I can't stop crying. This morning I let my two 6 month old kittens out on to the patio and just 2 minutes later I heard a bark. I ran outside to see a doberman shaking the little girl Nessa. I screamed, shouted and managed to get her from it. I screamed for my husband and son so try to find Leo who had run off. He eventually was found an hour later, cowering.

Nessa was lying on the floor fitting. I managed to calm her but she had lost all use of her back legs.


The owner heard my screams and put his dog back on the lead. My son saw him. The owner has not come back to the house to see how she is or to apologise.

She's at the vets now...but she definitely has neurological (sp) damage and it's not looking too good. I'm expecting a call from the vet once they've xrayed her. If she needs operation(s), it could run into thousands of pounds. However, the vet was suggesting that she would probably die or need to be put to sleep.

Poor thing has not had a charmed life (a rescue kitten, probably with a shunt...she just had tests for this on Thursday). But she is THE most affectionate sweetheart and I love her dearly.

Leo is still traumatised.

I am trying to track down the owner by asking friends and neighbours who he is. Most people seem to know the dog but not the owner. BTW, we don't live in a 'risky' neighbourhood.

We've phoned the police who say it is a reportable crime.

Any other advice? Please keep everything crossed for Nesssa

You have done the right thing by reporting this.

I really hope Nessa pulls through and makes a recovery, also Leo.

The owner should really keep his dog on a lead in all public areas if he knows it is prone to chasing cats/running off. He needs to be made aware of this so it would be good if he could be found to have a chat with him.

All the best.

Keeping everything crosses that little Nessa proves the vet wrong and makes a full and speedy recovery. Hugs to you, your family and Leo too.

Update: found the owner who said "the dog's never done anything like this before". But he's certainly had it off the lead before on the road...

Nessa's still alive.

Good news: no sign of broken spine or pelvis

Bad news: she's not coming out of the sedation as she should (perhaps coz of her liver problem)

and

she still didn't have any movement in her back legs before she was put under for xrays.

And the police, although grateful for the report, said it's not a 'crime' for your dog to trespass in somebody else's garden or attack your cat. But they told us to tell the dog warden (and we also told our neighbourhood watch)

I'm glad that Nessa is holding her own at the moment.

I didn't think the police would be able to do much, but the dog warden should certainly be interested and will be able to advise the dog's owner of steps to take to prevent the dog doing anything like this again. Unfortunate as it is, lots of dogs have a natural prey drive that make small furry animals vulnerable. Not necessarily the dog's fault but something a responsible owner should be aware of and takes into account when in public with such a dog.

Poor Nessa Really hoping that she'll be OK! And little Leo!

Bloody stupid man letting his dog off the lead! THE MAN needs to be put down for such irresponsible behaviour, not the dog!

And an apology to you too, I hope.
Poor little kitty - you (and she) have my positive thoughts today.

The owner should at least be partially responsible for any vets bill you may encounter for Nessa's treatment as his dog was uncontrolled at the time.

what a horrible thing to happen, shocking. my thoughts are with you. im sorry i really dont know what to say.

He also admitted that he'd had to have a previous doberman put down for being out of control. So he definitely does know the risks

He said a couple of times "do you want me to put it down?" Of course we don't!! We're animal lovers and know about instinctive behaviour. Wouldn't be too upset if he was put down though!! (Only joking, but finger nails pulled out one by one would be good)

All we want now is:

1. A promise to never let the dog off the lead in a residential street again

2. An apology to me for the traumatic event. I'm still crying and shaking. I can't stop. Am I in shock?

3. Financial help with the bills. His insurance should pay (according to the vet)

4. Not sure what he can do to make it up to poor Nessa and Leo!

Sounds as if he is laying on the guilt trip.....

Instead of buying dogs and then putting then down when incidents such as these happen because he has little or no control over them he needs to get them to training classes and under control which is what a responsible owner does and which is what the dog warden needs to suggest for both his and his dog benefit.

Just wanted to wish you and Nessa my best. An awful situation and I hope she makes a recovery.

I agree. Thinking of Nessa too

And me.

Hope Nessa will be ok x

aw this is awful. The police CAN do something. They can go to his door and warn him. Phone the sspca or rspca for advise too. The dog owner is a fanny and he deserves a slap. I hope and pray your kitten is ok. Xxx

I love my animals too but this dog is a cat killer and i.m afraid it has no place in a residential area. It will kill again when it has the opportunity. A child may be next. I would have said yes to the dog being destroyed. Seen two cats killed by the same doberman. It was destroyed after the sspca and police got involved.

For goodness sake, how can you equate a dog attacking kitten to then attacking a child? The dog in question should undoubtedly be kept on the lead and muzzled preferably but to be pts due to the naivety and ignorance of the owners seems a bit extreme imo. That said, I am in no way excusing the behaviour and would expect stern words from the dog warden with the strong possibility of a dog control order and all vets fees pertaining to the accident paid in full by the dog's owner without question.

Again, OP, I hope little Nessa recovers and Leo also recovers from the fright. Please take some time out for yourself, OH and son. You would have had a helluva shock, so be kind to yourselves.

I'm honestly welling up

What an awful thing to happen to you all.

Really hope Nessa gets better, and hope Leo's ok too

You're all so kind...I'm welling up again!

Leo has spent all day on my lap which is completely unlike him! He's usually so playful and restless! He's hardly eaten and he hasn't 'been' yet. He's just starting to show some energy now but he REALLY needed his cuddles today.

My eyes are so sore from crying...but I am getting stronger. Managed to speak to the Neighbourhood Watch person without blubbering.

Not looking foward to bed. I keep replaying the attack in my head and I'm sure the flashbacks will only get worse tonight.

Again, thank you for your support. This forum was the first I came to when my 19 year old cats died over Christmas, and you were all a great help then.

Trouble is it could be a little child next time !!!

I'm so sorry about your poor kitten, that's really awful ! I hope she pulls through.

I think the Dobermann's owner should pay ALL of your vet's bill and he should never let his dog off the lead in a residential area.

I think you should contact the RSPCA and report him- if he has had one dog PTS already then I fear that it may be a child next time

This thread has deeply upset me (as a cat owner) and I can only hope that poor Nessa is going to be okay and makes a good recovery.

I think, that you are the naive one for thinking this dog wont do this again, or worse...i.e, to a human.

Dobermans are well known for this type of behavier, and also well known that once they have attacked once, they will do it again.

The dog should be put down, it WILL do it again, 100% guarenteed.

Just heard from the vet. Nessa took an age to come out of the sedation and is still too groggy to have her back legs re-assessed. She'll be staying in today.

"Some hope" according to the vet, but as she also has a liver shunt (formally diagnosed yesterday, which is why she's so small and took the anaesthetic badly), the prognosis is not good.

I think we're looking for a miracle here...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Nessa pulls through, poor little soul.