Our big boy kitty loves the lanai and has little interest in going outside, thank goodness. He could clear the wall with no problem at all. I would not allow him to go outside because of the ease of getting over the wall. We have fixed the gap in the gate problem because we have a little dog as well. I am not so worried about him getting hurt by a dog, but more concerned that he would get lost or get hurt in the street. He has NO fear of dogs since he grew up around them and he tolerates our cattle dog grooming him...she thinks she is his mom....The average life span of a cat that goes out is 3-4 years and is 12 years and up for an indoor cat. I read this on a petfood website.

Although I think your questions are probably rhetorical, I think there is benefit in providing you with some good answers.

1. Dogs naturally attacking cats
http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-dogs-chase-cats.htm

2. Coyotes afraid of people but not animals
http://www.lcfpd.org/docs/media_pub_25097.pdf

3. Responsibilities of a pet owner
http://www.paw-rescue.org/rpo_owner.html

Hope that helps with your understanding of the questions you asked.

It is the nature of dogs in a group to go into an attack mode when they see potential prey - in this case, a cat who probably was trying to escape the harness and tether. Was this cat inside of the courtyard of a villa or was it outside the courtyard area? If it were inside and tethered with the gate being closed, dogs would not have been able to get inside - therefore, the cat was outside the courtyard area.

I have not seen any news article anywhere that had a coyote attacking a person. They will kill a little dog or cat for food just like they would do with a rabbit or squirrel. If a toddler or baby was outside by themself, it is possible a coyote might go after them, I guess.

Needless to say, I would not leave a baby or toddler outside by themself (or tethered outside) anywhere. Florida has too many things that could harm a child if the opportunity was there including fire ants, rattlesnakes, spiders, dogs running loose, pythons, child predators, etc.

Sure, I feel pity for a person who lost a pet - but they did not use common sense. It was a very hard lesson to learn but they will not do that again.

Add coral snakes to the list. My brother and SIL lost a Jack Russell to a coral snake. They live in Crystal River. The Standard Poodle polished off the snake.

I reread what I wrote and I may have sounded insensitive Kate. I am so sorry for the family of the kitty who was killed and concerned that the dogs are still out there.

I know that your warning was meant to let us know to protect our little charges. Thank you so much.

Were these two dogs house broken dogs on a romp or a twosome pack of wild dogs?

I know that some of the posts talk about keeping dogs on a leash but if they were wild dogs then we have a problem.

Coyotes do attack humans
 

Coyote attacks woman
http://www.ocregister.com/news/woman...es-coyote.html

Coyote kills woman
http://www.vnnforum.com/archive/index.php/t-102838.html
Coyote Attacks Woman AND Pitbull
http://www.asylum.com/2010/01/27/wil...woman-pitbull/

Let's be clear. Coyotes attacking a human is very very rare which is mentioned in the articles you cited.
A coyote with rabies cannot digest food and is out of its mind with hunger. It will attack a human, especially in the cases cited, where it really wanted the pet dog to eat.
A normal coyote, which isn't sick, is very shy and will stay away from humans. ( Also stated in the articles you cited. )

Sounds as though the coyote attacks on humans are very rare things but it certainly is a possibility, according to those articles.

Very rare animal encounters do happen. Just ask male super-model Fabio who was on a roller coaster and got hit in the face by a goose.
http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com...40199_01.shtml

True but its not going to keep me off of roller coasters! LOL

I'll bet that's not the first or the last time Fabio ever got goosed! http://www.financeglobe.com/FN/image...-undecided.gif

Even penguins sometimes attack people. Lucky us, to live in TV.

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_u...?v=6qNOIJNfICI

Mumble - - - no!

On a serious note, very sad that this happened to the pet.

Sorry to hear about your neighbor's cat, Kate.

As to some of the other comments on this thread:

We had an abandoned Beagle roaming around in our neighborhood about 6 months back. Last month, Doggie Doo Run Run ( private dog park on CR101 near its junction with CR104) had two lab mixes a good Samaritan coaxed off CR101. These two dogs had wandered from their home around CR42 after digging out from their backyard. They had wandered a good two miles or more. Dogs with owners do get loose here in the Villages. And, you have to keep your eyes out for pets who have broken off their leash or got loose in some other way. My own dog took a 3 hour adventure when a house guest did not secure the front door after leaving our then empty house.


Could be these two "boxers" were abandoned or lost.

A pair of boxers were often walked in our Lynnhaven neighborhood by a woman who looked like she would have trouble handling them if they took off after a rabbit or feral cat. She now only walks with a single and its looks like a new younger boxer.

A dog walker in our immediate area of the Villages broke her wrist trying to control her mastiff like dog after it wanted to attack a toy poodle of another Villagers dog walker. The toy poodle was badly mauled.

A coyote often wanders in a field not more than a few blocks from the Lynnhaven pool.

The dogs were seen again yesterday and this morning trying to break into a screened lanai where two small Maltese were playing. They had collars, so not wild.

