A woman wants a change in the law after her cat was killed by a loose dog.

Jess Rozee's cat Kitty was killed where she lives in Swindon - she said CCTV footage shows her pet being chased, chewed, shaken then left still just alive by two men with the dog.

Ms Rozee has started a petition that so far has 7,000 signatures on it, asking to make it an offence for a person's dog to kill another pet, by prosecuting owners.

all 58 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 11 points 1 year ago

I support this. My 20 lb dog has been attacked multiple times by off-leash dogs, and luckily I've been able to step in and fight them off without much injury beyond a broken wrist, but I'm terrified of the day that I don't succeed. We need more accountability for idiots who think "my dog needs to run so I'm just going to let him off leash in a public park!" instead of taking them to the dog park which exists for that purpose.

Also, cats belong inside unless they're working (barn cats etc.).

  • source
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago* (37 children)

    I see the issue, but i dont think she is prepared for the consequences. Her cat probably killed a bunch of animals in its life. Cats are the No 2 bird killer after glass windows afaik. Yes we should ban pitbulls but that also wont save your cat. Its just gonna get run over instead. Dont let your animals run free if you dont want them to die.

  • source
  • hideshow 37 child comments
  • [–] 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Not pets so there might be no legality

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    I agree, but that part wouldn't apply because birds aren't pets (unless someone let out their bird, which I don't think happens, but in that case yeah it should apply).

    This should be an offence, I hate seeing people with dogs that they can't even control on a leash, it's a danger to everyone and maybe this would make people think again about getting an upgraded pit bull terrier with max enchantments.

    Also I would never let a cat outside without full supervision, they have become an invasive species basically (as u mention) killing off lots of other animals whenever they are out (but this should still be an offence if it was killed by someones dog, etc and the other way round).

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (29 children)

    Her cat probably killed a bunch of animals in its life.

    **may have. Not all cats are birders.

    And no, despite what paranoid terminally online people will tell you, not all outdoor pets are destined to be run over.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 29 child comments
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    not all outdoor pets are destined to be run over.

    yeah some get eaten by coyotes. valid point I guess.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    England doesn't have coyotes. Let me guess, your an American applying your American perspective unilaterally to the world?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    No foxes? Badgers? You think they only have one predator?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Lmao, neither are known for attacking and hunting adult cats.

    But do keep desperately making up bullshit rather than doing an ounce of research yourself.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Neither are coyotes as well… but it does happen and especially when their food supplies are dwindled, by like say outdoor cats?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    The thing is to uur pets are supposed to stay in your property. Is there a city where it's legal to let your car roam.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    In the UK under the Animals Act 1971, cats are "free-spirits" meaning they "cannot be held guilty of trespass under civil law and, therefore, their owners or keepers cannot be liable for any damage done".

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    Hypocrites if they want dogs held accountable, but not their own animal. Yet cats are known to cause devastation to all local wildlife, they also spread diseases in gardens, they live shorter unhealthier lives since they pick up all sorts of other bacteria and viruses.

    It’s quite frankly inhumane to let cats free, and it’s wild that there’s a place that won’t hold their owners accountable for the property damage they inevitably cause. Most places have updated their laws as new informations come out in the last 50 years. Those laws aren’t even based on scientific studies I believe. It’s all “feel good”.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    cats are known to cause devastation to all local wildlife

    I'm pretty sure the RSPCB disproved this years ago, at least for birds, but I can't find that study.

    they also spread diseases in gardens

    So can foxes, badgers, rats etc. Most cats are vaccinated annually against diseases and will go to the vet for checkups regularly, therefore the risk is much lower.

    they live shorter unhealthier lives

    Shorter? Sure, but not because of disease. Traffic is a much bigger problem, letting cats outside in cities or near busy roads is a far greater risk to their lifespan and I would never recommend someone to do that. Claiming they live unhealthier lives is wrong too. An outdoor cat can get so much more exercise than an indoor cat ever could, reducing obesity (as long as it's not grifting for food with every other household nearby, which is rare).

