I am an idiot and my heart is broken (outdoorschik)

No flaming from me.  I am sorry you lost Roscoe.

Run free, little kitty.

OMG I am so sorry!!  No flaming here just pure condolences!  Run free Rosco!!

Oh, darn I'm sorry.  I have been exactly where you are -- and I *so* understand how difficult it is to live with Oly and live with yourself - it's not trite but a lesson-hard-learned-by-ME to say "time will heal".

This is exactly why I just plain crate everbuddy when I'm gone.  Because even amongst bosum dog buds nastiness can happen out of the clear blue, or an accident can happen.
Probably not ... but "possibly" is just too darned big for me in my "old age".  I know a lot disagree with me -- but I know mine sleep when I'm gone and I come home to no obstructions, and no blood. 

I saw Billy tear into Kee Shu RIGHT UNDER MY FEET about a year ago -- I was fixing supper for them and heaven only knows WHAT triggered it literally under my feet.  He darned near killed her just pouncing on her in a temper, and after that we were always careful even when we WERE there. 

Others say they don't want to 'restrain' them or deny them having fun -- and I've just plain decided in my zillion years of experience that nothing is worth going thru what *you* are going thru now.  So everbuddy is crated.  Maybe it's way too over-cautious, but .... the way you're feeling is no good thing, and my heart breaks with you. 

It may have been prey drive -- but there's also the possibility that the kitten wasn't as healthy as you assumed -- there could have been a seizure, or Oly could have smelled something in the kitten's body that triggered it.  Natural selection is a deep-rooted thing. 

*hugs* hon -- unfortunately we all have to have experience as the best-teacher.  No flaming ever -- accidents do happen, and honestly your post likely will help others learn better.

 I'm so, so sorry. No flaming here - some times things just happen, even if we do everything we can to prevent them. Part of living with animals, I guess.

I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now. Sending you lots of good thoughts.

I feel so badly for you.  Its a constant battle at my house....my cats and dogs can't be in the same rooms together because of Heidi's prey drive.  The boys are ok....they would be able to co-habitate; but its constant management around her.

Run free Roscoe.

Heartbreaking.  For what it's worth, I really don't see this as your fault at all. Occasionally animals do an abrupt about face which there is now way to expect or prepare for. This could happen in my house on any day. I'm not going to separate my cats today after reading your story but if this happened to me tomorrow I would be feeling guilty as can be. Things just happen sometimes and we do not need to find the fault, or take the blame. 

I also feel for you in your attempt to forgive your dog. I've had two incidents (not as drastic as yours by a long shot) where dogs were just being dogs but where hard to let go of. I really feel for you.

 I'm sorry, thats so sad. My dogs aren't left with my cats unattended, no matter how good they get along when I'm around ( same with the chickens). if they are, kitty's have an escape route or someplace to hide where the doggies can't get them.  ( but you never know, i could come home to the same situation no matter how much I try to 'arrange' things) Its just the nature of animals. I'm sure Roscoe took off running and sparked Oly's prey drive. Poor Roscoe.

I remember when I was little @ my aunts house the farm dogs did the same thing. there was this little yellow kitten, and I was outside and saw the dog trotting down the road with the kitten limp in its mouth. It was sad, but I learned at a young age that it happens. :(

 run free Roscoe

You're not an idiot - things happen.  Circle of life stuff.

I am SO sorry to read this. (((hugs))) I understand why you feel angry and like it's your fault, but I wouldn't say that it is your fault. My ex's grandparents had a large tom cat who lived for YEARS with their farm dogs. He lounged with them, ate with them, etc. Literally YEARS. One day one of the pointers went after the cat and then the entire group of them dog piled him. He didn't make it. I don't think anyone could have predicted, considering they'd never been aggressive to him. How could you have known? I don't think anyone will flame you and if they do, shame on THEM.

 Forgiving her, will take time. Let yourself grieve now, but don't forget your bond with Oly. This doesn't make her a bad or different dog, she's still the girl who is a good leader, and has run the Iditarod. I think the worst tragedy of all would be if this ruined your relationship with her totally... you're hurting, Rosco unfortunately isn't here, and she'll be one sad dog. Just my thoughts.

Run free, Rosco.

I'm so sorry.  I agree that you don't deserve to be flamed.  You had no reason to think Oly would do something like this to the cat.  Please don't beat yourself up.  It would be hard for me to feel the same about a dog who did this but in the end the dog is still the same dog.  {{{Hugs}}}

 I'm sorry for your loss.

 I wouldn't beat yourself up about this though.  Clearly if you had thought there were any real risks you would have already been separating them.  Sometimes our pets, like people, can be unpredictable.  Even when you know about and try to manage animals there can be slip ups. 

At one point I had my Budgerigar, Jojo and my cat, Picasso, living under the same roof.  There was no question Picasso would go after the bird.  Thus I was always very careful about making sure bird and cat never met up but even that was not enough.  One day when I had the Jojo out, my father went to grab something out of the room Picasso was in and naturally he slipped right out the door and made a beeline for Jojo.  I never saw him coming, my mom never saw him coming, and Jojo never saw him coming.  Even though Jojo had fully functional wings and new how to fly well, he still ended up in the jaws of a cat.  Thankfully, I was able to seperate them in time, but Jojo could have so easily been dead in that instant.  The only thing that saved him was the fact Picasso, like so many other cats had been planning to toy with him and draw out the kill.

It took me some time to completely forgive Picasso for the attack.  Even though Jojo was okay, I was enraged that anyone, especially another family member would try to kill my beloved bird.  It can be hard to let go because it feels like a betrayal of trust.  I've found time to be the best healer in these cases.  Give yourself time to grieve, vent, and let the emotions roar through you.  Then once you've calmed down you must find the peace in you to forgive yourself.  This is an important step because right now when you are looking at Oly the guilt and anger behind it are clouding your vision.  It will only be after you can forgive yourself that you will be able to truly forgive and reconnect with Oly.

Thanks everyone for being gentle with me ...

 I just need some time away from Oly so she's out with the outside sled dogs for a little while (she's lived with them for years so is perfectly comfy :)) I just need to be in the frame of mind where I'm not angry and blaming her. I really loved that little kitten. I have a hard enough time when dogs and cats die of illness and old age. This was senseless and brutal. It's the "he was just a baby" part that gets me too. He was soo innocent and fearless of the dogs. Just two night ago he was laying next ot the wood stove on his back, enjoying the heat, little legs splayed out, light grey belly in the air for petting.  I really miss him, and he was a friendly, wonderful kitten with beautiful markings.

As silly as it is, it feels like a betrayal of my trust for her.

I'm sorry about your kitty Rosco. Please accept my condolences ((hugs))