I'm devastated. The beagle killed one of the feral kittens!

[Critters2]

She was outside, while I was on a break from the office. When I went out to bring her in, she was standing over one of the kittens, and it was dead. A friend has tried to tell he she must've found it dead, but I don't think it was lying there when I put her out.

I know it's all instinct, and territory and whatnot. BUt it's hard to imagine that that beautiful kitten was killed by this dog:






It's so upsetting!

[Blue-Jay]

1. Animals are animals.

:shrug:

[Critters2]

2. I know. But I thought of her as, well, less animal than this.

I hate it when reality smacks me in the face this hard.

[Ava]

3. if she did kill it, i would think that it was an accident

animals tend to get rough with one another, and she probably accidentally hurt the kitten playing.

were there any bite marks or anything like that?

i'm so sorry :hug:

[Critters2]

4. My guess is that the kitten ran in front of her, and her chase instinct kicked in.

And it was in her territory. She lives with three cats, and is downright creepy-lovey with the one pictured (Leon). But this was one of the feral kittens that was born under my porch. Not one of her "pack", I suppose. I'm hoping she picked it up and shook it and it died quickly. That's my guess.

Beagles were bred to chase and hunt rabbits. That instinct is pretty well hard-wired into 'em.

Still...:cry:

[rebel with a cause]

16. If the kitten was feral

then it may have scratched her when she sniffed at it, and she instinctly grabbed it and shook it in defense. I have seen dogs do this that usually were very friendly with cats.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Is the body riddled with bullet holes?

[Blue-Jay]

6. 10,20,30,40,50 or more...

[Critters2]

7. She hasn't earned the title "Red Baron"...yet.

How many kittens would she have to shoot down for that?

[mentalsolstice]

8. I'm so sorry, but animal instincts are hard to figure out

Our yellow lab turned up as a scraggly, skittish stray on our doorstep four years ago. She was aggressive towards our pug, who was, and still is equally aggressive right back, and we really worried about our cat. Right after Hattie (the Lab) adopted us, my husband was walking her off-leash, and she went after a Boston Terrier that came out of his yard acting aggressive. Damage was done, and we spent $300 in vet bills for the BT. Now, 4 years later, she's totally chilled out. Our cat is the alpha, and the pug rules, Hattie has learned to be mellow, and not attack.

[Critters2]

9. I pretty much know it was her hound chase instinct,

but it's just very sad. She's a great dog most of the time, but she's a hound.

It's good to know your lab has chilled out. Sorry about the attack incident, but they really are little bundles of instinct. *sigh*

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. *hugs* That's so sad. Mayb your friend is right?

[Critters2]

11. I'd like to believe it, but I'm pretty sure the beag did this.

I've lived with hounds long enough to know how prey drive works. It's usually not a problem, because mature cats (there are lots of ferals in the neighborhood) will turn on the dog with claws out and that settles it. But I doubt the kitten had a chance. Dogs were created to chase and kill things. It's still there deep in their DNA, I'm afraid.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Yeah... It was a feral kitten and not "family". :^(

[Critters2]

13. That no doubt played a big role. nt

[Critters2]

14. I have to steel myself to dispose of the body.

Any Loungers want to show me how brave you are...and how close to North Central Illinois?

[Muttocracy]

15. one of my dogs killed another family pet

freak thing of several doors being left open. Dog brought the little rodent to me and dropped it at my feet. She died in my arms. It's awful, but it's one of those harsh reminders about animals being animals.

:cry:

:hug: