Christine, I can tell by the sheer number of your posts that this is a big deal to you, and not a decision you can make easily. That's definitely to your credit. However, what Will said was kind of what I said initially about being naiive, or not fully prepared for this dog. He just put it in fewer words <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. The point is the same though; you cannot guarantee this cat's safety, obviously. It was of course, not your intent to get the first one killed-but it happened nonetheless. Therefore, it is irresponsible to put another cat's life at risk for the selfish reason of wanting to keep the dog. Meaning, re-home the dog or the cat, because if you keep both, you'll end up with just one anyway.

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NO EXCUSE, I know, and it does not make it any less of a concern, but could it be he did this without intending to be vicious? I would of thought if he attacked her as prey, that the scene would of been gruesome, am I correct?

It's the dogs instinct combined with the fact that he didn't grow up around cats I think. I'm sorry for your loss. What a tragic story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

We just recently did some spring cleaning in the yard and discovered a few dead possums and squirrels. There was no blood or anything, just carcasses. On other occasions when I've seen the dead squirrels shortly after their death, the same. I couldn't really find puncture wounds either. The only time I saw a gruesome scene was when I caught the three of my dogs having a tug of war with a possum. That was pretty nasty.

Did you do any reading up on the American Bulldog before you got him? Reading the history helps in understanding things better. Good luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Chris,

Thanks. I have at this point adopted a routine similar to what you explain. When not home, the remaining cat is in another room, behind close door as she has been the past 2 weeks. But now the dog is caged when we are not home. I HATE doing this.
When I get home and have to run back out, I take the dog with me and allow the cat out to roam the house, no dog around.
When we return, if we want to allow the cat out, we will cage the dog. When we want the dog out, we will place the cat in another room.
Ensuring the dog is never out of site or near that room, alone. We are also adding and extra lock to that particular door (keyed).
We have not transitioned to allowing the dog out of the cage, on a leash, with the cat roaming. He is not ready for that yet. Not sure he ever will be and that is my concern.

With that said, though we are making this work, I don't want to keep things like this. I feel my cat and dog should be permitted to roam the house freely. I became accustomed to that style with our beagle and persian for 7 years. I don't want to go back to the need to separate like this. Had to do that with a dog we fostered about 8 years ago.

Thanks for your input. It would seem I can work with this for a while, but as was mentioned in the thread, with the children and even adults (no human is truly perfect) there is always a chance for mistakes.
We were following advice from experienced person and something went awry. I don't think I should continue to chance it for the rest of these animals lives.

Wow, 4 GSD, more then I would want to handle. Of course I have 3 boys, sometimes I think the dog listens better then they do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

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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.

Please explain the 'series of mistakes' that were made. Cats and dog were separated. Was that a mistake?
Doors were closed, from what I recall. Was that a mistake?
The mistake I may of made was not to put a bolt or lock the door, agreed? It would be helpful to know the 'series' of mistakes so I don't make them again and can keep the other cat safe until I re-home this dog.

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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.

Not sure if I should share my thoughts on this posting?
I am a bit confused on intent of this advice? Seem to be a bit of an attack to me?

I feel very sorry that you lost the cat you loved.

But I see the post you're questioning as straight facts. Your cat died in the situation you have. The responsible thing to do is to re-home the dog or the other cat. The word "fault" wasn't used..........but "responsible" was. We learn from our mistakes. When we know better, we do better.

Again, I am sorry you had this tragic event. Now you can honor the life of your cat who's gone by using what you learned.

Jenni,
Thanks. This is not an easy decision. Heck adopting him was not an easy decision. I read a lot of information to prepare for this, trying to ensure I had more information and knowledge then just my prior experience. It was 3 weeks after I learned he was in the shelter before I said I would consider taking him. Then a family visit and so on. I read more while waiting to adopt. I read about cat & dog introductions & adjustments. I read the good and bad about this breed. I went in knowing the possible personality/demeanor of this dog.
If anyone could see how he is with my children, they may understand why I was willing to try to make it work, and why giving him up even after having him only a short while will be hard. I can't say enough about how good he is with them, of course one must always be alert and keep control of the dog and the children. He would be a great family pet if he is the only pet.

I am not sure how to define big deal. I was being careful and if anyone made a mistake it was me on that day as I was the last one in my room. I am an avid believer in learning from my mistakes and getting advice from others good or bad. So, I came here.

And advice I have gotten.

I thank all who have posted in this thread.

I must agree with Jenni and several of you.

