Following posting proof of attack / puncture wounds I have received a response from the owner detailed be (signed but her name and address left of the letter. The reply is below:
"I am writing this letter to you to express my sincere condolences with regards to the loss of your cat, it has upset me that you have lost your pet as I have a love of all animals and hate to see or hear of a loss of a pet, and I am very sorry for your loss. I am also writing this letter as I have received a veterinary bill for the sum of f2'064.25........ which was hand delivered, I am unsure what the purpose of you hand delivering this to me and taking photographs on my property without my permission was, but I have sought advice regarding the legality of what his happend and where I stand. The offence is allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place, he was not in a public place he was in my mother's garden as was your cat. The other offence to consider is criminal damage as cats are classed as property, sadly this will be hard to prove that it was deliberate or reckless as you cannot question an animal to determine its mindset, the offence is more directed to a human injuring or killing a cat but I am happy to be spoken to by the police if they wish to come to my home and question me. As much as I am sorry that your cat has died I cannot and will not be contributing any monies towards this veterinary bill as although your cat was chased by my dog, my dog was in my mother's garden so on her property, also he did not actually kill your cat. Unfortunately, cats are ferrel and inquisitive they do not recognise property or boundaries so your cat was on my mother's property my dog spotting your cat did what all dogs do he chased your cat but also he has only performed what dogs do, as they are pack animals who see humans as their pack they will always defend them so all he did was to defend his property and pack from what the dog perceived to be a threat. I am so very sorry that you feel that I am liable for the veterinary bill but I am not, I am happy to talk with the police if you feel that you need to inform them but let me inform you that my dog was not out of control in a public place, my dog did not attack any adult or child in a public place. My dog was on private property belonging to my mother and chased what he perceived to be a threat which in this case was your cat which failed to leave my mothers property as he was not attacked in a public place, if he had then I would have certainly made restitution straight away.
I am so sorry that this is probably not what you want to hear, but I do so feel bad for the loss of your pet. "
Some observations:
1) I had handed her the bill personally before, what was in the envelope posted was a picture of a dead cat with wounds and vets case history that did not mention costs.
2) the photos were taken for proof of delivery of letter (also have photos to show contents before sealing)
3) Does it matter if it's her mother front garden, they are all open plan with no boundary of any kind to highway or neighbours gardens? It got there by straying through a public space
4) In any case, whilst it was outside (to the side) of her mothers house the exact spot where I picked the cat up from was quite likely straying onto another property (the boundary splits a lawn)
5) She seems now to accept that her dog could kill a cat, but I know the dog warden spoke to her earlier.
6) As I asked in post above is the vets case notes I posted a link to above likely enough to show that the cat was killed by her dog?
BTW is it preferred to post attachments in the forum or externally and post a link?
Thanks
Jim
"I am writing this letter to you to express my sincere condolences with regards to the loss of your cat, it has upset me that you have lost your pet as I have a love of all animals and hate to see or hear of a loss of a pet, and I am very sorry for your loss. I am also writing this letter as I have received a veterinary bill for the sum of f2'064.25........ which was hand delivered, I am unsure what the purpose of you hand delivering this to me and taking photographs on my property without my permission was, but I have sought advice regarding the legality of what his happend and where I stand. The offence is allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place, he was not in a public place he was in my mother's garden as was your cat. The other offence to consider is criminal damage as cats are classed as property, sadly this will be hard to prove that it was deliberate or reckless as you cannot question an animal to determine its mindset, the offence is more directed to a human injuring or killing a cat but I am happy to be spoken to by the police if they wish to come to my home and question me. As much as I am sorry that your cat has died I cannot and will not be contributing any monies towards this veterinary bill as although your cat was chased by my dog, my dog was in my mother's garden so on her property, also he did not actually kill your cat. Unfortunately, cats are ferrel and inquisitive they do not recognise property or boundaries so your cat was on my mother's property my dog spotting your cat did what all dogs do he chased your cat but also he has only performed what dogs do, as they are pack animals who see humans as their pack they will always defend them so all he did was to defend his property and pack from what the dog perceived to be a threat. I am so very sorry that you feel that I am liable for the veterinary bill but I am not, I am happy to talk with the police if you feel that you need to inform them but let me inform you that my dog was not out of control in a public place, my dog did not attack any adult or child in a public place. My dog was on private property belonging to my mother and chased what he perceived to be a threat which in this case was your cat which failed to leave my mothers property as he was not attacked in a public place, if he had then I would have certainly made restitution straight away.
I am so sorry that this is probably not what you want to hear, but I do so feel bad for the loss of your pet. "
Some observations:
1) I had handed her the bill personally before, what was in the envelope posted was a picture of a dead cat with wounds and vets case history that did not mention costs.
2) the photos were taken for proof of delivery of letter (also have photos to show contents before sealing)
3) Does it matter if it's her mother front garden, they are all open plan with no boundary of any kind to highway or neighbours gardens? It got there by straying through a public space
4) In any case, whilst it was outside (to the side) of her mothers house the exact spot where I picked the cat up from was quite likely straying onto another property (the boundary splits a lawn)
5) She seems now to accept that her dog could kill a cat, but I know the dog warden spoke to her earlier.
6) As I asked in post above is the vets case notes I posted a link to above likely enough to show that the cat was killed by her dog?
BTW is it preferred to post attachments in the forum or externally and post a link?
Thanks
Jim
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