Sacrifice the dog

[dozerdog]

I am a dog owner. I used to own a boxer, sadly he was hit by a pickup. We miss him a lot. We have since purchased another dog. My question is this: I have a friend I've known for 15 years she raises boxers. A month ago her male bit a little girlfriend of her daughters. She wasn't hurt bad but quite shaken up. I told my friend that she should keep him kennled but since they live on a farm she didn't feel that it was necesary. I have a five year old son. We spend a lot of time at this farm since we are friends and she has 4 children that my son plays with. A week ago upon arrival at the farm my son jumped from the car and was standing in the porch with these other children when the door to the house was opened. The male boxer attacked my son. His screams will haunt me forever. The dog bit through his ear and ripped it in several places. After a horrible ride to the hospital and a painful visit to the doctor my son is fine. I called the owner of the boxer who witnessed the whole thing to let her know that my son would be fine. I told her that the doctor had called the sheriff as it was his policy after a dog has bitten more than one person. She informed me that she had already called the local vet to have the dog put down. I told her that it was the right thing to do. Unfortanatly she is having second thoughts. The appointment to put the dog to sleep had been canceled. The only way to enforce it is to get a court order. She doesn't want to do it. Her husband agrees with me that the dog is a risk and that he should be taken care of. I am sad that the dog did this. My son and I have been around him his entire life. I refuse to go to their house until the dog is gone. Which only protects me and my family. As dog breeders what would you do? If your dog has bitten more then one child without being provoked would you keep him? As a dog owner I feel that moraly(sp?) I would be obligated to sacrifice my dog, if he bit someone without provacation, to protect my family and anyone that came into contact with him. Any comments or suggestions
Corinna

 

[Bxrlvr in KC]

Corinna--

Hi and welcome to the board! What kind of dog to you have now?

I have a couple of thoughts/experiences to share with you about this. First of all, I agree completely with you about it being a moral obligation of any dog owner to put human safety first. My husband and I have had this conversation before, and as much as I love my furbabies, if one of them ever bit (without provocation) he/she would be gone.

If you force this issue with your friend, I think you can expect the friendship to end. Several years ago when I was about 11, I was bitten in the face by a friend's dog. It was his second bite. My friend's parents agreed with my parents that the dog had to go. My friend, unfortunately, blamed me and our friendship dwindled away.

I think it comes down to this: If you don't do anything and this dog bites again, will you feel at all to blame? I think I would.

Let us know what happens!

------------------
Michelle

Mom to:
Clyde - Flashy fawn male, natural ears, 3/28/98
Cricket - Beautiful rescued black mutt, 1/98

http://community.webshots.com/user/shelle18

 

[Suzanna828]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bxrlvr in KC:
Corinna--

First of all, I agree completely with you about it being a moral obligation of any dog owner to put human safety first. My husband and I have had this conversation before, and as much as I love my furbabies, if one of them ever bit (without provocation) he/she would be gone.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bxrlvr - My husband and I have had this same conversation. I pray it never happens, but if Jake ever attacked someone we would also put human safety first.

Dozerdog, I am so glad that your son is O.K. (although I'm not making light - he is probably still both physically and emotionally hurting). If your friend doesn't get it maybe the friendship isn't worth hanging onto. What will it take? Will the dog have to kill someone? We can't ever forget that they are animals and, as such, they can be unpredictable threats. (of course, Jake isn't an animal - he's a human dog )



------------------
Suzanna - Mom to Jake, 2 year old fawn male, floppy ears, docked tail

 

[dozerdog]

We own an American Bulldog. We loved the Boxer but we had lots of trouble training him so it kind of turned us off on the breed. I realize that all dogs are different even within a breed. So far the AB is working out beautifully. He's still a pup so we are still working on things. If this dog does bite again I will feel responsible. I feel responsible the way it is after the first time it bit unprovoked and I didn't insist she put it away when we visited. Thanks for your input

 

[Ona]

The dog would only have to bite once. Then I would get rid of it. I love all dogs, but biting is not excusable!! What will happen if that dog bits one of her kids? Or her? Halloween is just around the corner, lots of kids that day.

