Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

65YO Loses Her Beloved Cat To Neighbors’ Dogs, So She Makes Sure Their Holidays Come With Tears
A distressed woman holds her face in her hands by a window, crying, likely after her cat was attacked by neighbors dogs.

Neighbors Ignore Warnings About Their Aggressive Dogs, Then Face Harsh Consequences

29

ADVERTISEMENT

When someone hurts a pet you love dearly, it can be hard just to let it go. The woman in our story today repeatedly warned her neighbors to keep their aggressive dogs under control, but they ignored her.

Then the dogs did something devastating that pushed her to act. Read on to see how she made sure they faced the consequences of their actions.

RELATED:

    Aggressive dogs can become a serious problem when owners fail to keep them under control

    svetland2020 / Magnific (not the actual photo)

    This woman took action after her neighbor’s dogs caused her to lose her beloved cat

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    diegothomazini / Magnific (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    fxquadro / Magnific (not the actual photo)

    Anna Tolipova / Magnific (not the actual photo)

    Throwaway1267990

    Losing a beloved pet because of someone else’s carelessness can be devastating

    The popular John Wick movies made one thing pretty clear: people can get seriously protective of their furry friends. Most people form incredibly close bonds with their pets, which can make saying goodbye painful.

    Researchers in Italy explored this bond in a study of 314 people who had lost a companion animal. They found that people develop strong attachments to their pets and tend to experience intense grief after the loss, showing how deeply these relationships can affect us.

    This grief can feel even harder to bear when you know what happened could have been prevented. This woman had repeatedly warned her neighbors about their aggressive dogs, but they ignored her concerns until she lost her beloved cat.

    Clinical psychologist Regina Josell, PsyD, explains that anger can be a natural part of grief, especially when someone feels that another person is responsible. And this woman had plenty to be angry about. After her beloved cat was gone, she decided to make sure her neighbors faced the consequences of their actions.

    Kiwistocks / Magnific (not the actual photo)

    Pet owners need to make sure their animals don’t put others at risk

    Veterinary behaviorists note that with an aggressive animal, the priority is preventing another incident, which can mean keeping the dog confined and away from situations where it could harm another animal or person.

    The neighbors should have taken adequate precautions, especially after other homeowners complained about their aggressive dogs and the woman repeatedly voiced her concerns. Yet they failed to keep the animals properly contained until the matter got out of hand.

    Once an aggressive dog has caused serious harm to another animal or person,  authorities have to consider what should happen next. Experts explain that the circumstances of the incident, the dog’s history, and whether it can be safely managed all play a role in determining the appropriate response.

    That is why the decision to remove the dogs was not just about revenge. Yes, the woman wanted her neighbors to face the consequences of ignoring her warnings. But after what happened, the authorities also had to make sure other animals and humans were no longer put at risk by the dogs.

    Dog owners have a responsibility to take warnings about their pets’ aggressive behavior seriously, especially when they have already caused problems for others. What do you think? Was the woman justified in having the dogs removed, or did her revenge cross a line?

    Readers said they understand why the woman wanted justice, but some found parts of the story hard to believe

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook
    Miracle Akinola

    Miracle Akinola

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Storyteller in the beautiful pursuit of wonder!

    Read less »
    Miracle Akinola

    Miracle Akinola

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Storyteller in the beautiful pursuit of wonder!

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh, I really WANT this story to be true, but the sentence about the dad driving into a tree and dyìng the very same day.....seems too much like the cherry on top.

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, I was thinking the same. Was already getting a bit too far-fetched with the xmas eve bit, the neighbours crying, etc. but then the ending, that and the CPS thing... and now I read the comments I see that at least one person there has added the necessary "then everyone clapped".

    Load More Replies...
    Deborah B
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unrealistic ending. But seriously, if a dog is aggressive towards humans or other animals, it is the owner's obligation to keep it under control at all times. The second time the dogs got off the owner's property should have gotten them confiscated. If a person is unable or unwilling to control their dog, either through training or confining it, then the dog should be re-homed to a competent owner, or euthanised if no responsible adopter can take it. If your dog roams, you leash it or you keep it inside.

    detective miller's hat
    Community Member
    38 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepfather and stepbrother tried to move their brown lab into mine and my mother's house even after mum said absolutely no dogs, when they KNEW their dog had an issue with cats. We had 2 cats at the time. I love all animals, but after more than one very close call with that dog and my cats, I told them in no uncertain terms that if the dog was not removed from my house immediately, I was taking it outside and shooţing it.

    Load More Comments
    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh, I really WANT this story to be true, but the sentence about the dad driving into a tree and dyìng the very same day.....seems too much like the cherry on top.

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, I was thinking the same. Was already getting a bit too far-fetched with the xmas eve bit, the neighbours crying, etc. but then the ending, that and the CPS thing... and now I read the comments I see that at least one person there has added the necessary "then everyone clapped".

    Load More Replies...
    Deborah B
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unrealistic ending. But seriously, if a dog is aggressive towards humans or other animals, it is the owner's obligation to keep it under control at all times. The second time the dogs got off the owner's property should have gotten them confiscated. If a person is unable or unwilling to control their dog, either through training or confining it, then the dog should be re-homed to a competent owner, or euthanised if no responsible adopter can take it. If your dog roams, you leash it or you keep it inside.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    detective miller's hat
    Community Member
    38 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepfather and stepbrother tried to move their brown lab into mine and my mother's house even after mum said absolutely no dogs, when they KNEW their dog had an issue with cats. We had 2 cats at the time. I love all animals, but after more than one very close call with that dog and my cats, I told them in no uncertain terms that if the dog was not removed from my house immediately, I was taking it outside and shooţing it.

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT