Well here's an update. We're now being prosecuted by the family of the cat my dog killed! I was going to write to them but was advised not to by the police. I gave them my address and phone number so they could contact us when they were ready but they didn't so we were advised to leave it. Now they're saying we've not been in touch with them so they're prosecuting us for having a vicious out of control dog.
My hubby and I are going through a really hard time at the moment and this is just the icing on the cake. I'm so upset I wanna cry

I've just been called home from work by my husband who was really upset.
My 18 year old step-son (Matthew) who has special needs let my dog (Danny)out of the house and the front gate. He's a lurcher and we know that he doesn't get on with cats hence why we are really careful not to let him out off the lead.
Anyway, Matt let him out and didn't tell my husband until 10mins later whereupon my hubby ran up the road to find him. When he saw this woman crying he realised that Danny had gone into their front garden, taken the cat and run off down the path. She then witnessed him killing the cat.
Obviously they were really upset by this but my husband had to go home because he had severe chest pain and 2 kids with special needs at home.
I then came home and went up to see the family to explain what had happened and why my hubby had to come home.
They were crying and her husband said he would call the police and I should do to Danny what he did to the cat.
I apologised unreservedly and gave my address and phone number and said I would contact the police myself to explain what had happened.
They were very gracious considering what they had just seen.
Her husband said that he saw Danny at 12pm roaming around but that was impossible as I was home till 12.45pm and he was at home all morning.
The police said it wasn't really up to them to sort it but he would pass it onto the local bobby and he would contact us.
I'm so upset for this family. Distraught in fact. And I'm distraught because it was my dog and I fear for him.
Can my dog get put down for this? He's really gentle with humans and other dogs and kids but not with cats.
I'm contacting my insurance company just to let them know.

Oh Zoe I'm so sorry to read this but please try to keep calm (I know that's very difficult) they maybe just 'trying it on' if they've been to a lawyer he's probably told them they have nothing to loose by bringing a prosecution (Well he would wouldn't he £ signs flashing in his eyes)

If they want to prove you have a 'dangerous dog' then they need some witnesses that he's attacked a human, can they get that ? from what you've written before I doubt it.

You must be worried and upset, don't know what else to say, you could still offer to pay them something or help to find another cat, it's funny what money will do to some people.

Sorry to hear this hun, can not be easy for you both.
The only comfort is that it will get better I am sure and this terrible time will be behind you both xxxxxxxxxx Hugs xxxxxx

This unfortunately is nature. No, he cannot be put down for killing a cat, it is just a sad fact of life that sometimes dogs will follow their instincts. They are after all dogs, not humans, not an extension of our personalities, of us, however much we might think of them as "our babies". The are animals, red in tooth and claw.

What a ridiculous reaction "to do to Danny what he had done to the cat" ... what did that cat do every day of its life, most likely? Follow it's instinct and kill birds by the thousand over it's lifetime, and mice and anything that moved.

Don't beat yourself up over this, your dog was only following his instinct. Lurchers are very "natural" dogs, with a very high prey drive. Danny is only following his instincts.