Simply Koi and More Koi

ageinghippy wrote:Bizarrely, I think you`ll find that `cats`are classed as being wild animals, and allowed the freedom to roam where they will.

I suspect they are pets, every bit as much as our koi, dogs, rabbits, ducks etc. - it's just that the average cat owner doesn't give a toss for anyone or anything else that their cats kill, pester, damage and/or foul. When they book their pampered murderers into a five star cat hotel to be looked after while they're on holiday, I'll bet they expect them to have a heated bedroom with an open run that's got a roof to stop them getting out!

If you are right, presumably that means they have the same status as other "vermin" or wild, uncontrolled animals? I.e. If a farmer has a fox or wild dog (or even one that has just escaped its owner) chasing and worrying his sheep, let alone killing them, he can reach for his shotgun and put an end to the threat - sounds like an excellent solution to me!

Cheers

Bob

Hi Bob,

Yes in the words of the Swamp Men Shoot It Shoot It

Hi All

Well I did start a debate didn't I!!!!!!!!

First of all Mankey thank you for doing what you said you would, and I find the answer offensive to be honest. As a pet owner I do everything I can to protect not only my animals, but also from stopping my animals from causing any form of offence to others. I do everything in my power to protect them from harm, and in this situation I have done everything I can possibly do to stop my dog entering the neighbours garden. However the neighbour has NOT done everything he can to protect his animals, so he is lacking in his duty of care. Bob has also looked at the fence and I think he has agreed with me that I have done everything possible apart from replacing the whole fence which I am unable to do or get at to do. I have since got some lattice fencing and placed it where it seems to of stopped my dog getting into his garden, but now a cat is chasing the poor ducks. I really hope he doesn't keep these ducks for their eggs, because they must be so stressed from being chased by one thing or another.

As to cats, yes they are classed as wild animals, but if you own a cat you have a duty of care to care for it health wise, and as a cat owner I would even agree that if a cat was attacking a farmers livestock then the farmer would have every right to protect his livestock.

In the case of my neighbour and a lot of other pet owners, this is a case of they just can not be bothered, they want the animals but they dont want the responsibility that comes with them i.e protecting them, but I bet he will casue a right old fuse if anything happens to his ducks or to his dog when it gets hit by a car, but it wont be his fault.

Kim,

I know the answer is frustrating and I wouldn't want to give the impression that I'm defending the RSPCA. Currently, they and the UK Koi Policy Unit are working along similar lines. We both believe that educating pet owners in how to properly look after their animals, (koi in my case), will generally raise the standards of animal welfare so, at the moment, we are pretty much on the same side of the debate. But when we come to discussing koi shows, they lump them all together with pet fairs, some of which have a terrible reputation especially where reptiles are concerned. Their views are that all such activities should be banned. There are a few of us working to keep koi exempt from the legislation that will be coming but I think they will take a lot of convincing that koi shows aren't cruel to koi. It will be a tough argument so we may not be on the same side in the near future.

Anyway, I can see you care more for the welfare of the ducks than your neighbour does. If anything should happen to them, you've done your best, what more can anyone ask of you?