(no subject)
So, Tobey's dead. Mauled by a rather large dog. A rather large dog belonging to the group of dogs that attacked 'Shira and Freya (my and my roomate's cats) a couple months ago. I told the deputy at the time that all I wanted was the vet bills paid and the pen door, which was made of a road sign, to have a latch instead of them relying on a cinder block to hold the damn thing closed against that pack of large dogs.
A day or so after the first attack, I went to the house where the dogs lived, but received no answer. I checked next door, found the owner's daughter, and left my name and number, as well as Renee's (roomate) number. This was a couple months ago at least, and I've received no reply. I even looked around for the vet bills a week or so ago, in order to go by and try to discuss this with her, but couldn't find them. Damn me and my random organizing - I can never find anything after.
Anyway, I found Tobey dead on Saturday night, as I was leaving for work. 'Shira, his mom, was missing. I had to leave right away, so I didn't get a chance to do any more than tell Ricky about it. In the morning, Ricky found 'Shira, stuck up a tree. Dumb cat. I had to climb the wet tree on a rickety ladder, after clambering through underbrush. I was sore for days. Apparently, her new hobby of climbing trees saved her life. So I taught her remaining child, Greyfox, how to climb trees today. He likes it. Too bad all the trees in our yard are tiny, and they have to run a hundred yards to get to the big trees.. Anyway.
I took pictures of Tobey, an anthill in our yard that contained a footprint made by a large dog, and the prints leading from the road in front of our house all the way down to the driveway of the nonresponsive repsponsible party. Same dogs. Same pen door, made out of a roadsign, same cinderblock. I banged on the side of the trailer, some teenage chick stared out at us for about 5 seconds, very vacant look on her heavily made up face, and a minute later a guy came out.
I asked for the owner of the dogs, was told that she's sleeping, and left a message instead. Paraphrased: You owe me $400. Your dogs attacked our cats a couple months ago, we left our numbers, and got no reply. Now my kitten is dead, and the tracks lead to your gate. Call me today please.
No reply, and I was nice enough to give her four days so far. Tomorrow, Renee and I go to file charges/sue the ass off her/whatever.
I called the Sheriff's office shortly after that, and talked to a nice Deputy who sympathized with me over my loss, and seemed to be annoyed when I tattled on the bad guy for possession of stolen property (road signs). BTW, the next day I saw a truck with long boards in the back go driving down towards her place, so maybe they got the message, or received a citation for the signs. The police man said that there isn't enough to press charges against her right now, but every time I see the dogs to call it in right away. If they get enough reports of loose dogs in the area, and/or if they catch them out, etc., that they'll be able to do something about it then.
He took a picture of Tobey. Then he told me that he doesn't want to tell me to shoot the dogs if I see them again, but that I have a right to protect my property. I said that I love animals, dogs included, and that I told Animal control last time that I definately do not want the dogs put down, that I know what it's like to love a pet. But now I have a dead kitten and a woman who won't even call me back...
So I'm'a sue her tomorrow. Police report says (my comments in red):
"I spoke to (me) who stated that her cat had been killed by a dog.I did not, I said I think that he was killed by a dog, and he said 'definatly a dog attack'. I then followed a dog track from the road in front of her residence that led me back to (address of dog pen). I attempted to make contact but was unsuccessful. I observed three dogs in a fenced in area in front of the residence. There were also dog tracks around the dog pen as well." nice grammar.
So if the Deputy says he followed tracks to this place, I think that's good evidence right there whose dogs did it. Will it stand up in court though? I don't know if I can sue for emotional trauma and the loss of a kitten that I'd been trying to give away until I got too attached...
A day or so after the first attack, I went to the house where the dogs lived, but received no answer. I checked next door, found the owner's daughter, and left my name and number, as well as Renee's (roomate) number. This was a couple months ago at least, and I've received no reply. I even looked around for the vet bills a week or so ago, in order to go by and try to discuss this with her, but couldn't find them. Damn me and my random organizing - I can never find anything after.
Anyway, I found Tobey dead on Saturday night, as I was leaving for work. 'Shira, his mom, was missing. I had to leave right away, so I didn't get a chance to do any more than tell Ricky about it. In the morning, Ricky found 'Shira, stuck up a tree. Dumb cat. I had to climb the wet tree on a rickety ladder, after clambering through underbrush. I was sore for days. Apparently, her new hobby of climbing trees saved her life. So I taught her remaining child, Greyfox, how to climb trees today. He likes it. Too bad all the trees in our yard are tiny, and they have to run a hundred yards to get to the big trees.. Anyway.
I took pictures of Tobey, an anthill in our yard that contained a footprint made by a large dog, and the prints leading from the road in front of our house all the way down to the driveway of the nonresponsive repsponsible party. Same dogs. Same pen door, made out of a roadsign, same cinderblock. I banged on the side of the trailer, some teenage chick stared out at us for about 5 seconds, very vacant look on her heavily made up face, and a minute later a guy came out.
I asked for the owner of the dogs, was told that she's sleeping, and left a message instead. Paraphrased: You owe me $400. Your dogs attacked our cats a couple months ago, we left our numbers, and got no reply. Now my kitten is dead, and the tracks lead to your gate. Call me today please.
No reply, and I was nice enough to give her four days so far. Tomorrow, Renee and I go to file charges/sue the ass off her/whatever.
I called the Sheriff's office shortly after that, and talked to a nice Deputy who sympathized with me over my loss, and seemed to be annoyed when I tattled on the bad guy for possession of stolen property (road signs). BTW, the next day I saw a truck with long boards in the back go driving down towards her place, so maybe they got the message, or received a citation for the signs. The police man said that there isn't enough to press charges against her right now, but every time I see the dogs to call it in right away. If they get enough reports of loose dogs in the area, and/or if they catch them out, etc., that they'll be able to do something about it then.
He took a picture of Tobey. Then he told me that he doesn't want to tell me to shoot the dogs if I see them again, but that I have a right to protect my property. I said that I love animals, dogs included, and that I told Animal control last time that I definately do not want the dogs put down, that I know what it's like to love a pet. But now I have a dead kitten and a woman who won't even call me back...
So I'm'a sue her tomorrow. Police report says (my comments in red):
"I spoke to (me) who stated that her cat had been killed by a dog.I did not, I said I think that he was killed by a dog, and he said 'definatly a dog attack'. I then followed a dog track from the road in front of her residence that led me back to (address of dog pen). I attempted to make contact but was unsuccessful. I observed three dogs in a fenced in area in front of the residence. There were also dog tracks around the dog pen as well." nice grammar.
So if the Deputy says he followed tracks to this place, I think that's good evidence right there whose dogs did it. Will it stand up in court though? I don't know if I can sue for emotional trauma and the loss of a kitten that I'd been trying to give away until I got too attached...