looking for some advise

[c.c.]

Hello I'm new here and I need some help. I have a dog that I have loved very much and has been a good dog for the past 5 yrs. She has however recently attacked my daughter. I gave her a second chance and she did it again. My vet recommended putting her to sleep, I have a problem with this as I feel taking her life would be wrong. BUT I would feel terrible if we gave her away and someone else was hurt. Is it wrong to put an animal to sleep when they have become a danger to others? Any advice would be helpful.

 

[MissFirerose]

How did she attack your daughter? Was it a nip or did the dog go on full force. A lot of times children can startle animals because they have to learn to approach them slowly and such. My dog used to snap at me now and then when i was younger, because usually I'd go charging in front of her. Never really bit me, but just gave me a warning. If the dog just snapped, tell your daughter to be more careful. But if the dog seemed like it meant true harm, I'd suggest giving it up for adoption. There are grown adults that can handle such an animal, as in, if it's not too violent but can have a nipping tendency now and then. That's my advice anyway. Good luck! Oh, on a side note, golden retrievers make great family pets. I had a colly, but I always wanted a golden.

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

We need more information: How old is your daughter? How severe was the attack (a nip, or a bite requiring medical attention)? What were the circumstances leading up to the attack? Has the dog ever shown aggression to humans before? Has the dog been obedience trained? Has the dog been evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out medical problems (eg, pain, thyroid, etc)? Where does the dog live (indoors, outdoors primarily)?

Find a qualified animal behaviorist in your area--your vet may be able to refer you to one--and have the dog evaluated before doing anything else. Also, have the dog checked out by a vet to rule out medical problems.

 

[ChristFollowers]

Instead of putting the Dog to sleep why not give the Dog to an Animal shelter. There are alot of non-kill Animal shelters that would take in the Dog instead of see the Dog die even if the Dog is dangerous. I think they work with the Dog....just research no-kill animal shelters on the interet and email them and see if they take in Dogs that are a little, you know, aggressive. Also check with the Humane Society of the United States and animal rights groups....they can also help you.

 

[forjesus]

It sounds like the dog is a danger to your daughter and other people. I personally would have her put down.

 

[ChristFollowers]

forjesus.....dang.....if you think we should put the Dog down.....we should also "put down or the government should kill" all killers and murders in the US...I mean they are a threat to innocent kids, right????

CC...if you don't believe in killing the Dog..there are more options that I have stated above and Missfirerose have stated some also.

 

[forjesus]

forjesus.....dang.....if you think we should put the Dog down.....we should also "put down or the government should kill" all killers and murders in the US...I mean they are a threat to innocent kids, right????

CC...if you don't believe in killing the Dog..there are more options that I have stated above and Missfirerose have stated some also.

You don't place a biting dog in a place where someone else must learn the hard way. Its the old out of sight out of mind thing. If a dog bites, IT BITES. I suggest putting it down.

 

[ChristFollowers]

OK.....what about killers and murders? Are they not a harm to children, forjesus? They are a harm to the jailers, etc especially when they get out in 1-7 years.

Also forjesus, how about child molestors? My uncle molested my cousin...only got 5 years......maybe we should "put him down or kill" him because he's out and can molest other children as well. We shouldnt take that chance of him doing that, should we?

 

[forjesus]

OK.....what about killers and murders? Are they not a harm to children, forjesus? They are a harm to the jailers, etc especially when they get out in 1-7 years.

Also forjesus, how about child molestors? My uncle molested my cousin...only got 5 years......maybe we should "put him down or kill" him because he's out and can molest other children as well. We shouldnt take that chance of him doing that, should we?

This is a dog not a person. This dog has already attacked this child twice. You want to put it in a place where it can be given to another family. The dog has already attacked a person that it is been with for 5 years. What do you think it would do to a stranger? I get so ticked off when people ask for a persons advice and then there is someone who blasts them for giving their opinion. I have three dogs, 4 horses, 5 cats, and six chickens, and 5 goats. I love my animals as most people on this forum does. I also have two small daughters whom I love more than my animals. If one of my dogs had attacked one of my daughters then it would be put down. If you had children maybe you could understand. I could not put that dog in another families home and sleep at night. Its a wonderful thing to care for and protect animals but safety comes first. Once again I would put it down.

 

[ChristFollowers]

Some places will work with the Dog.....Dog specialists for example.....if we kill all aggressive Dogs....they would be out of a job.

