[kaysarindav]

Well I was at work my partner went downstairs to get the mail and the dog ran down ahead, the security door is always closed but we found out that our neighbour has been leaving door open for her cats to go in out. As a result in her leaving the door open my dog ran off and attacked another dog its been a week now and I have been told that the dog has died. No one has been round to see us yet, I don't know what to do and don't want my dog put down. I am very careful with my dog I have 2 collars a chain lead and muzzel and haulti.

[AK lawyer]

... ITS BEEN A WEEK NOW AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE DOG HAS DIED. NO ONE HAS BEEN ROUND TO SEE US YET, I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND DONT WANT MY DOG PUT DOWN. ...

First, please refrain from using "Caps Lock".

If someone in authority were to come and seize your dog for the purpose of legally killing it, I think they would have done that by now. But they still might, I suppose.

I don't know what procedure there is in your jurisdiction for contesting matters like this. I assume that you are in the UK. You could inquire about the local animal control rules so that you will be better informed if that were to happen. Either look online or go to the local animal control agency. I wouldn't, however, identify yourself as the owner of the dog that killed another dog last week. No need to remind them about it.

It's slightly unclear how this happened. Your partner opened the door to your living area but the neighbor had left the security door open? Why was your individual door open to begin with?

Finally, you should look into getting your dog trained. A dog that runs out of your apartment, without permission, and attacks another dog is a danger and probably ought to be destroyed.

[joypulv]

I'm getting the feeling that the person who told you that your dog is dead doesn't want your dog in the neighborhood. I don't know why you aren't asking the police and dog warden, especially after a week?

Sue the woman who leaves the security door open. You won't get much though, possibly the value of a new dog. You may need the money to pay the owner of the dog your dog attacked.

[AK lawyer]

I'm getting the feeling that the person who told you that your dog is dead doesn't want your dog in the neighborhood. I don't know why you aren't asking the police and dog warden, especially after a week?

Sue the woman who leaves the security door open. You won't get much though, possibly the value of a new dog. You may need the money to pay the owner of the dog your dog attacked.

As I understand it, OP's dog killed the other dog. I am assuming that OP still has his/her dog. And, as I said, I wouldn't be asking the dog warden either. "Let sleeping dogs lie", as the saying goes.

I don't see any chance of successfully suing the neighbor. The security door is to keep strangers out, not insufficiently trained dogs in. And as I said, I am having trouble understanding whether, shared security door or not, there was a door separating the common entrance-way from OP's "flat". If there was, OP or her/his partner would be contributorily negligent in leaving that door open.

[joypulv]

Oops, I agree, AK lawyer. The other dog died, she's wondering if anyone will be around to take her dog.

The doors sound like an inner and outer door? Or one emergency only type one way door, on the opposite side of a large lobby? But I agree that the dog shouldn't have been out of the flat. It could have attacked a dog inside the lobby just as easily as it did by running outside, and none of that matters.

If an emergency door, technically the landlord is responsible for making sure it's kept closed. So I agree about not suing the woman with the cats.

[twinkiedooter]

You may be served with a small claims suit for the dog your dog killed. You will be ordered to pay for the dog as it is deemed a possession and the owner lost their possession.

Tell cat lady this was her fault and not to do the door trick again if she's too lazy to open the door for her cats.

Complain to the landlord and insist cat lady comply as this is a security door, not a convenience door for cat lady's exclusive use. What would happen to cat lady if the open door left a burglar in or a rapist or a murderer? Bug the landlord to give cat lady the third degree and lay down strict rules regarding leaving the security door open for any and anybody to just waltz into your building.