How to get over my guilt for a kitten's death?

I was on my grandparent's farm and took my dog out to pee. He started sniffing frantically like he always does. He's a terrier, so him flipping out about stupid scents isn't new. When he went over to a bush, I called him back. He didn't listen, so I started to go over to get him. Then he lunged, and I knew there was a cat in there. Then I heard adult hisses, so I was a little calmed. Just an adult. It could get away. I still ran a little, though, to get him out. My dog was really Rapunzel – Neu verföhnt in the bushes, so I thought for a couple Sekunden on how to get him out without hurting him. Really wish I hadn't worried about that. Even if I did yank him out Von his tail, he wouldn't have died! As soon as I pulled him out, I saw he drug a Monat old kitten with him. I ran my dog to the house and threw him in before running back to the kitten, but it was too late. The other one was injured but still OK. This one had its whole side covered in blood coming from its mouth. I started crying when the mom came back and saw her little baby. I feel absolutely terrible, and regardless if its instinct oder not, I'm having a really hard time forgiving my dog. What can I do?
 ppgcowgirl posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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Katzen Antwort

milky-way said:
I'm sorry about the incident, it's not a nice thing to witness :( but just remember that it's really not your fault. Du couldn't have known that there was a kitten in those bushes, and it's hard to stop a dog once they've started to attack. It's just a tragic and unfortunate accident.

I know you're kreuz with your dog, which is understandable, but he couldn't have known that he wasn't supposed to hurt the kitten. Terriers have been bred to kill small animals, but they don't stop to think about whether it's a kitten oder a rat. He probably thought he was protecting Du and the family.

There's nothing Du can do to change what happened, but Du can use this bad experience to your advantage. Like Du can start taking out your dog on a lead when you're at your grandparents' house, and in general Du will probably find that you've become Mehr aware of small Tiere hiding in bushes. And that's good because you'll have a better chance of stopping your dog from getting to them. Perhaps this incident will help Du to prevent a Mehr devastating one in the future.

Hope this helps Du a little bit - just remember, it's not your fault!
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posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr 
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Thanks a lot! Du made me feel a lot better and little less mad at my dog. I'm trying to stay positive and think about the kitten I did save :)
ppgcowgirl posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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It's great that Du managed to save one! Things could have been much worse if Du hadn't intervened, so that kitten is very lucky that Du saw what was happening.
milky-way posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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Thanks :)
ppgcowgirl posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
101trx said:
this is why i ain't & never will be a dog person! that poor kitten! i would give it a proper burial. but i would'nt forgive him. and keep him away from cats. maybe uh...keep him on a leash for now on.
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posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr 
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Well, in a dog's defense, I also saw a cat tear the guts out of a baby bunny. It goes both ways, but anyway, he normally is. The only reason he wasn't this is time is because I forgot it at home. He normally listens, though, so I didn't think much of it, and I was told to take him out. Didn't have much say in the matter. He had to pee. But from now on, yeah, I guess he'll hold it if there's no leash.
ppgcowgirl posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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i understand what yr saying. im sorry for the kitten & what u had to see.
101trx posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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Thanks :)
ppgcowgirl posted Vor mehr als einem Jahr
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