'He was only out of my sight for a minute' — dog attack devastates families
Cathi who was loved by her owner.
And most people take great care to ensure that their pet would not harm another pet or person. These statements are true in this story as well, but because a dog was not on a leash, this story has a very sad ending.
When a woman in Ann Arbor had her cat in her yard to enjoy a nice spring day, she thought it would be fine and just like every other time she allowed her cat some peaceful time to lounge in the grass. Unfortunately, a neighbor’s dog who was not on a leash or enclosed in a fenced yard, wandered into that yard. It happened in an instant, and by the time the dog was found, it was too late to stop the attack.
The dog had never bitten another animal before, but for some reason on this day it did. The cat had deep puncture wounds to her lungs,and even with the best medical care, she did not survive the attack. Two families were left stunned and devastated.
The dog’s owners were remorseful and paid for the treatment of the cat, but the fact remains that an innocent cat that was loved dearly is gone, and her owner was left to grieve her beloved pet.
Please keep your dog on a leash at all times. Ann Arbor does have a leash law, which states:
Dogs must be secured:
- by a leash held by the owner or the owner's agent.
- by a leash which is attached to a stationary object and attended by the owner or the owner's agent.
- on the premises of the owner or confined in a vehicle.
Note:
Sidewalks and lawn extensions are public. Dogs should not be left tied outside stores and restaurants while the owners are inside. All animal control regulations apply to parks.
There are other great reasons your dog should be on a leash. When a dog is on a leash, you are the one in control. It shows your dog that you are the leader because you decide where you’re going and what is allowed on a walk. Not only that, but it keeps your dog safe by not allowing him to chase squirrels or other animals and accidentally run into traffic.
Teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash is not a hard task. It can be done with a few basic dog obedience classes and a little patience. The first commands to teach your puppy are sit and stay. The most important thing is to never reward your puppy for pulling on the leash.
The Humane Society of Huron valley offers affordable dog and puppy training classes.
Deborah Kern is the Marketing & Capital Campaign Director for the Humane Society of Huron Valley. E-mail her at deb@hshv.org.
Comments
Ricebrnr
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 7:03 p.m.
Thanks for the reminder that curs don't only come in the 2 legged variety. + 1 on carrying mace and being vigilant for the sake of you and those you love (bi or quadruped)
treetowncartel
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.
I know Ann Arbor eliminated animal control officers a few years back. I am not aware of any other jursdiction in Washtenaw County that has a dedicated animal control officer.Relying on police officers to write "off leash" tickets is not going to work with the reduced staffing levels that currently exist.
E.J. Westlake
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.
What good is a leash law if it is never enforced. Our neighbors let their dogs run loose all the time. We call Animal Control, but they always tell us that if the dog isn't biting anyone, there is nothing they can do about it. How about a little control BEFORE they bite? Why is A2 so adverse to enforcing its own city code?
salineguy
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.
Dogs are unpredictable creatures at times and the leash laws are meant for everyone's protection. That being said, it still blows me away when I make it a point to tell people to leash their dogs (in a neighborhood or in a park - Gallup and the Arb come to mind) and they seem to be outraged at me! My recommendation is to carry mace and use it if you feel the least bit threatened. The owner will be extremely upset, but perhaps their behavior will change. The law is on your side, especially if the dog is being aggressive toward you.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 12:24 p.m.
It is critically important that all dogs are under leash at walk, or contained in a fenced-in yard at all times. Obedience training should also be on-going. It is indeed sad, that this cat owner lost her beloved pet. However, domesticated cats are at risk when outdoors. Since I cannot control the possibility of un-leashed dogs, or other animals (raccoons, etc.) I never allow my cat outdoors.
mommaof2
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
My dog is very nice and would never bite anyone. She lives with a 4 year old and an 8 month old who pull and tug on her all the time and never do anything. BUT that does NOT mean that I do not keep her on a leash. I never want that "one time" to happen. Another animal or person is worth me thinking it will never happen to me or my dog. I am so sorry for the loss of your cat.
P Beal
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 11:57 a.m.
I get the sense that one of the unintended consequences of leash and confinement laws is more dogs with less training. If they are always under control by external means leash, fence etc why bother training them to voice/gesture command? A margin of safety is being lost
Machine
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.
I think more attention should be drawn to this statement: "Dogs should not be left tied outside stores and restaurants while the owners are inside." There are frequently unattended dogs tied to parking meters in front of Sweetwaters, Grizzly Peak, and other downtown businesses. I wish the AAPD would patrol downtown and start ticketing some of these people. The city could get a little extra revenue and maybe some of these dog owners would realize they are not entitled to subject others to their mutts whenever and however they please.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
I also want to add, any cat that enters my fenced in backyard does so at its own risk. Granted a neighbors cat has probably learned to stay out by many close calls, but if my dog ever caught him the cat will be thrown into the street.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.
I always have my dog leashed while walking. He is very large and walks at a heel, he is also very outgoing and loves to do noses with other dogs he meets. However, unleashed dogs are usually more excitable, can run circles around us and even leashed dogs are not properly equipped for meeting other dogs. One never knows how a dog will behave when they are doing a beeline for you. People fail to teach dogs how to meet and greet or don't bother sociallizing thier dogs at all. My dog has been snapped at by many other dogs which puzzles him as he has been sociallized, I don't doubt if a dog attacked him or myself his natural instinct would be to protect himself/me. I am sorry this cat was killed by a loose dog. It also sounds like this cat was being supervised in their yard. What I don't apprieciate about outdoor cats however is them using my front yard as a place to poop and hunt leaving kill on my lawn for me to find after several days after getting nasty.
treetowncartel
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:59 a.m.
