I’m shattered emotionally....

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Brooks James

Brooks James

VET, CPT, Huey Medevac Pilot
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My dog has escaped on 3 different occasions. Each time she bit s neighbor.
Today was the final straw she attacked another dog and the owner as well drawing blood. We were warned when we adopted her at the shelter that she was aggressive. I was sure that through loving and caring I could rehab her. The guy said you are in for a major suit and
I realized that the other neighbors as
well would be telling their storyb and that three strikes you’re out. We took here back to the shelter today.
Those of you that are pet lovers realize the agony I’m going through.
 
The Wife and I have fostered and adopted several shelter dogs. We have never had to return a dog but have picked up dogs that were returned by others. People return dogs for a variety of reasons.
It must be heartbreaking. A responsible owner knows when an animal is a threat to others and has to do what is right.
Some people are just not meant to be dog owners and they dump the dog at the shelter because they didn't have the time for the dog or the novelty of pet ownership wore off.
Bless you for doing the right thing. As sad as it is, a pet should not attack a person or another pet. If the pet cannot be contained, you have to do the right thing for yourself and others.
 
you tried and I'm sorry it failed. A dog (or any pet) that enters other people's property and bites them, or sends them to the hospital, or worse yet, kills them, is a serious problem and a threat to any other pet or person. Especially repeated offenders!!! While I appreciate your efforts, count yourself lucky it didn't kill or seriously injure a kid because the dogs past and your neglect to keep it contained would have put you in trouble. I feel sorry for those that got bit
Maybe watch this and see it from the other side....
19-year-old saves child from dog attack - YouTube
Two dogs attack girl on bike; neighbor steps in - YouTube
 
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man, thats rough

i know people claim a rescued pet will never let you forget you recued him, but at the same time, the can come with scars and baggage


if i were you, i would try to keep the lines of communication open with the neighbors, make sure you pay their vet bills quickly (and whatever medical care the owner needs)
and hopefully thats the end of it
 
Three times, three bites, got to go. Best efforts aside, three escapes question what is missing on your side. Extra precautions need to be taken with a dog that will attack, and you were not able to provide that. No offense meant, but this is not the dog for you at this time, and should be put down for the sake of kids in the area. Hope the shelter does what needs to be done. I am a dog owner and understand your pain, but would not jeopardize a child's life for my pet.
 
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diymirage said:
man, thats rough

i know people claim a rescued pet will never let you forget you recued him, but at the same time, the can come with scars and baggage


if i were you, i would try to keep the lines of communication open with the neighbors, make sure you pay their vet bills quickly (and whatever medical care the owner needs)
and hopefully thats the end of it
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The hardest thing about it is that they are required to tell the new owners of her biting behavior and that means a little chance of her getting adopted and she will be put down
 
Brooks James said:
The hardest thing about it is that they are required to tell the new owners of her biting behavior and that means a little chance of her getting adopted and she will be put down
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I hear you, but you can't save em all

You tried to undo what the previous owners did and were unsuccessful
The dog had a peaceful home, for however long he was with you and that too, is worth something
 
Got to be careful with dog that bites. Just had tv news story of teen boy that died from his own family dog. Took dog outside on leash and fell , dog reacted and one bite slashed femoral artery. Boy died in seconds. Freak event.
 
diymirage said:
I hear you, but you can't save em all

You tried to undo what the previous owners did and were unsuccessful
The dog had a peaceful home, for however long he was with you and that too, is worth something
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That is eXACTLY what my wife says
 
Kern Dog said:
The Wife and I have fostered and adopted several shelter dogs. We have never had to return a dog but have picked up dogs that were returned by others. People return dogs for a variety of reasons.
It must be heartbreaking. A responsible owner knows when an animal is a threat to others and has to do what is right.
Some people are just not meant to be dog owners and they dump the dog at the shelter because they didn't have the time for the dog or the novelty of pet ownership wore off.
Bless you for doing the right thing. As sad as it is, a pet should not attack a person or another pet. If the pet cannot be contained, you have to do the right thing for yourself and others.
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The first time she pulled out of her collar the second time she got the muzzle off the third time left us scratching our heads I suspect she jumped a four ft chain link fence
 