------------------
Ona
Derek-rainbow bridge at 14 and 1/2
Tyler-rainbow bridge at 10 months
Currently dogless

 

[dozerdog]

Thanks to all of you who replied. You helped me stand my ground. We have made some progress. The owner of the dog has left the decision up to her husband. Kind of unfair to him but I guess whatever works. However the dog is still roaming around. Her husband during out last conversation led us to believe that he agreed with us. But then he doesn't live with us Again thanks to all who replied

 

[Bxrlvr in KC]

Corinna--

Just wondering what happened??



------------------
Michelle

Mom to:
Clyde - Flashy fawn male, natural ears, 3/28/98
Cricket - Beautiful rescued black mutt, 1/98

http://community.webshots.com/user/shelle18

 

[dozerdog]

Well the dog is gone. The owner took care of it and then called me up and blamed me and my son for the whole thing. She then informed me that I had to get my horse off her property. She has been boarding her for me for about 6 months. She informed me that if my son were to get kicked by her horses that I would want to kill the horse. Well I let loose. That is a whole different situation. The horses are fenced and if he comes in the fence with me then it is my responsibility. I asked her if that is the way she wanted to end 15 years of friendship, she said yes, I said it's been nice knowing you and hung up. My horse will be off her farm at the end of the week. I don't understand her way of thinking. I realize that it was a hard thing to do. I had to put a dog to sleep because of illness it wasn't an easy decision. Even after I told her what you had all said she told me that it was wrong. If she would have guarenteed me that he would be kenneled 24-7 I maybe would have thought about it but she has a track record of letting her dogs run. None of her neighbors have any cats left because her dogs have killed them all. I know she wouldn't keep him kenneled that is why I pushed for the sacrifice of the dog. I hope you don't mind the venting. This has really got me annoyed.

 

[boxer983]

hi dozerdog,
:( :( :(,although i am new to this board i think what u did was wrong how could u just kill someone who is completely healthy just 'cos he bit 2 people.(well thats the majority side of my thinking ).the other side says u should have convinced into kenneling the dog or keep the little fellow with her allthe time something could have worked out but ending a healthy life i feel was not right at all. well that story really put me in tears.i know how the owner must be feeling she must be in a pretty pathetic state 'cos she just lost someone she loved somuch for no aparent reason.
anyway dozer dog i have nothing against u but next time pls think really hard before u do somthing like that .
i have a little boxer which i just got a couple of months back well i was not even prepared with keep ing a boxer i just happened to got o a shop and saw this guy suffering and i knew that if he stayed thre for long he would have dies or had a very misreable life actually there were 2 of them someohow i convinced my frind to but the other one also. so i really know what it measn to have a healthy dog but if the little fellow was suffering a lot i mean a lot then i would have had no other option other thatn putting him to sleep or give him to someone who will take care of him properly.but putting him to sleep is decision whihc needs a lot of thinking .thats all i have to say i just said it cos i felt really bad about the whole idea sorry if i upset u in anyway bye
love
benny

------------------
Chief- (fawn,blackmask,docked tail,natural ears,14 weeks old)

 

[Bxrlvr in KC]

Corinna--

I commend you for sticking to what you believe in. I know it must have been very tough. It's a sad, sad thing that your (ex) friend was willing to sacrifice your long friendship because of all of this.

Like I said before we all have a responsibility, tough as it may be, to put human safety first. Thanks for the update and hang in there.... You did the right thing!


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by boxer983:
i know how the owner must be feeling she must be in a pretty pathetic state 'cos she just lost someone she loved somuch for no aparent reason.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

For no apparent reason??? Come on, Benny! This dog attacked a child...unprovoked!!! This was a very tough thing for Corinna to go through. You should NOT be kicking her when she's down! She did the right thing! How would she have felt if that dog bit, or worse yet, killed a child? Please read the posts more carefully. I'm sorry to get so emotional, but Corinna needs support from us. Even if you believe what she did was wrong, what's the point in making her feel bad for it? What's done is done.

Jan/Krikkit -- Please move this to the Boxer Ring so more people will see it and voice their support!!! Thx!

------------------
Michelle

Mom to:
Clyde - Flashy fawn male, natural ears, 3/28/98
Cricket - Beautiful rescued black mutt, 1/98

http://community.webshots.com/user/shelle18