With respect to one dog off a leash and the other dog on a leash, the dog on a leash will become much more aggressive when another dog approaches off a leash because it is directly attached to a favorite piece of its territory, its owner. I am not opposed to cats being outdoors and being predators, but one would think owners should impelment electronic fences to keep the cats in their yard and prevent them from being a nuisance to other owners. One other thing, sometimes these might be ferrel cats or cats let go by someone who is no longer willing to take care care of them. Lets not judge the domesticated animal for the shortcomings of its owner.
TrueBlue90
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:34 a.m.
What a beautiful cat Cathi was! My heart goes out to her owner(s). As a lover of all types of animals, I too am appalled at those idiot dog owners who let their canines run free. There have been way too many vicious dog attacks lately. As much as I abhor frivolous lawsuits, in this case one would be justified. I hope Cathi's family sues the pants off those moronic neighbors! And maybe the dog owner(s) should have the dog taken away from them. Let them experience the loss of a beloved pet. They're obviously too irresponsible to own an animal anyway!
mbill
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.
Don't worry he doesn't bite, as he is showing me his teeth and the hair stands up all across his back. Every bike ride, every walk. Over and over. You love your untrained loose dog, but he has instincts and this is your fault. Two labs down the road both loved and cared for, but loose often, one runs out to play the other is confrontational has his teeth out and hair standing up. The owner yells don't worry he's friendly. They love him dearly.
g0ttin
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.
As a volunteer for a dog rescue I cannot stress enough how important it is for everyone's safety to keep your dog in control, in a fenced area, tethered, or on a leash. Human behavior and dog behavior are two very different things. We expect our dogs to act like we expect them to and forget they are animals. They don't reason like we do, they act on instinct. Several neighbors have outdoor cats in my neighborhood that like to enter my physically fenced yard and I have warned them that some of my fosters have a prey drive and I cannot guarantee their cat's safety in my yard. It falls on deaf ears. Also most people don't realize their "nice" dog is giving aggressive signs and when another dog responds with a growl, bark or lunge, they are tagged the aggressive dog. Regardless of what the temperament of my current foster, which is a wide range, I always ask people to keep your dog away from my dog, I'm not sure how he will respond. Not because I don't trust my dog, I don't trust yours.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
The thought of a dog off its leash scares me. I have a 3 lb Chihuahua that would be an appetizer to a bigger dog, even if they were just being friendly and playful. (There's not much to her.) Yet, I see it all the time. People in this town seem to think the rules don't apply to them.
robyn
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
There have been quite a few articles and stories about dog attacks recently. The one common factor among all of them is that the owners have said their dog NEVER did anything like that before. Unfortunately - it only takes one time for it to become a very horrible event (for all involved). In many of the cases - the dog/dogs were not properly restrained. My conolences to Cathi's family, that had to be a horrific day for them and I'm sure they will never quite get over this terrible tragedy, hopefully it will be replaced with loving memories of their beloved cat. As for people walking dogs unleashed - I don't see people doing that in my neighborhood; I'd never allow it for my dog - more for his safety than anyone else's.
Brad
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:28 a.m.
Something else to watch out for - dogs that *are* on a leash, but are still vicious. There have been two recent incidents in my neighborhood where a leashed dog (the same one) attacked loose dogs, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Yes, the leashed dog was theoretically "under control" and the loose dogs were "at fault", but it's still a high price to pay. If your dog is that unpredictable, it shouldn't be out on a leash at all. Sorry.
DagnyJ
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:13 a.m.
My seven year old child was bitten in the face by a dog whose owners allowed it to run free in the unfenced yard because it was a "nice" dog. She had to get stitches on her cheek. My niece was bitten in the face by another "nice" dog allowed to roam free. She also got stitches....and a $50K settlement from her lawsuit.
DFSmith
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 7:31 a.m.
Deborah- you have any advice on how to respond if one sees a dig attacking another animal or, maybe a child? Pepper spray, or should one whack the dog with a stick? What do youand the experts at the humane Society recommend? TIA
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
As I type this a cat is in my fully fenced in back yard undoubtedly to hunt and kill a song bird or Chipmunk. So keep your cat on a leash or better yet indoors.
ViSHa
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.
my neighbor has an "electric fence" for their dog. problem is, part of it's perimeter is our yard. i think it's a cheaper version of the traditional electric fence. And Macabre is right, if you say something, you are considered the evil dog hater of the neighborhood.
A2mom
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 6:14 a.m.
How tragic, I am sorry for both parties involved. Sad day.
J. Sorensen
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:34 a.m.
My sympathies to Cathi's owners. How devastating. I would never walk my dog off leash even if she walked right by my side. Not only is it the law, but you have to always take the uncontrollable (other people, cars, etc)into consideration. It's just safer and more pleasant for everyone not to have to worry.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:20 a.m.
Some neighbors have recently begun walking their dogs without a leash. I hate that I have to choose between safety and being hated by my neighbors. Why can't dog owners just follow the law without confrontation? In this day and age, you'd have to be living in a bunker 100 miles below the surface not to know about leash laws.