Let me start by saying I'm a dog person and, have been around dogs my whole life as, my grandfather trained field trial dogs and, trained a couple national champions. We always had English Setters as a child and, as an adult I have had several different breeds of dogs. This dog would have been done after the first time!!! A dog that attacks an unknown person on my property is different than this dog leaving your property and attacking your nieghbor, at this point the dog is not protecting it is just plain aggressively attacking. Sorry this happened to you but, with a known aggressive animal, one time should be the limit.
 
diymirage said:
man, thats rough

i know people claim a rescued pet will never let you forget you recued him, but at the same time, the can come with scars and baggage


if i were you, i would try to keep the lines of communication open with the neighbors, make sure you pay their vet bills quickly (and whatever medical care the owner needs)
and hopefully thats the end of it
Click to expand...
Fortunately the bites were minor but the threat of a law suit and possible big bite damage is too much for me I would never be able to forgive my self if there was an even semi serious bite
 
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Brooks James said:
Fortunately the bites were minor but the threat of a law suit and possible big bite damage is too much for me I would never be able to forgive my self if there was an even semi serious bite
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Thats why you get ahead of this
Explain the dog is gone, pay for the bills and hope they forego the idea of lawsuit

If they find out you're a decent guy and not just "that jersey with the killer dog" you got a much better chance

Besides, lawsuits ruin neighborhoods
 
Brooks James said:
The hardest thing about it is that they are required to tell the new owners of her biting behavior and that means a little chance of her getting adopted and she will be put down
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Brace yourself, as this is going to sound cold.....and I honestly don't mean it to be......only realistic. First I am a pet owner. I love animals. Although right now all we have is a pile of cats, we love dogs too. Had them in the past, even bred them. We used to breed Minipins years ago.

That said, some dogs you cannot reach no matter what you do. That dog is going to be put down one way or the other. Either the animal shelter is going to do it, or the neighbor of a new owner that doesn't put up with such bullshit will do it. Had that dog done that on my property, it would have gotten a .22 mag round right in the head. My wife is 62 with multiple health issues and I have my own as well. HUMANS, not animals are at the top of the food chain. If I have to choose between the safety of my family, verses an attacking animal, guess who wins that decision? It ain't the animal. So, you shouldn't feel bad, because it sounds to me like you did everything in your power to help that dog. It simply just didn't work. My bet is, it won't work, no matter who tries. I say GOOD FOR YOU for trying your damndest to give a problem dog a good home. Don't let it get to you. You DID your part. Sometimes it just does not work.

All THAT said, I will even add this. Cats can BOOGER UP a person if they so choose. BAD. If one of these cats ever attacked Kitty or me as if they were trying to KILL one of us, I would, without hesitation snap that cat's neck, REGARDLESS of which one it was. Even my precious Baby Pink Nose.

Again, I didn't say any of this to sound cold or uncaring. It's a simple reality.
 
plymouth67 said:
Let me start by saying I'm a dog person and, have been around dogs my whole life as, my grandfather trained field trial dogs and, trained a couple national champions. We always had English Setters as a child and, as an adult I have had several different breeds of dogs. This dog would have been done after the first time!!! A dog that attacks an unknown person on my property is different than this dog leaving your property and attacking your nieghbor, at this point the dog is not protecting it is just plain aggressively attacking. Sorry this happened to you but, with a known aggressive animal, one time should be the limit.
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Actually for what’s it’s worth all the neighbors were walking past my house it could be a territorial thing
 
My mom fosters German Shepard’s and one of the last one she had got aggressive twice with dogs. The sheriff told her to put it down. That’s what she did it was the hardest thing she’d done. Some dogs just aren’t good dogs just like humans.
 
