From: siberian@users.easynews.com   
      
    wrote in message news:3l1nvpF10pp8cU1@individual.net...   
   > On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:24:33 GMT Just me    
   > whittled these words:   
      
   > Yes, you can be held responsible.  The purpose of requiring that a dog be   
   > on leash is to see that the dog is under control.  In this case your dog   
   > was not under control or the incident would not have occurred.  Your   
   > responsiblity is to be aware of what is going on arround you and take   
   > steps to prevent your dog from harming other people's property.  WHile   
   > your dog was being what he is, that does NOT mean you have no   
   > responsiblity here.   
   >   
   > The kitten too was behaving normally.  And unlike your dog I'll bet there   
   > is no leash law for cats.  So the cat was legally in public, and you were   
   > in public. What your dog did was perfectly normal, but you did know of the   
   > risk, you said so.  Even normal behavior like this can be trained to not   
   > occur when you are present.  It is up to you to prevent your dog from   
   > acting in ways that will harm other people's property. Let's say it was   
   > not a kitten that went up to your dog but a child's ball that rolled   
   > within range and your dog bit and popped the ball.  You would be   
   > responsible for the damage to the property.   
   >   
   > Of course the people should keep their cats out of danger.  Hopefully you   
   > do not live in a community that will lable your dog a vicious dog for this   
   > incident.  In my community that is exactly what would happen.  You would   
   > be required to put up signs that you have a vicious dog, and get extra   
   > insurance, have your property inspected to ensure it can secure the dog   
   > and the dog would not be allowed out without a muzzle.   
   >   
   > Look, I understand that it was within the nature of your dog.  And if the   
   > kitten had come onto your property there would be no issue here.  But the   
   > fact is you know your dog posed a risk and you failed to prevent the   
   > occurrence.  And that is how breed bans are born.  Huskies are often   
   > included in breed bans becausse frankly no one cares whether there is a   
   > difference between a dog that kills cats, one that kills other dogs, and   
   > one that injures people.  They don't want to see things they care about   
   > attacked by someone's dog.   
   >   
   > Accustom your dog to a muzzle as clearly he can't control himself with you   
   > right beside him.   
      
   The only reason why this happend was because I didn't say no to the kids   
   when they asked to pet my dog. Ususally I bike right thru the area and if I   
   had done that this time too this accident would have been prevented.   
      
   The kitten came running towards the kids. It ran towards us from behind and   
   then up along me. It happend very fast. I know episodes like this can happen   
   and I will not bike thru that area anymore.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)