I will have to re-home.
Good idea on asking the ABD rescue if they can get him a foster home, will look into that.

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Please explain the 'series of mistakes' that were made. Cats and dog were separated. Was that a mistake?
Doors were closed, from what I recall. Was that a mistake?
The mistake I may of made was not to put a bolt or lock the door, agreed? It would be helpful to know the 'series' of mistakes so I don't make them again and can keep the other cat safe until I re-home this dog.

I believe the first in your series of mistakes was leaving the dog out of his crate while you were not there...even with the door closed. Many have already said in this thread that dogs will do crazy things to get into a closed room including digging up the carpet or even opening the door themselves. This dog was not 100% trained because he hadn't been taught not to mess with the cats yet. He should have been crated and this would have never happened. That would have been following Ed's advice more accurately (I believe) and would have avoided this tragic event. It seems from your previous post that you have already fixed this problem by now crating the dog when you aren't there to supervise. Unless the dog chews through his cage, you won't have that problem again. That being said, I am sorry for your loss. I have a pup and 2 cats, I can imagine how I would feel if something like this were to happen to one of my cats by my own dog whom I love. Learn from this and keep future dogs crated at all times unless you are there to supervise, or they have been 100% trained and you know FOR A FACT he can be trusted. I wouldn't trust this dog again, though.

Christine,
Since you have directly asked, here's a list of the mistakes made ( both by your actions and attitudes which contributed to the mauling ):

1) First off, simply adding a known aggressive animal to a household with children and other animals.

2) Next , with your quote:
" I am sure he could take me down if I am not careful. Let's say I am well aware of the potential for him to be aggressive."

- if you feel that way, that is a dog that should be euth'd, end of story, not put into a home with children and other animals.

3) "The cage we had was too small..."

Ok, so he grew out of his crate and you didn't replace it and allowed the dog the run of the house, basically. A *major* mistake.

4) "We had just gotten the new cage, but had not put him in it on this day, as we were to be gone only a few hours. As we all know, it only takes a minute."

Ok, so you finally get a crate and then you don't use it. And you know who knows the best about that "it only takes a minute"? Your poor mauled cat. Your lack of spending 15 seconds to place that dog into the crate caused the mauling.

5) "I thought I had secured all doors as I did on every other day and left."

Ummmm....you had a crate....but didn't use it.

6) "I immediate brought the dog in, wrong I know but my emotional reaction took over, sat him in front of her and gave my standard verbal reprimand."

C'mon on now!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> What good did *that* do?!? You're treating the dog like an human and that did *zero* good. He's a dog, he had *no* idea of what he did. The one that was responsible for the mauling was you, by failing to crate the dog.

6) "I guess what I wonder is if he has killed a cat once, is there any chance in the world (I expect it could take 2-4 months) to get him to accept our other cat?"

Are you *crazy*? Why would you even consider risking the life of your other cat? Your insight and judgment regarding this event is terrible.

7) "Some 5 months a dog,my cat's bud, got out of our fence, as she kept doing and was struck by a car as she was tracking something. Darn dog, she too, though obnoxious with her jumping and barking, was a part of the family. If I knew how to train her better then just , sit, stay, down and come, maybe we would still have her."

I'm assuming that what you meant was you had a dog recently killed which escaped your fencing multiple times.

I guess I don't need to add that your lack of responsibility in that case ( not providing an adequate fence ) basically killed your previous pet there. I'm seeing a pattern in your pet ownership ability, and I can only guess what would have happened if this AB had gotten loose and killed a neighborhood animal.

May I suggest that before an other animal dies in your care that you stick to cats? They're easier to control and seem to fit your life style better.

Christine,
I wouldnt be too hard on yourself. Sometimes in life, bad things happen, as you know. It sounds like you knew you had your hands full with the dog, but not to the extent you expected. I own a Drahthaar curently working SCH and other other work. My dog kills cats/coons/sqirrels/woodchucks to date. Shes expected to, and in fact required to per the German Breeding Guidelines. Until you see them go Jeckle/Hyde-from loving indoor family pet to a terror on fur, its hard to relate and understand. I would never, ever allow my dog around any cats-itd be suicidal for a cat to come around the dog for more than 20 seconds. So, either make your dog an outdoor dog (primarily) and continue to separate them at all times, or rehome one of them and get on with life. Your dog can NEVER be trusted again with cats. While great with your family, this is the reality. I like cats, my dog doesnt and thats that. Good luck.