Brooks James said:
Actually for what’s it’s worth all the neighbors were walking past my house
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Not to be an asshole but, 1 time should of been it. If you would of taken action the first time you could of saved yourself some heartache and, in the end money. 3 times in the same neighborhood, this is probably going to cost you. If after the 1st time you would have taken action then, its an unfortunate accident and probably no big deal but, 3 times is a trend.
 
If the dog is leaving your property to attack, goodbye puppy. People walking by your house is a rationalization for the behavior. The dog has an issue and it's a 3 time loser in this account. Sucks, but, reality is it's going to do it again. It's a bomb waiting to go off. What if it attacked an infant or small child and went to town, because the kid walked by your home... with multiple attacks on record, you are looking at potential prosecution.

Additionally, why is the dog able to leave your property? Hate to say it, that is on you being negligent in maintaining control of your dog. Harsh reality from a legal perspective.

Sucks because we had to get rid of a dog one time that was kind as could be, unless you came to the house. Then all hell broke loose. She bit another dog and that was that... Dog gone!
 
crackedback said:
If the dog is leaving your property to attack, goodbye puppy. People walking by your house is a rationalization for the behavior. The dog has an issue and it's a 3 time loser in this account. Sucks, but, reality is it's going to do it again. It's a bomb waiting to go off. What if it attacked an infant or small child and went to town, because the kid walked by your home... with multiple attacks on record, you are looking at potential prosecution.

Additionally, why is the dog able to leave you property? Hate to say it, that is on you being negligent in maintaining control of your dog. Harsh reality from a legal perspective.

Sucks because we had to get rid of a dog one time that was kind as could be, unless you came to the house. Then all hell broke loose. She bit another dog and that was that... Dog gone!
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Yes, you can look it up. I can just about bet that every county in the US has a leash law that states dogs must be restrained to the owner's property.
 
I got 13 stitches in my face one day, including 4 inside my lips that eventually were adsorbed by the body, from my brother-in-laws Dalmation; a dog that knew me well, and whom I considered to be a safe and friendly dog to be around. That dog went on to bite two more young kids, on separate occasions, bringing the total to FOUR BITES, before they put it down. The point is that with dogs, it seems you can just never be sure. Maybe, like my wife, they just have bad days, when they want to bite,lol. I didn't sue; the owner (now deceased) was my wife's brother! Even if he hadn't been, I wouldn't have sued. The stitches didn't cost me, and my face sorta returned to normal after a few years.
My own Shepard/Lab cross, Georgie, is a wonderfully gentle, well-adjusted, 70pound dog, and is great with kids. But when we let him outside, he goes on a tether. Thankfully, he doesn't resent it, and it is long enough that he does have seemingly enough freedom, to leave it alone.
I'm saddened to hear about your plight, and hope it plays out well.
 
AJ/FormS said:
I got 13 stitches in my face one day, including 4 inside my lips that eventually were adsorbed by the body, from my brother-in-laws Dalmation; a dog that knew me well, and whom I considered to be a safe and friendly dog to be around. That dog went on to bite two more young kids, on separate occasions, bringing the total to FOUR BITES, before they put it down. The point is that with dogs, it seems you can just never be sure. Maybe, like my wife, they just have bad days, when they want to bite,lol.
My own Shepard/Lab cross, Georgie, is a wonderfully gentle, well-adjusted, 70pound dog, and is great with kids. But when we let him outside, he goes on a tether. Thankfully, he doesn't resent it, and it is long enough that he does have seemingly enough freedom, to leave it alone.
I'm saddened to hear about your plight, and hope it plays out well.
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Thanks for all all your posts I’m going to give it a rest for a while
 
AJ/FormS said:
I'm saddened to hear about your plight, and hope it plays out well.
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Really? This is self-inflicted from stupidity/ignorance and a disregard for other people. I guess this is a good forum to come to for sympathy.
 
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