Am in a state of depression.Took my dog out for a walk at 7pm in the field that I rent behind the house.To my horror she brought something back in that looked like a rat and dropped it in the lounge.Rang my friend to remove it when we found much to my horror it was a cats tail!.
Worried about a cat that may be hurt I asked my neighbour if their cat was ok.However it was not and they were rushing to the vets.
I feel awful.Even though the dog was with me, I have pretty much made it look like it was her by going round.
I dont know if the cats ok or not,and dont know what to do tomorrow.Should I go round?
Need some morale support on this one!

Oh Ponk, what a horrible situation and what a shame for the poor cat :(  I think you should go round, but if you are sure it was not your dog then explain that your dog was with you and didn't attack the cat, but that it brought you the tail and you were concerned that it might have been their cat that was injured.  If you think your dog may have done it, all you can do is apologise and perhaps offer to pay their vets fees if they are not insured. 

Unfortunately, dogs can chase cats and if cats are out and about they may be attacked.  We have dogs and a cat - the cat gets out to wander about at will, but this does have a downside in that he's more at risk of injury.  If he was attacked by a dog on his travels I would be terribly upset, but would accept that it's a bit of an occupational hazard for a cat.  I hope that doesn't offend anyone - I don't mean it to :)

Good luck ponk, let us know how it goes.

Lesley

are you sure that the dog didnt do it? was your dog out of your site for a while?
just asking so that you can guarantee that he didnt do it ;)

you never know- the neighbours may actually know what happened.

thanks for the replies.Cant settle for worrying.I cannot 100% say she didnt do it.If she did the cat never made a sound.I cant say she did do it either.I dont want to admit to something Im not sure about.Im very straight,if she had done it I would have been straight round apologising and offering to pay.He was very quick at the vets,so I fear the worst.If he thinks she did do it,what action could he take?

I don't know what he could do plonk, but I did a google search and came up with  http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q23.htm which may help you.  Try not to fret too much and see what tomorrow brings when you speak to your neighbour.  :)

Lesley

ponk I doubt very much that your dog is the culprit of this sad situation.  Are you within earshot of your dog whilst out in the field as believe me the cat should have made an unholy racket if being attacked and I dare say your dog would have a few scratch and bite marks to show the meeting.

A dog will kill a cat by grabbing the neck, biting or shaking it to death so as not to hurt itself, not ripping off it's tail and being in the way of claws and teeth.

I would think that your dog is guilty of only discovering the tail and as a dog would, brought back it's souvenir, what type of dog do you have? Most dogs although love to chase a cat rarely are able to catch them unless cornered.

So stop feeling guilty, I would be almost positive your dog is completely innocent.

P.S.  Even if the worst were to be true, there is nothing to be done, your dog is not on their property, but on an open field (yours infact) one of the sad things for a cat, legally there is no reprise from the attacker of the poor cat. It is just one of those things.

Syd is a staffy.She has a fantastic temperament,lives with my cat,gets bullied by two chickens and two ducks everyday.She lives in harmony with all the animals that I have and has never shown any agression at all.Its just that,what if? doubt niggling.I feel so sorry for my neighbours,they are a very lovely old couple,and the cat is the apple of their eye.
She didnt have a mark on her,no blood nothing.Will let you know what tomorrow brings.!

I honestly think that Syd would have come back very battle-scarred if she'd had a set-to with your neighbour's cat because they rarely fight nicely. But I can understand your fears so fingers crossed for you. 

I'm sure Syd is innocent as she would have surely had blood on her if she had been responsible.  It's such a shame she found the tail and now you are tearing yourself up about it with niggling doubts.  Is there a road nearby?  It's possible the poor cat was hit by a car resulting in it losing it's tail and Syd just was unfortunate to find it.  I'm sure tomorrow you'll feel much better and if you can, have a chat with the neighbours to set your mind at rest.  How sad for them though, they must be feeling awful, poor souls :(

Lesley 

Having witnessed a dog unfortunately kill a cat, I can assure you that there would have been a lot of screaming and Syd's head would have been full of scratch and bite marks. I feel sick thinking about it, actually.

I'm pretty sure the vet will be able to tell how it happened. If it's a car there will probably be indications of dragging. A dog will not neatly bob a cat's tail in one bite and run off - that just defies the laws of nature and logic. I wonder if the poor cat was caught in an illegal trap? Or even worse fell pray to some sadistic human. Did Syd have a chomp on the tail or was it more or less unmarked? I'd definitely go round to the neigbours and see what's gone on as they may be able to clarify things by then - the cat may have been missing for a couple of days and the wound not be fresh - in which case Syd is exonnerated. If you stay away it might look a little suspicious.

Let us know what happens... I'm ready to start the official Syd is innocent website - he-he!

thanks for the replies again.I saw my neighbour leave at 7am,I still havent opened the curtains! My greatest fear is the cat isnt alive.Will go round in abit.What a nightmare!
I still cant believe it was a cats tail on my rug,I honestly thought it was a rat or a vole.She brought a rat in once and dropped that in the hall.

I do feel for you and really hope it wasn't your dog.  If you and your neighbour get on well she will know your dog is not nasty in anyway.
One thing that does intrigue me though, if you was out for a walk with your dog and she bought something back to you that looked like a rat or similar why on earth did you let her carry it home and then into the lounge.
If my dogs were to pick up what I thought was a dead animal on thier walk they would be made to leave it immeadiatly not bring it home then into my lounge.

Bev

Hi,it was dark at 7pm,and she always comes out with me to do the night round,check the chickens and pony etc.It was only when we got into the lounge with the lights on that she dropped something on the rug.I didnt know she had anything in her mouth.I have a smallholding and she is always out there,with me.The field is literally fifty yard from my back door.Just gone next door and no-one answered.However the cat is sitting in the front window,so I feel slightly better.