    It’s quite frankly inhumane to let cats free

    It is much more humane in the UK (which is where I am and where the petition is) to let cats outside, and let them enjoy fresh air every day, discover new smells, socialise with other animals, and generally be so much happier, than trapping them inside from when they're a kitten until they either die miserable, or escape and find an owner who will take care of them properly.

    it’s wild that there’s a place that won’t hold their owners accountable for the property damage they inevitably cause.

    Have you ever met a cat? It is extremely hard to control what they do, and the law recognises that. Theoretically, a judge could rule that cats are under the same category as dogs, but a cat would first have to do as much damage as a dog could do. Only one legal case got close. where the cat "got into Mrs. W. ‘s, fiat ate mincepies and fish, got on to a bed, and scratched the bedpost". The judge sided with the cat owner.

    Most places have updated their laws as new informations come out in the last 50 years

    The UK has too, see the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

    Those laws aren’t even based on scientific studies I believe. It’s all “feel good”.

    The RSPCA and other organisations like them conduct studies and campaign for the law to be updated accordingly. The UK is one of the top countries for animal welfare as per World Animal Protection, and is significantly better than the USA.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (13 children)

    Vermin and insects are beneficial for nature too, not just birds are the issue….

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 13 child comments
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago* (12 children)

    Lmfao. Bruh, ban mouse and rat traps then.

    Cats are literally domesticated pets because humans in urban settings need to constantly kill mice and rats.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 12 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago* (11 children)

    Those are selective…. A cat isn’t, not even close to being comparable.

    Outside in a city? You mean rural, farms are rural. For urban you would use traps like you suggested…? Or does the same not apply back? You can use a cat indoors for your own personal use of course.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 11 child comments
  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago* (10 children)

    Outside in a city? You mean rural, farms are rural. For urban you would use traps like you suggested…?

    I mean areas where we store food and grain, which is everywhere humans live, not just farms.

    There's a reason cats are known even for going on old timely sailing ships. We have used them for micing and ratting forever, because we need to constantly kill mice and rats.

    Cities these days have dedicated programs for killing rodents. It's insane to be like 'cats are destroying the mouse and rat population' when they are thriving.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 10 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (9 children)

    Ah yes, all enclosed areas where the cats don’t affect the wildlife itself…

    Or as you said, traps!

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 9 child comments
  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago* (8 children)

    You know that owners put bells on cats for a reason right?

    And the point is that if we're mass killing rodents, then cats doing so for us is not a problem.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    in an urban environment, are you watching the animal, making sure it's safe...ya know, being RESPONSIBLE for the thing? hell no, you aren't when you let your cat roam free to do whatever. it's abuse and neglectful. people in cities with free roaming outdoor cats should be charged, and banned from owning pets due to their abusive neglect.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 0 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    If you put a bell on cat it’s not gonna be a very good exterminator anymore dude….

    What point are you even trying to make here anymore?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    The point being that people but bells on cats to prevent them from killing things when they're outside.

    The idea that every outdoor cat is slaughtering the entire bird population is an idea that a bunch of terminally online peopls repeat to each other to justify being indoor cats.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago* (4 children)

    So they can negligent and let them roam free? Which is illegal in most jurisdictions regardless? Insects don’t care about a bell for one thing, and we already established that it’s not just birds, but insects and vermin the decimate populations of too….

    For another, you are clearly entirely ignorant on a whole about all the issues they present if you’re still bloviating about birds.

    So, one thing people like you who just decry people trying to educate others about the issues, is they also carry deadly diseases and crap everywhere. If they shit in a garden (which they do it’s giant litter box) they can contaminate that persons food.

    So now that you are educated on the fact that there’s more than just “birds” that are the issue here, your gonna shut the fuck up or at the very least stop insulting people who are more educated than yourself…? Right…?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    So they can negligent and let them roam free? Which is illegal in most jurisdictions regardless?

