Cats also lick their fur when stressed - Photo: PHYS.ORG
Besides feeling sorry for the use of rocks and sticks to scare away cats, many readers believe the story needs to be viewed from both sides: neighbors need to act appropriately, and pet owners cannot abandon their pets to run into other people's houses and cause trouble.
Complaints about letting dogs and cats run loose all day are considered being too strict.
Reader Nhật Huy argues that it's not acceptable to assume neighbors should be sympathetic to one's pet: "If a cat repeatedly runs into someone else's yard, making a mess or causing a nuisance, the owner should also take responsibility for managing it."
Based on her own experiences, reader Kim Hoa commented that some families are very conscientious about keeping their dogs and cats, always keeping their pets indoors or in a designated area.
But there are also households that let their dogs and cats run loose all day, and when neighbors complain, they accuse them of being overly fussy.
According to reader Truong Duc Hai, in his hometown, it's quite common for dogs and cats to run into neighbors' yards, meow, or damage property.
However, the solution doesn't necessarily have to be stressful. "Some people just need to say 'shush' and they'll run away," a reader shared.
Regarding the issue of pet owners' responsibility, reader Anh Tú argues that throwing stones is wrong, but it's also necessary to consider the extent of the nuisance the cat has caused. If dogs and cats constantly run into neighbors' yards, damage property, defecate, or meow all night long without the owner taking action, it's inevitable that neighbors will become frustrated.
In another case, reader Do Thuan shared his frustration at having to live next to houses where dogs bark all night long. "I can't sleep, especially if there are elderly people in the house. I've complained many times, even invited the authorities to come and deal with it, but nothing has changed," this reader wrote.
Chase away dogs and cats, but don't let frustration lead to dangerous actions.
Although many readers agree that pet owners have a responsibility, they still disagree with using rocks, sticks, or other potentially harmful objects to scare away dogs and cats.
"Reading this is heartbreaking... How can people be so cruel to animals?", reader tram****@gmail.com shared. For this reader, an animal causing trouble is not a reason for humans to treat it violently.
Reader Tai Pham also stated that the cruel eviction scene "shocked and saddened" him, and hoped that people would choose a more peaceful way to resolve disputes between neighbors.
Besides caring for the animal, Bao Tran also considered the issue from a safety perspective. "If a cat's meowing is annoying, you can find a way to chase it away, but throwing stones or branches that might fly into a neighbor's yard is too dangerous," a reader commented.
Reader vanq****@gmail.com also commented that using stones to scare away dogs and cats is unnecessary: "Shooting away dogs and cats with sticks is enough, why would you throw a stone at them?"
Another perspective mentioned by reader Ngự Miu is the impact of these actions on young children. According to the reader, using sticks or stones to violently drive away animals can not only injure the animals but also "instill negative images in the minds of the children around them."
Reader Nguyen Thao asks: "If children see their parents or other adults throwing bricks and stones at cats, how can they be taught to love and live kindly?"