Cat saves boy video sweeping through?

[Galactica]

We watched it last night- all I could say was GOOOOD KITTY!    Seriously this cat totally saved this kid's life.  It is a pretty scary video though- just warning you, and the kid DOES get bit by a dog

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cat-saves-boy-from-vicious-dog-attack/

What I don't get about the video- is WHY did the mom not carry her little boy back into the house?

We used to have a cat like that- but she was Siamese.  I remember a doberman pincher came up to our living room window once and was barking- and she launched herself clear through the window screen and attacked. 

[Skeen]

I think she didn't carry him because she was chasing the dog off again.  I read she got bit too. 

But my cats would never do that.  They'd be like, "Eh.  We have one human left; our crunchie bowl will remain filled." 

[brightberry]

That kitty is a hero.  I've heard of cats doing things like this, but I don't think it's been caught on film before.  It seems so completely out of their nature.  I guess they care more than they let on.

[Galactica]

I think she didn't carry him because she was chasing the dog off again.  I read she got bit too. 

But my cats would never do that.  They'd be like, "Eh.  We have one human left; our crunchie bowl will remain filled."

Oh that makes sense-  I thought it was very strange that she would leave her kid like that when he had been bitten.  What a seriously scary dog, I mean what the hell.

Yeah, I would definitely NOT count on my current fatso catsos to save anyone- my cat runs to ME when she sees a dog...  I wonder if that stripey cat in the video has some siamese blood or something since all of our siamese growing up seemed to have very protective (aggressive protective) personalities.  Whatever the reason, I LOVE that cat!

[Aflame]

go kitty go kitty !!!! i have seen vidios of cats chasing off black bears in america as it was in the cats terotory i have seen this with another cat in the uk  it hated any one it dident know in or any where neer the house and would hiss and spit at passers by while sitting in the window !

[Salli]

I had the same thoughts about the mom and her kid. However, when your kid is attacked/seriously injured you go into this kind of insane zone where you don't really think rationally and she may have been in the 'must.destroy.attacker. mode' I like to think I would have carried my son inside and called 911. But you just never know.

Does anyone know what happened to the dog? Or where it came from? I hope its not roaming the streets. I normally hate putting dogs down for aggression, but this seems like a seriously reasonable case. There'd also be a risk in my mind of possible rabies. I'm so glad the people are okay. Glad it's not my son.

YAY kitty!! What an amazing cat. I am so glad she was there when it happened. And I'm glad the mom was close by too.

[Whippycorn]

That is very abnormal behaviour from the dog. Normally dog bites occur because children have scared or hurt a dog. This dog seemed to be showing predatory behaviour toward a child, which is not a good sign.

I have seen cats chase off and stare down dogs before, but that was definitely brave! Good Kitty.

I think the mum tried to catch the dog and got bitten too. I'm glad that they were not more seriously injured.

[little.fox]

Wow, that is one brave cat. I can't believe the way that dog attacked the boy, that was pretty scary. As Whippycorn says, that is seriously abnormal behaviour.

[brightberry]

It could have been predatory but I kind of suspect the dog just hadn't been socialized with kids or kids on riding toys.  It slunk over to investigate, got too close, couldn't figure out what it was and making eye contact or something along those lines spooked/excited her.  Then she attacked the part closest to her.  But, you never know what is going through an animal's mind.



Edit

 I believe the dog is the neighbors and it's in confinement to be monitored and probably put to sleep.  The neighbor is the one that made the 911 call and surrendered her dog. 

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Video-Bakersfield-family-cat-saves-boy-from-dog-attack-259246481.html?tab=video&c=y

[Skeen]

Does anyone know what happened to the dog? Or where it came from? I hope its not roaming the streets. I normally hate putting dogs down for aggression, but this seems like a seriously reasonable case. There'd also be a risk in my mind of possible rabies. I'm so glad the people are okay. Glad it's not my son.

I read several different articles, and some said the dog was under observation at a shelter and some said he was going to be put down, and some said he was put down immediately.  But in any event, the dog was caught and is not at large.  I heard that he got out of his yard when his owner (the little boy's neighbor) raised a gate to get his car out of his yard/driveway.  I also heard the dog was quite a young retriever mix of some sort. 

[Whippycorn]

It could have been predatory but I kind of suspect the dog just hadn't been socialized with kids or kids on riding toys.  It slunk over to investigate, got too close, couldn't figure out what it was and making eye contact or something along those lines spooked/excited her.  Then she attacked the part closest to her.  But, you never know what is going through an animal's mind.

The dog clearly had not been socialised enough to kiddies...but I have watched this several times and all I can see is predatory aggressive behaviour rather than just being spooked. I may well be wrong, but that dog's behaviour reminded me too much of how my big dog is around cats.

Post Merge: May 15, 2014, 02:30:37 PM

This is the most informative report I can find so far, including an interview with the family: http://www.today.com/news/dog-did-not-know-even-what-hit-him-hero-cats-2D79669571

[brightberry]

True, I might be too generous.    One of the reports said the dog was 8 months old.  It probably didn't know why this was bad.

The cat's part still amazes me.  She really put her own safety at stake.

[gemini_pony]

I had my cat chase a dog from our yard once, thankfully she chased it before I was bitten. I do feel bad for the dog, it most likely had those issues due to the owner. I know it is  the best interest of everyone for it to be put down but when people don't train and socialize their animals it's always the animal that's pays the price in the end.

[brightberry]

“The animal can be rehabilitated by the family possibly but from what I understand, that’s a long and difficult procedure to get the dog back in their (the owner’s) custody,” she said. “Otherwise it will be put to sleep, unfortunately.”

http://www.today.com/news/dog-did-not-know-even-what-hit-him-hero-cats-2D79669571

It would be nice if they could rehabilitate the dog. But hopefully, only with the help of a professional or maybe a rescue by someone who understands dogs better.

[Whippycorn]

Yes. I think most dogs can be rehabilitated to a large degree, but it depends on the root of the problem, and whether there is someone willing to take on the challenge. Even then I would say that the dog should never be off lead around children again, which again requires serious vigilance. Sadly dogs get euthanised for considerably lesser crimes than this.