    No, it's not. It has in fact been explicitly legal for cats to roam free everywhere in the UK since 1971.

    Please cite your source for the regulations of 'most jurisdictions'.

    Insects don’t care about a bell for one thing, and we already established that it’s not just birds, but insects and vermin the decimate populations of too….

    Insects do in fact have senses of hearing, and we've already established that killing rodents is not a problem.

    So, one thing people like you who just decry people trying to educate others about the issues, is they also carry deadly diseases and crap everywhere. If they shit in a garden (which they do it’s giant litter box) they can contaminate that persons food.

    Lmfao, wash your fucking vegetables. Squirrels, groundhogs, racoons, bugs, and other nature exists in your garden too.

    So now that you are educated on the fact that there’s more than just “birds” that are the issue here, your gonna shut the fuck up or at the very least stop insulting people who are more educated than yourself…? Right…?

    Says the guy spreading factually incorrect information about the UK's laws around cats in a thread about the UK's laws around cats?

    Maybe you should educate yourself before trying to educate others.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    So a 50 year old law that probably had nothing to do with the affects on the environment at the time are what you’re gonna hold onto here?

    We know better now, that’s why most sane places have changed their laws in the 50 fucking years since.

    Don’t you think it’s time to look back and change it, and maybe this lady wouldn’t be trying to hold another animal responsible when they cause more issues?

    Dogs are allowed to be off leash, so why is this situation flipped? If a cat can roam free an cause public property damage with no repercussions, why should dogs be held to a higher standard? Pleas I would love to hear why one’s okay, but not the other way.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Dogs are allowed to be off leash, so why is this situation flipped?

    Please cite your source for that, because in the UK, generally, no they absolutely are not allowed to be off leash on city streets.

    And why is there a different standard for cats and dogs? Do I really need to explain that to you? It should be plainly fucking obvious that a loose cat has literally never killed a person, whereas loose dogs regularly kill both people and others' pets.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago*

    Well Google says you’re wrong, what a shocker.

    Link

    While there is no countrywide blanket ban on walking dogs off-lead along roads, you should keep your dog on a lead, as stated in the Highway Code, when walking by any road to prevent accidents.

    So it’s okay for cats to decimate the environment? I get it’s not the same, but don’t ignore the facts that cats cause severe environmental issues. If you REALLY want to get into, the affects they have would cause more human deaths, but of course these points are ignored because dogs do it directly.

    Anyways, I’ve had enough of you, and clearly you can’t comprehend the bigger picture and just want dogs banned because a few bad owners (like negligent outdoor cats lmfao) have issues. Dogs aren’t inherently aggressive, cats inherently destroy the environment. So which is worse…? It’s not dogs who don’t kill nature indiscriminately, atleast to most sane people it wouldn’t…

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] -1 points 1 year ago

    I'll never understand the downvotes from people who willing allow their cats to get killed by letting them roam free without any supervision. beyond stupid they are. it's neglect and animal abuse. nothing less.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] -3 points 1 year ago (16 children)

    So she let her cat loose just like the dog was loose? She should have been a responsible owner and kept it inside

  • source
  • hideshow 16 child comments
  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (15 children)

    Did you read the article?

    The dog was out on a walk, with the owners, there's literally no excuse for an untrained dog not being on a leash. The dog owners then left her obviously injured cat to die rather than getting it veterinary care.

    That's a real dumbly over simplified false equivalency.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 15 child comments
  • [+] -16 points 1 year ago* (12 children)

    So?

    Feral cats are a thing, and there was a loose cat, that’s worse than an off leash dog, which may not be illegal there. But at an at large cat is always illegal.

    So you want someone who was maybe doing nothing illegal to be responsible for someone who was without a doubt doing something illegal?

    Does that make any sense to you…?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 12 child comments
  • [–] 18 points 1 year ago (11 children)

    Feral cats are a thing, and there was a loose cat, that’s worse than an off leash dog, way may not be illegal there. But at an at large cat is always illegal.

