 Barked: Mon Dec 24, '12 10:48am PST |
 | |  | | In the moment, you do what you have to. A cat was about to get killed. If that cat's life, or a neighbor's love for their pet, is worth less than one moment with your dog? There's a big problem there. You do what you have to do, and technically in that strong a prey response you aren't dealing with the same emotions any way. But even were you, your responsibilities as a dog owner don't stop with your own dog....you have a responsibility to your own community. That's why we have BSL problems, and huskies very often make that list. They remind us that being responsible for our pets actions is part of our responsibility. We wouldn't have BSL if we had owners who ensured that their dogs weren't bringing injury, death and ruin into their communities.
I had a Saint Bernard try to kill my own pet, a very jarring memory (my dog was brought close to death) somewhat mitigated by the fact that the two owners of the dog in attendance were doing everything in their power to get their dog off my pet. I still am appreciative to them for that, for in the moment my dog, who was the innocent victim, mattered more to them. That is an ethic I myself carry. I haven't been brought to that line, but there's nothing I wouldn't do were I in that position. Memory goes to the chimp attack in CT a few ago, where his owner....who raised him from a baby; he was like a child to her....ran into her house, got a knife and stabbed him. You do what you have to. If not, you, socially speaking, are a community threat if you own an animal with teeth.
Ember's actions showed she KNOWS, as a husky owner, she has an extremely limited window of time to prevent her dog from killing a cat. A cat is alive today because as a husky owner she knows of the risks inherent to a husky, and thereby the responsibilities. If she were applying for an adoption to my rescue and had applied for a husky and related that story, she would go up in my book. I want to release good ambassadors into the community, and part of that is owners who know how to prioritize, part of which is not letting your pet bring tragedy into a neighborhood.
High, HIGH marks to Ember for having the composure to FIRST get the front end off the ground to disable her physically, and then doing what it took to get the cat out of her dog's mouth. A cat today is alive, and a neighbor's world isn't shattered into a million pieces, as a result of her actions.
You as a dog owner must be aware of the potential of your breed, manage him carefully with those potentials in mind, and know whatever the outcomes are either to your fault or to your credit. We take on a silent vow or promise to our neighbors when we take on a dog.
And to the OP, I am totally backing up Ember here. Dogs can gain confidence in their drive and prey responses. Your dog could be building to a day where she will kill one of your cats, and then it will be too late. Please be careful. You are on a serious fault line and your cats' lives hang in the balance.Edited by author Mon Dec 24, '12 11:03am PST
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