Understood, no worries. Maybe I am a little reactive due to the situation.
So true, so true, on the unexpected things that can happen.
Just today, some friends who I shared this with said they knew of a dog that would open doors. And as I see from this thread, it is possible. I wonder now, even with the door handle being hard to turn, maybe he still did open the door himself. Who knows how many times he may of tried before success.
I would of never thaught such a thing. Now digging and chewing through the a wall, that I have seen, but opening a door, I never would of expected.
I say to myself, "but he has such a great demeanor with the children and is doing so well with obedience training".

However, I know and my instinct, tells me this won't work out.

Until I do re-home him, I will continue the training I have begun with him and definatley be overprotective of my remaining cat.

Sounds like a good plan. Even if he didn't open the door (which BTW, my GSD did 3 times at my Grandma's tonight-and *I* got yelled at for leaving the door open. We couldn't figure out what was going on until I went outside to get something from the car and he popped up out of nowhere...and the door was wide open) you can't be 100% sure that no one in your family would ever make a mistake; accidents happen, people forget things. It's a chance you can't take. Imagine how awful one of your kids would feel if they made a mistake that cost your remaining cat it's life? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

"However, I know and my instinct, tells me this won't work out."

Use your instinct. Your 2nd cat will eventually be romping with your other dog and cat in pet heaven.

Didn't the rescue shelter tell you any thing about his compatibility with cats? I thought that was standard stuff in rescue shelters. Or did they give you a maybe good/maybe not? Well, at any rate, if you do foster him out again, at least you can be the one to verify "yes, he kills cats"

I am sorry for your loss.

You've dropped the ball once and your mistakes cost the life of a cat.

Make the decision now - re-home the cat, or re-home the dog.

Any other decision is selfish and places the next cats life at risk.
Do the responsible thing.

What age are your kids?

I'm not a breed basher by any stretch of the imagination but I wouldn't trust this dog around my kids.

I have always been very wary of rescue dogs since my mother brought one in when I was a kid. A better treated dog you never did see and it still took a chunk outta me! Even though I loved the dog it had to go.

Keep your cat and your kids safe!

John

I don't think that the only option is to re-home one or the other. You DO need to think about how you live with this dog and make choises based on the dog and the cats personalities. I currently have four high drive GSD's and a cat. Each dog from the 6.5 year old male to the 10 week puppy has a differnt level of access to my home, my daughtor when she is here, and the cat. I give them each some play, exersize, training or walk time every day. On a rotating basis each dog gets the majority of my free time that day even if it's just spent hanging out and being groomed and peted after a walk, play session or training. Here are some examples of how I live with my dogs:

My female is a house dog and is not an issue with kids but will chase the cat every time, if the cat runs. She has good prey drive and I can correct her until the cows come home and she will still chase the cat, if the cat runs. The cat has figured that out and dosn't run unless she is sure she can out run the dog. The female isn't agressive and will just sniff the cat if the cat walks or stays still. I allow the female out unsupervised if I am at home and there are no young dogs loose off leash, otherwise she is in her dog crate.

My adult male could care less about the cat and is ok with kids. He will get in trouble if he is left unsupervised in some situations. He is in his kennel during the day and is inside if I can at least pay attention to what he is up to. I would make a business call with him in the house but still be aware of where he is and what he is up to.

My 1 year old male will eat the cat, possibly or bite my daughtor, and for sure cause some ruckus in the house, if he gets a chance. He is allowed in the house off leash ONLY when I am alone (no dogs or kids) and in the same room with him and paying attention. The cat is fully aware he will chase and bite her so she hides when he is in off leash.

The same go's with the puppy no dogs not even his mom but other people are ok if they can deal with a puppy. The rest of the time he is in his kennel or crate.

The cat is not blameless either she will egg the dogs on and will be put in another room or corrected depending on the dog and situation. Cats can cause their own problems by teasing dogs ete., living with both is a two way street.

Pretty much all I do is try not to put my dog's in situations where they are likely to get in trouble and keep them on a predictable routine that fits my lifestyle. My experiance is that if you think about what you are planning to do with a dog in advance, are consistant and fair, most problems living with dogs can be resolved fairly easily.

Chris, with you having four high drive dogs you're basically a trainer.

The owner that posted the original question is a pet owner that has already made a series of mistakes resulting in one dead cat.

The comparison between your ownership styles just isn't valid, it's like comparing apples to watermelons.

The best advice that gives a 100% chance of the remaining pet cat not being brutally mauled is to re-home one of the pets.

Chris, what you said definitely has some merit. However, your lifestyle seems to allow for more structure than Christine's, and keep in mind, the dog and cat WERE separated when the first cat was killed. She has kids there ALL the time, and kids can make mistakes (let the dog out/cat in etc.). I agree with the way YOU structure your house, but I disagree that this is an option for Christine, or most pet owners, for that matter. She has already lost one cat, and a dog as well. Keeping this dog is just not worth it, IMO.

Point's well taken.

I was only trying to show that another approach like seperating the two animals 100% of the time can be an option. I agree it takes a good deal of extra work, preperation and commitment that is not a good option or fit for everyones living situation. Personally, I like lots of structure, but it's not for everyone.

My ex wife always said I was the most boring man alive, perhaps she was right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh, Chris. Boring isn't so bad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I don't see how your house could be boring with all those animals, even with all that structure. I keep some of mine separate and go through all those "shifts" too, but it's still chaos! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I would've suggested exactly what you did, if she lived alone. But when there are others in the house, 100%control becomes nearly impossible.