I wanted fluffy to roam fancy-free, so you should have swerved to avoid her if you saw her." If you wanted your cat to live another day, you would have done what veterinarians urge cat owners to do--the responsible thing--KEEP YOUR CAT ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY IN YOUR OWN HOUSE!

Dogs are animals. Animals that live by their own primal instincts. Its not their fault that they naturally want to hunt and sometimes kill cats. Big deal. The people who I have the biggest problem with are the people who act like dogs should be chained up and cats should always be allowed to roam free. I do agree that we should follow leash laws but this goes both ways. If your cat is not in the house it should always be on a leash. So when your cat gets killed its your fault. If you didnt want your cat killed your should have kept it safe in your house. Cat owners are all the same they never see their cat it just runs free in the nieghborhood because they dont want to be bothered with changing a litter box or having to constantly look after it. They dont care about their animals and they let them have free riegn to do whatever they want. This is why I can only laugh when my dogs tear a cat to shreds when it decides it was alright to come shit in my yard. My dogs are in my enclosed yard and they are defending my land. I would never apologize to a nieghbor for my dogs killing their cat. I have a beware of dog sign up so anyone who comes in my yard without my permission does so at their own risk from a legal standpoint. If anything they should apologize to me for their cat coming on my property. They are breaking the law and even if my dogs kill 1 cat a week they will never be put down and I will never be charged with a crime, because I am not breaking the law. I keep my pets on my own property, and the rest of you should do the same, or you might lose your pet.

beat the neighbor

I am sorry for the loss of your cat ... Was the cat in it's OWN yard or the dog's ? Just what do you want done ? You can't really have it BOTH ways . It is either compensation for the cat and/or have the dog put down IF warranted ... such as the dog was known to be vicious and was loose and came into your yard and grabbed the cat etc .. Sometimes; it is best just to let bygons be bygones depending upon the circumstances ... +5

Not really much you can do about something like that besides keep your pet in your home. Dogs are animals, cats get close to a dog then run or even worse, hiss at the dog, well, I am sorry that you lost you pet, but fences can keep dogs in their yards but doesn't keep cats out. +4

I don't know where you live, but here in Ontario there is a little thing called the DOLA (Dog Owners Liability Act). Even if your cat was on their property you still may be able to have the dog(s) assessed for their temperment and whether or not it is suitable to be kept as a pet in your neighbourhood. You may also have their property assessed that if their dog is prone to killing other domestic animals and deemed able to be kept in your neighbourhood then their property has to be secured to prevent other domestic animals and children from entering their property unwittingly. Just because the offence occured on their property does not dismiss them from liability. The only time they would be justified and not liable would be if a person was attacked during the commission of a crime on their property (IE: break and enter) and the attack was a result of the dog protecting persons or property. But for other domestic animals or small children who just wander on to their property - no. The important thing is to still report it even if nothing comes of it as a result of your specific cercumstances. This way there is a paper trail attached to that particular dog and owner. If there are further incidents in future then action can definately be taken. There is a huge difference between killing a mouse and killing a cat or other small dog. If a neighbour of mine had a dog that was prone to that sort of behaviour I would be concerned. If another domestic animal found an opening to get into their yard then it won't be long before their dog finds a way out. Bottom line - call the police or local animal by-law enforcement office and have a formal complaint made anyway. Better safe than sorry and you just may be saving someones kid down the road.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I think you have legal recourse if the dog came into your property and attacked the cat, but not if your cat wandered into his territory. What you would claim, I don't know. Practically speaking, funeral fees (if any). I don't know if you can get pain and suffering. Maybe you can ask for details from the Small Claims Court. I hope at least that your neighbours were very sorry. One's pets are very precious.

IM SORRY TO HEAR THIS,OUR KITTEN WAS KILLED YESTERDAY TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE NEXT GARDEN. THESE TWO DOGS HAVE GOT IN OUR GARDEN 3TIMES AND KILLED 5 OF OUR RABBITS.ALL SHE SAID YESTERDAY WAS THE KITTEN WAS IN OUR GARDEN.THE RSPCA HAVE JUST LOGGED IT AND THE POLICE SAID THEY WILL CALL ROUD WHEN THEY HAVE TIME NEXT WEEK. WE WANT THE DOGS PUT TO SLEEP THIS TIME. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO LAW.HAVE YOU RANG THE POLICE.

Accidentally leave out cup of antifreeze the dog will drink it cuz its sweet..but careful not so the unintended target doesnt drink it.