- NEW!
by Christine on October 9th, 2008
That's an interesting response from the police department.
Here's what I would personally do if I were in your shoes.
1) A police report does not necessarily mean charges can be filed criminally - it is mearly a citing of what happened, even if it is a civil matter. Therefore a police report CAN and should be taken. I would go to the Chief of this police department and ask him to ensure a report is taken. If they refuse to take a report, I would contact the mayor's office concerning this issue and/or the media and threaten to do so.
2) Since this is basically a civil matter, I would file a civil suit against your neighbors - the pitbull owners. You should be able to recoup something for your loss depending on what your state statute is.
3) Do these people own their home? If so, their insurance company may be interested in knowing that they own a pitbull. There are like 4-5 different breeds of dogs (a pitbull being top on the list) which make the home uninsurable if you own one of these breeds.
Now, I will say that all pitbulls are not bad, so please do not judge the whole breed on this one dog which sounds like he is definitely problematic. But the situation here is that if this dog is attacking cats, he could also attack small children. This situation needs to get under control and someone has to take action. If it appears as though the authorities will not be the ones to do so, then you need to bring this to the attention of the media. It is absolutely ridiculous that you lost your beloved pet because they cannot keep control of their dog! What are they waiting for a child to be savagely attacked?
Good luck, I wish you the best and I am so sorry for your loss.
by Yarnlady is happy every day on October 9th, 2008
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. You can go to court and get a restraining order against the neighbors, or hire a lawyer to help you with a lawsuit against them.
The law enforcement will not help, because there are no laws against what happened to you, other than animal control regulations. If animal control comes and finds a dog loose, they will catch it, but very little else can be done.
by DJ_Kremlin on October 9th, 2008
You have to look at the laws in your locale.
In Miami-Dade county, where I live, Pit Bull ownership has been successfully criminalized. It is illegal to own a Pit bull in the county. If you're caught with one, the dog is put down and the owner is fined. If the dog attacks and injures someone, the dog is put down and the owner will face felony charges. If the dog kills someone, the dog is put down and the owner can potentially face capital felony charges.
In Miami-Dade, you are allowed to shoot pit bulls on sight!
by Anonymous on October 8th, 2008
I tried to press charges and I even told the police while holding my dying cat that I wanted a report and he told me that this was not a police matter.
by Darth NANAME on October 6th, 2008
Press charges.
by tomsims on October 9th, 2008
I think you have a civil case here. You will need an attorney.
by Anonymous on October 9th, 2008
I take very good care of my pets and I take full responsibility for all them including my own dog --- My cat was killed in my own property while she was sleeping in my porch like she has done all her life and I did learn from it --- I learned that no one is safe in their own porch but I wonder what would have been said if it would have attacked one of my own kids or even me while sitting in my porch! Would you be saying take responsosibility you don't have the right to sit in your own porch without being attacked by the neighbors out of control animals?
by Teresa on October 9th, 2008
What you can do is learn from this experience, and from now on take some responsibility for your pets instead of expecting that other people will take responsibility for their pets or behave responsibly toward yours in any way.
Should condos be pet friendly or should pets be kept out of condos...
by PrinceHal on March 27th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Can you give me a penguin?
by Ice654 on October 28th, 2010
| 2 people like this
Is it right for the city to take away my cat because it got in a fight with the neighbor's puppy & killed it?
by justinrpg on March 18th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
My dog killed my neighbor's chicken in my backyard. Is their any health concerns I should be worried about? How do I explain what happened?
by iandme on March 30th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Is it illegal to use someone else video of their pet and enter it in americas funniest videos?
by trina1976 on September 14th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
You're reading My neighbor has Pit Bulls that keep getting out. Other neighbors who are home during the day have called the cops and animal control on them many times - yesterday it killed my cat - what rights do I have and what can I do? Next time it can
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Comments
Good points..The local Humane Society may have some clout here. These dogs are out of control....and dangerous. What are they doing?
by suzycue on October 9th, 2008