If you show the same attitude to your neighbour as you have shown on here, then I am sure that you will have nothing to worry about. If your neighbour does cut up about it, well I guess any of us would be upset if a pet had been hurt, no matter what the cause, so I would try not to take it personally. these things have a habit of sorting themselves out if you take the right approach, which you clearly are doing. Good wishes

Did the cat sat on the windowsill have a tail?

I would have thought that the vet would have needed to tidy the wound under anaesthetic.  My dog had an amputation and it wasn't a small op.

Years ago I thought my son had bit another child at playgroup and went through similar trauma until someone pointed out that the bite marks on the child didn't match my sons gappy smile!

I am sure it will all be OK.

just spoken to neighbour.He was very reasonable and said vet thought it looked like a dog had bit its tail off.He said he couldnt say for sure it was my dog but I had the feeling he thought it was.I said that I would pay the vets bill as they are OAPs,as I couldnt 100% for sure say it wasnt either.Thanks for the words of support.

I think that is incredibly generous :).  I doubt it was your dog for the reasons that others have stated but I guess this way you get to rest in yourself. :)
The cat is obviously OK then if it's sat out on the window sill?

Just had another thought.  Perhaps you should pay the vet directly with a covering letter indicating that you are doing it as an act of goodwill rather than admission of guilt.  You never know these days and with rather randomly directed laws regarding the behaviour of dogs I would hate for your generosity to backfire on you in any way.

Absolutely right Isabel

I hate to say it but I seriously doubt a vet would say he thought a dog had bitten off a cats tail, it doesn't add up.  In any case if money is to be paid over it should be paid by cheque with a covering letter stating as Isabel says

'Please accept this payment as a gesture of goodwill to assist you with your out of pocket expenses.  Please note that this payment does not indicate any admission of neglect or guilt on my part.  In accepting this payment you agree that it is in full and final settlement of any claim you may feel you have against me.'  If their vet allows you to pay him direct you must also have a copy of the medical treatment received and his reasons for believing that a dog caused this injury (assuming that is what he thinks).  But please make sure they (the owners) have had your letter before you pay the bill and change the wording so that is says payment of your veterinary bill.

You may feel differently about this in a few days but well done you for helping out a couple of pensioners anyway, and that is how you should view this generous action, not that your dog is guilty of anything.

I hope that helps.
PS have anything you write looked over by someone else.  Possibly the Citizens Advice

good thinking echo excellent advice your right you can never be too careful these days

I doubt very much that a dog has cleanly bitten this cats tail off.
Years ago our cat was attacked by a dog who dragged and shook him by his tail.The tail didn't come off but the skin and fur did leaving the bone showing.Also the dog had a good few injuries from the cat too.

Hi

Have to agree I think it is unlikely your dog that has done this.

I know a fox can cleanly take a rabbits head of but a dog and cats tail just doent ring true to me. The said dog would be in a hell of a mess. And no cat is going to take this lying down and quietly. I have seen what a cat can do when cornered.

I have also seen the mess my two terriers got into once when one of them grabed a rat by the tail. This pair had killed rats before so knew what they were doing but this time they misjudged it and got it wrong. The rat was able to swing round and inflict over 20 bite marks on the terrier holding it and I think 16 on the one trying to help. One terrier had its nose sliced down the middle. If I hadnt seen it I would never have believed it and assumed the two had had a fight. This was a rat not a cat. A cat is more agile and has lethal claws. The rat got away.

I know if the same thing happend to me I would feel bad and probably do the same. I do think it is unwise of the vet to say he thinks a dog did it, But you havnt heard the full conversation he could of said a dog did it and that dog will be in need of medical treatment.

Sometimes it is better to pay up than cause hassle with the neighbours, wonder if they would feel the same if you had a bouncy retriever instead of a staffy?

Wendy

I have taken a card and flowers round.They are a lovely couple and extremely upset.The cat seems unfazed about it all.Alot of this doesnt add up and I suppose no-one will ever know what really happened.However I have to accept that my dog may have done it.I did say that surely the cat would have screamed,but the vet had said not neccesarily.I think me going round after the tail appeared on my mat put Syd in the frame.OH cant believe I went round,but I honestly never thought for one minute that my dog had any involvement.Id rather offer to pay the vet than have a neighbour problem to be honest.

I was thinking the same as Lumphy, are the owners/vets absolutely sure the tail was bitten off and not 'amputated' by some evil, vile person? There are some sad sickos' around :( 

Dee

aww you are a very kind person Reading all the posts I dont think that your dog had anything to do with this either, and hope that your neighbours do not think it was your dog.

I understand now, but would just like to add I think you are an extremely kind, generous and responsible dog owner.

Bev

Thanks for that bevb! I do try! Anyway I do feel better now.Thankgoodness the cat seems ok.Thanks to all on the board for keeping me sane through the stress!

Maybe the cat got its tail caught on barbed wire a cat will do anything to get free! If it was on my land I would be checking the fencing as surely their would be blood and fur .
I cant imagine how if a dog did mutilate this cat that he would be covered in blood ...looks to me like he had a find ie: tail and now is sadly taking the blame :(

I really dont think your neighbours should just accept that your dog was at fault and make you pay the bill after all there is no evidence of this.

I have 4 cats and they roam ....we have an extemely large garden in which they spend most of thier time but they still wander into other peoples gardens. If they come back injured I feel its my problem alone to pay the bills as I choose to let them out.

Roni

Good Luck Ponk :-)

>I really dont think your neighbours should just accept that your dog was at fault and make you pay the bill after all there is no evidence of this.

You are a wonderful dog owner.......I agree with what Roni has said though