    Wtf are you talking about?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 11 child comments
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

    Lol yea if your definition of a feral cat is a jaguar maybe...

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago* (7 children)

    ………

    Every city has them, how do you not know what a feral cat is lmfao. They even out number domesticated by a ratio of 3:1….

    Of the 700 million cats in the world, an estimated 480 million are feral.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    I understand what feral cats are, just not your abomination of a sentence.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    I fixed my single typo that didn’t affect the overall context of my comment, by the time you responded, but of course trolls ignore that to justify being like this. So only you and your quote show that.

    Get help dude.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Lol if there was just a single typo then your point itself must have been nonsense.

    A loose cat is not worse than an off leash dog, a loose house cat is not the same thing as a feral cat, and a loose cat is not illegal.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    Actually check your local jurisdictions law. Most cities ban loose animals (cats), which is why it’s illegal….

    So you can’t comprehend my point because of your ignorance? That’s what I already thought, thanks for confirming it for everyone else here.

    A legally off leash dog killed an illegally off leash cat (at large) and you want people to mad at the person who was doing nothing illegal. You’re an idiot. If you can’t comprehend this I feel feel sad for future generations…,,

    Most laws specify all pets must be in your control while outside, this means leashed or in a fenced backyard. Cats are not excluded…. Read your local laws or atleast understand overall state/federal regulations before speaking up yeeesh.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Actually check your local jurisdictions law. Most cities ban loose animals (cats), which is why it’s illegal….

    Nope, some just require them to be registered / have a license, and in the UK, you know, the country we're talking about, cats have had the legal right to roam freely. Since 1971.

    So since youre so confident, why don't you go ahead and cite your source for "most cities" regulations. Or failing that, why don't you cite your source for the regulations of the city in the article?

    So you can’t comprehend my point because of your ignorance? That’s what I already thought, thanks for confirming it for everyone else here.

    No because of your nonsense (factually wrong) points. But don't worry, it's totally everyone else who is wrong. You could never be wrong. You're the special boy with special powers.

    A legally off leash dog killed an illegally off leash cat (at large) and you want people to mad at the person who was doing nothing illegal.

    Lol, unlike cats, it is illegal for a dog to be outdoors and off leash in the UK.

    You seem to fundamentally not understand what the laws are around pet ownership in the UK.

    Maybe don't spew your Americanness everywhere. I know it's hard for you people to understand, but not every country is in fact America.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] -3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Lmfao, one single place foolishly lets their cats roam free and you think that makes your point?

    Yeesh. You clearly didn’t comprehend all their issues.

    I do hope one shits in your garden and kills you one day. They are terrible animals to let roam free, but point to an outlier as the example for why it’s okay? Maybe muffins wouldn’t be dead if the law wasn’t so foolish? Or did you not stop to think about that?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago*

    lol someone gives one example of a country that allows cats to roam free and you represent it as if that is the only single country in the world that does that. You honestly lack discussion skills and probably would benefit from a bit of common sense too.

    I feel like you are about to claim off leash domestic cats are more likely to kill humans than off leash domestic dogs.

  • source
  • parent
  • [+] -6 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    So one loose animal kills another and she wants to accept no responsibility for her actions that lead to this either?

    Feral cats are an issue in a lot of municipalities, for tall they know they just stopped one from devastating local wildlife. If not even domesticated cats do it too, so still better for the local wildlife.

    Dont let mittens run wild, only bad things can and will happen, in fact you’re killing them faster, indoor cats live significantly longer healthier lives, so stop letting them out.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago

    letting them out is fine, leash them AND watch them.

    I honestly do not understand the stupidity people have when it comes to cats other then they are all infected with Toxoplasma gondii and their brains are warped to just like cats and they dismiss anything logical like how they abuse cats by letting mittens roam free. yes, it's animal abuse and anyone who has outdoor cats in a city environment should be charged with neglect the same way if you left them in a hot car.

  • source
  • parent