‘My dog showed no remorse’: Guardian readers on the damage done by their beloved pets

‘One look at that face and I forgave him instantly’

My border collie-jack russell mix, Cache, thought his mission in life was to protect me and our property. I was in the back yard discussing repairs with some contractors and I could hear him barking to warn me about the stranger danger. When I came back in, I found he had “moved” the blinds out of the way so he could keep a better eye on things. One look at that face and I forgave him instantly. Sandy Edwards, retired, Iowa, US

‘He viewed the mail with hostility’

Jack Skinner’s dog, Rory — Jack Skinner’s sussex spaniel, Rory. Photograph: Jack Skinner/Guardian Community

The destruction wreaked by Rory. Photograph: Jack Skinner/Guardian Community

One day, while I was taking my family to the airport, the postman delivered two tickets for the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. (My Liverpool season tickets had come up in the draw.) Because there was no room in the car with all the luggage, Rory the sussex spaniel was left at home. As a result, he viewed the mail with hostility and attempted to shred it. Liverpool’s response when we told them was: “We don’t issue duplicates.” I had to send them pictures of the dog and the tickets and have several conversations before they relaxed their position. Jack Skinner, Chiswick, London

‘It was the culmination of a year’s work’

Helen’s family tree, felled. Photograph: Helen/Guardian Community

Helen’s kitten. Photograph: Helen/Guardian Community

In February, my kitten and my dog destroyed a family tree that goes back to Maurice Drummond in 1350. It was the culmination of a year’s work and included calligraphy and hand-drawn heraldry with very expensive gold. It took months of planning, designing and fine-tuning. The paper was bent because it was so heavy, so I had stretched it on a sheet of MDF.

I think the kitten might have been playing with some tissue paper on my table. Maybe the dog joined in to play and jumped on the table, too. My husband came upstairs in the morning with the bad news. I forgave her immediately, because it was my fault for thinking it was safe being covered by a sheet of cardboard and some weights. My client was also very understanding. Helen, artist and calligrapher, Wiltshire

‘He cut off the electricity supply’

George and his cat, Jack. Photograph: George Ferzoco/Guardian Community

When my wife and I lived in Bristol, we knocked down the rear of our house to create a new kitchen area. Our domestic electricity supply would cut out from time to time, and the panel would always indicate that the issue was with the kitchen area. We called in an electrician, who said the power in our new extension worked perfectly well. Strange.

Two weeks later, there was another outage. Then our electrician got an idea: might the power outlet in our garden shed be attached to our kitchen circuit? While our electrician was double-checking the appliances, his apprentice went to the shed and called us in to see something. He had removed the outlet’s cover to reveal that the inside of the outlet contained an inch or so of cat urine. Our handsome black cat, Jack, had decided occasionally to spray against the wall, precisely at the outlet. George Ferzoco, Calgary, Canada

‘She ran around my houseboat, paws dripping with paint’

One of my beloved cats, Phoebe, decided it was a great idea to run around my freshly built wheelhouse extension on my houseboat with paws dripping with white paint. Needless to say, she is my queen and I forgave her before I even wanted to. I mean, just look at her.

My other cat, Reese, is no better. He once jumped on to my bed and straight into a bowl of piping hot porridge. That cat went crazy. Porridge on every surface. Fair enough, I suppose. Ben, 27, London

‘She showed no remorse’

A £200 retirement cake and the culprit, a parson russell terrier — The £200 retirement cake – and the culprit. Photograph: Julie Ralph/Guardian Community

Lucy, a rescue parson russell terrier, now 14, committed the crime last summer, on the hottest day of the year. This old lady jumped on to the table and took a chunk out of a £200 retirement cake. This is the same old lady who needs lifting into the car. She showed no remorse. Everyone found it hilarious, though, including the retiree – and how can you stay cross for long with that face looking at you? Julie Ralph, retired, West Yorkshire

‘We’ve been through seven three-seater sofas’

The remains of Clare Feathers’ sofa. Photograph: Clare Feathers/Guardian Community

We fostered Tony the dog from Romania in January 2021. We could not believe how anxious he was. Since his adoption, we have been through seven three-seater sofas, three armchairs and five dog cages. The last armchair fell victim to Tony because my husband and daughter left the house and I was working upstairs. He couldn’t hear me and thought he was alone. I used to get frustrated by this behaviour, but it’s not his fault. He still can’t control his sheer terror at being left, so we don’t – ever! He’s part of our family and we will help him get better and get the help he needs. Clare Feathers, 48, Fareham, Hampshire

‘This is one of her earlier pieces of work’

Gareth’s labrador, Wilma. Photograph: Gareth/Guardian Community

Wilma is a three-year-old labrador and she loves to chew things. I bought her an indestructible chew toy, but she’s not interested. She has chewed about 10 TV remotes, all of my trainers, the cable of my record player and several Bluetooth headsets. Most of my daughter’s dolls are now amputees. The photographshows one of her earlier pieces of work. How we laughed. My wife has forgiven her for all of it. I’m working through it. Gareth, 44, Bristol