Stupid Neighbors, Stupid Dog

My cats go outside.  Only when I am home and they are called in when it gets dark or is raining.  They usually stay inside the fence, but like all cats and children, explore the neighbor's yards cautiously while making their rounds.  Lexy likes to sit just outside the driveway gate where he can pop back in through the pickets when he wants to.  I think it's cruel to make them stay inside when they don't want to and they are usually pretty good with coming when I call.  I have some cats that don't want to go out.  That's ok too.  I also have one who lives outside most of the time because he pees on all vertical surfaces.

My entire yard has either a 6' board or 4' picket fence to keep out the dogs and children, but if one of them is determined they could still breach the perimeter.  Some of the houses on my block have college students who never come outside, so the cats feel safe to explore their yards.  Several yards have dogs.  Several have kids.  I have not had any problems with dogs or kids for a long time.

I heard a commotion outside this afternoon--sounded like cats growling--which I hear a lot because some of my cats are grouchy and like to chase each other around outside--but different somehow.  I saw past the driveway gate a ball of yellow and black fur rolling around on the terrace.  As I ran toward it I saw that there was a yellow dog fighting one of my black cats.  I opened the gate and saw that there was a fence picket laying on the sidewalk so I picked that up and began whacking the dog's butt with it.  It finally let go and I saw that it was a pit bull.  I chased it to the corner as my cat limped back through the fence.  When I got to the corner there was a girl with a leash, who I have seen walking this dog--always on a leash.  She was alarmed that I was carrying a picket and I yelled that her dog had just attacked my cat--I'm not getting close to either of them at this point.  I wanted to see where the dog went.  The girl was getting belligerent as I explained that her dog had badly injured my cat and I was trying to see where she lived.  She was not saying she was sorry this happened at ANY point during this confrontation.  She was acting like her letting the dog run around outside without a leash was my fault.

Gotta love those stupid pit bull owners.  It's never their fault when one of their uncontrollable dogs attacks a pet or a person.

As I was hurrying home to see how badly injured my cat was another cretinous neighbor--the one who gives me the bird every time he sees me and never fails to have a string of cursing ready to throw my way (because I told him when he stopped swearing at me I would start listening to him)--had the nerve to say.  "See what happens when you don't keep your *&*&*## cats in your yard"  I told him to shut up and kept walking and he kept flinging invectives at me so I stopped and yelled as loud as I could "I LOVE you Zeke and want to have your baby!"  His look was priceless and he muttered that I was too stupid for him.  I continued to say "But I LOVE you, Zeke" until I was in my own yard.*  That's my new tactic for dealing with him.  My way of swearing.

Lexy was badly injured and was having trouble walking so I took him into the house and got him in a box with towels and made a vet appointment.  They graciously made room for me so I rushed him over.  He was covered with dog spit, poor little guy.  He crawled into my lap while I was driving.

His exam showed several puncture wounds and a massive rip of his lower belly that fortunately was just through the skin and fat--not touching organs or muscle.  His fat tummy was an asset! 

The vet called me after surgery and said Lexy was still touch and go but he would check on him later.  I had an appointment to keep with a part-time job I have so I went after I got the report.  There was nothing on my answering machine when I got home, so I'll assume everything is good for picking him up tomorrow.

I called the police to make a report and they referred me to Animal Control.  Of course, their office was closed, so I called the Sheriff.  A nice officer took my report and said that he couldn't get out to visit the dog's home until after the weekend, so one good thing is that they will worry all weekend what is going to happen to them.  He will call me before he goes there to get an update on my cat.

When I came back from the vet's I noticed that the fence section with the missing picket was torn loose from the posts at both ends.  This section had just been repaired 2 months ago, so it was secure.  It looks like the stupid dog dragged my cat through the fence as he was trying to get away or something.  It's not that easy to rip both sides of a fence loose and take a picket off without a lot of force.  I will have to take pictures and repair this before the officer can get out here because a broken fence is an invitation in this neighborhood--especially with irresponsible pet owners around.

Oh, and my unemployment ran out two weeks ago and I have not been informed about any extensions.  But I fought off a pit bull today.

*If you have ever looked at http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ this guy would fit right in.  A cadaverously skinny redneck with an Ernhardt hat and shirt and a scuzzy gray ponytail who smokes and drags an oxygen canister around and is lately driving an electric cart.  (Not) married to a fat bleached blonde with her own multiple ailments and a foul mouth to match his.  I have known this couple for over 15 years and they have always been on some kind of medical assistance and banned from driving.  No visible sign of income, and signs plastered all over their doors about their own dangerous dog, and Don't knock on the door, etc.  A lovely couple who I am waiting to hear have died, but they never do, though they have come close a few times.