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Dog Wanders Into Home, Kills Cat
Shady Cove
Tonight one Shady Cove family is mourning the loss of thier family cat, and speaking out, urging people to keep a close watch on their pets.
After they say a strange dog came into their home and shook thier cat to death.
"I came over here and just started hitting it over and over with a broom"
Kelli Tuvako describes the final moments of bootsie, her beloved family cat of 14 years.?
"Looked in the Nickle and saw this ad and we drove up to Butte Falls Highway so she could pick the kitty that she wanted. So she brought home this little kitty."
Friday evening Tuvako says she had her sliding glass door open for Bootsie to go in and out of the house, when a dog came running in after the cat.
"And I was just horrified and felt really violated that this dog could just come in my house and attack my cat, and there wasn't anything I could do."
Moments later she says a young man ran up to the dog and dragged him off of the cat.
According to Tuvako, he explained he was watching the dog while its owners are out of the area.
The dog was allegedly tied up to a tree but chewed off part of its harness and escaped.
Authorities responded and say the dog eventually ended up with Jackson County Sheriff's Department and will stay with them until animal control offices open on Monday.
Tuvako alleges the dog was not properly trained.
"I think I have more blame for the owners not training the dog appropriately. Because even the officer said its a possibility they could re-train the dog and give him a second chance."
Now she's left without her friend of 14 years, and hopes her story will remind other pet owners to keep a close watch on their dogs and cats, so others won't have to lose a beloved part of their family.
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125 South Fir Street
Medford, OR 97501
Comments (4)
It is so sad to hear of this incident. I believe there are 2 victims: both cat and dog. The house door was left open and not monitored; dog was not sufficiently secured and monitored, resulting in tragedy for both. I've known cats to be every bit aggressive with cherished canaries & pet fish. It's in their programming, their basic natures. That carries neither fault nor blame. Conversely,
pet owners' negligence -intended or not- sets up innocent animal victims to suffer tragic consequences. My hope is that the dog will be not be destroyed because of inadequate care. And that responsibilities will be accepted honestly by all involved.
I feel for the cat owner. My own cat was killed by 2 pit bulls while she was laying on the front porch swing. I found out later that those same dogs had killed other cats in the neighborhood. Those same dogs charged a friend who had to use a pistol to stop them. One dog was injured the other ran. I still remember Memers. She was a part of the family.
I agree with Jacqueline, this is so sad. I don't agree with the cat owner in the dog not being trained. I have dogs, and a cat. They are fine together. But, if my dogs were to see a strange cat in our yard, they would chase it. If they were loose (they aren't) they would probably chase it right into someone's house. I don't like to think what would happen if they caught a cat.
The dog was probably very scared itself, its owner not around, and being tried up.
I hope the dog gets a second chance, even if it can't be retrained to not go after cats. It's pretty hard to train a dog to not chase a cat, especially if it runs!
The lessons to dog and cat owners are these... Keep your cats indoors. Don't leave your dog tied outside.
(The front door was left open? The dog got into the backyard? I leave my back door open, but loose dogs couldn't get in the yard to enter the house.)
This happened to my mother and all the details were not depicted properly. The cat had been laying around in the house for a long period of time,which she does often,while my mother was in her kitchen,which is also open to the area where the cat sits,which also happens to be no more than 15-20ft away from Bootsie. The door was only open 6in or less,as it is often for her to go in/out. The dog lives across the creek and down with about 5-6 acres between homes. Non of the family has ever seen the dog before. Bootsie was also 17yrs old and overweight and rarely wandered to far from home,if at all. The gentleman watching the dog/house had tied the dog to a tree close to where he had been fishing. This had been done regularely for the past month or two with no incidents. There was no apparent reason for the dog to even be near the house, let alone come into it. He had to push the door open with his nose to even get in,and my mom thought my dad had just gotten home until she heard the aweful scraping and groweling and looked to see this dog,which she proceeded to beat numerous time to no avail. The dog hardly flinched. I grew up out there. We've had many pets,many dogs,even adopted a few stray dogs, but non have ever acted with such insanity. I realize the dog is just that,and an animal,but even animals have instincts and a sense of territory. There is no trying to explain this action just the same as why some crazed man will kill another. Yes there is retraining and appropriate actions to take in these instances but the action itself whether animal or human is acceptable ,appropriate, or safe behavior. I dont know really what is appropriate action but we do need to keep our neiborhoods safe. I think of my 16 neices and nephews,many of which have played with Bootsie there by the fireplace where she lays. What if one of those little ones had been there sitting on the floor with her?...I would hate to think of it but this is also reality, as it has happened to others. That is my concern. As with any negative behavior or crime commited- animal or human, its always easier to do it the second time. I hope and pray that those handling this situation and any like it with do so with all seriousness and sincerity and prayer, That something is done for the safely of ourselves,our children and our other animals. I'm sorry for the family to whom he belomgs,as they are not here. It would be hard to know my beloved pet did such a thing.