There are many theories as to what causes dogs to attack and not just other animals. "There was a news article a few months back about a 4 year old girl killed by the family’s Rottweilers. It was a truly sad situation and our hearts go out to the parents and family of this young child. Dogs kill between 10 and 20 people a year in the U.S. and most of them are children." For the rest, go here...

http://animalbehaviorassociates.com/...e-dog-attacks/

Again, calling my neighbor stupid and irresponsible is, in itself stupid, irresponsible and insensitive. We all feel we were violated and you are saying that she asked for it!

And where was her stupidity committed? In a home with a protective wall at the rear (CYVs behind) and two homes on either side. On the lower part of a cul de sac with nearly no traffic and three streets away from a main artery. So the odds are that in a 30 minute window she should have prepared herself for the possibility of attack by gators and crocodiles (though near no water), raptors of all types (though the kitty had the ability to hide in landscaping), and roving packs of wild dogs (even though they had never before been seen), coyotes etc etc etc.

A tragedy is just that - like an accident, there doesn't need to be someone at fault. Zoomer was rescued as a kitten and lived ten wonderful years with a caring family.

I hope you or whoever saw these dogs running loose again called the police or neighborhood watch immediately. The owner of these dogs needs to be arrested.

Thank you Duffy's Mom - Zoomer's owner also has a little Duffy lookalike - he and Finley are best buds....must be the Maltese in them...

________________________________
Would it help to post a warning on the mailboxes about these dogs? I feel very bad that the poor cat was killed, and I'm shocked to hear that after all of this, they tried to get to the other screened-in dogs!

Question
 

As a country boy we do take care of rabid and dangerous animals. It involves a bullit.

However with that upsetting half TV and TV is not wild farm land my question is. Do we not have a Dog Warden that picks up Dogs gone wild!

What ever happened to the Rain Gutter eating critter?

I am sorry to hear about the cat. I have never left a cat outdoors. There are stray dogs, coyotes, and other predators everywhere in the world.

You are right Kate. The family of Zoomer has suffered a terrible tragedy.

I hope that information on the dogs is being published via the radio, so that people in the area can be extra vigilant. The dogs probably escaped from a yard or farm, or even a traveller's car. I certainly hope the dog catchers are on the case!

You can bet you'll never hear anything about such unpleasant subjects on the developer's radio station. Good news only!! Several neighbors spotted a wolf (yep-looked up pictures online to verify) going after a calf in the pasture adjacent to Tamarind Grove (think: food chain).

Wolf?
 

Morning!

Wow did not know a Wolf still alive in Fla neighborhoods.

Sure it is not one of those http://clearwater.patch.com/articles...-coydog-wolf-2

Either way very scarry! Out west in Wyoming it was wild cougars going after new born colts. Papa Stallion took care of them.

Mine too. They beg to go out on the lanai. When they want to come in, they jump up on a little table and peer thru the kitchen window.
P.S. I have seen one of them on my top book shelf, almost 8 ft. up. A villa wall would not be much of a challenge.

YES, call Sumter County Animal Control (352) 569-1960.
If you see these dogs, call Animal Control immediately.

The Villages has no jurisdiction over animal problems and turns all reports and complaints over to the counties.
http://sumtercountyfl.gov/index.aspx?nid=75

Watch out folks. In a very short time there's going to be a Fox in The Villages! I have it on good authority this fox LOVES animals but eats children!
:wave:

Joanne J and Car Guys - thanks for the insights.

and in about a month, there's gonna be a fat guy in a red suit flying around with some reindeer. He had better be careful when he goes through The Villages !

Fox vs. Dawg
 

Oh..oh! What will happen if the FOX meets the DAWG????? :wave:

Kate:

I wanted to express my condolence for your neighbors cat.

I couldn't reply to this thread before. I was just heartsick. I can only imagine the pain your neighbor felt. It was a truly tragic incident. What makes it even more heartbreaking is that I'm sure your neighbors are blaming themselves even though they thought their beloved cat was safe. I can also imagine how sick the dogs' owners will feel if they discover their pets killed another animal. My sincere condolences to your neighbors. Here's hoping these dogs are caught before they can do more harm.

I wish we had a way to "like" answers or give points or something for good answers. I'd good answer you Red. <3

Ahhhhhhhh HA!
 

QUOTE=angiefox10;423017]Watch out folks. In a very short time there's going to be a Fox in The Villages! I have it on good authority this fox LOVES animals but eats children!
:wave:[/QUOTE]

NO COUGAR JOKES Angie!:jester::jester:

I agree. When someone says something that really hits home. I wish I could *like* it! Nice post Red!

Redwitch, This is a wise and compassionate post.

Fabio got goosed??

Red, you are truly an inspiration. I too am so sorry for their loss, no matter what the cause. It is really wise to wait before posting to a thread that makes you heartsick. I think I will take a page from that book in the future.

I saw an article in The Daily Sun today that mentioned the incident and asking people to call Animal Control if they see the dogs.

Since someone did say the dogs have collars, I would bet their owner lets them run loose everyday and has no idea of the damage they cause.

You may want to read post #78...........

So would I. Good answer, Red.