Who said the Dog was a person? I just said why not kill killers and murders. They are a threat to children also. Who is blasting you on giving your opinion. I didnt say you wrong or right. I just said give the Dog to a behaviourist or Dog specialist....that's there job to work with harmful animals.

Also I have a 5 year old son so yes I understand. But what does death do when there is a person out there that has went to college to work with harmful animals? Thats why you take them to an person experience with this.

 

[ChristFollowers]

Also....animal shelters and Dog specialist do not let people adopt "harmful dogs"

 

[Didymus]

i agree with for Jesus. years ago my oldest daughter was attacked by a neigbors dog. it was known to be aggresive. she was 7 . our pastor at the time saw it and saved her. the neighbor got rid of the dog even though all we did was request that he keep it chained. our bichon snapeed at my yongest daughter once but K had tripped and landed on her so i ignored it . she never did it again. the dog i mean

 

[ChristFollowers]

But anyways....to each his own.....we are all different and have different opinions....that's what makes us different and unique in God's eye.

 

[IvoryRain]

Instead of putting the Dog to sleep why not give the Dog to an Animal shelter. There are alot of non-kill Animal shelters that would take in the Dog instead of see the Dog die even if the Dog is dangerous. I think they work with the Dog....just research no-kill animal shelters on the interet and email them and see if they take in Dogs that are a little, you know, aggressive. Also check with the Humane Society of the United States and animal rights groups....they can also help you.

Just keep in mind, many no kill facilities do not have room for agressive animals. While they *may* take them in, their policy in most areas in "no kill on the premisis". A shelter I worked at for 6 years often received animals from two area no kill shelters because they were unable to house the animals. The shelter I worked at had strict adoption policies, where less than 75% of the incoming animals were even able to go up for adoption.

As a liability an owner will not even take on, that is something a shelter usually doesn't take responsibility for. Adopting out a known agressive dog could result in a lawsuit which could close down the facility - and that usually ends up in euthanizing any animals they cannot get out of their system before the doors close.

 

[PegasusOnFire]

Once a dog bites a person, or another dog, it is going to do it again and a again. No amount of animal psychology is going to change the animal's ingrained instincts. Once it has tasted blood it will go after more. I know this because I have studied animal behavior.

 

[forjesus]

Also....animal shelters and Dog specialist do not let people adopt "harmful dogs"

If they don't let them adopt then what happens to them?

 

[ChristFollowers]

They keep working with them and help them. Have you ever been to Carrollton, Georgia? They have a facility here where they work with harmful animals and if they see that the animal wont cooperate, with a specialist, then they put the animal down. But first they give the animal a chance to work with a specialist or whatever they are called.

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

Instead of putting the Dog to sleep why not give the Dog to an Animal shelter. There are alot of non-kill Animal shelters that would take in the Dog instead of see the Dog die even if the Dog is dangerous. I think they work with the Dog....just research no-kill animal shelters on the interet and email them and see if they take in Dogs that are a little, you know, aggressive. Also check with the Humane Society of the United States and animal rights groups....they can also help you.

The HSUS does not operate any animal shelters; they are NOT the same as the local Humane Societies that operate animal shelters in communities. Animal rights organizations (such as PETA) have a terrible record for actually saving animals. PETA has euthanized MORE animals at their shelters than the local kill shelters in Virginia do. They also have ties to known terrorist groups (ALF and ELF). The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) does not operate any shelters, and is a terrorist group (they have bombed research facilities). The HSUS and animal rights groups will most likely not help anyone with an animal they must give up.

 

[SnowOwlMoon]

Also....animal shelters and Dog specialist do not let people adopt "harmful dogs"

I wish that were the case. My friend adopted a dog from a local shelter. She asked about the dog's personality, and was assured the dog had no problems. She brought the dog home; discovered the dog was fear-aggressive and hyper-reactive (went into a blind, spinning, foaming at the mouth rage when people approached--and yes, I witnessed the dog doing this many times). When my friend contacted the shelter, and pressed for details, they finally admitted that yes--the dog had in fact bitten at least one shelter worker while she was there. Yes, they had seen this rage displayed. Yes, they knew the dog was fear-aggressive and hyper-reactive. They adopted her out anyway.

"Dog Specialists"--there is no standard for qualifications. Any schmoe can call himself an "animal behaviorist" or a "trainer" or a "dog specialist". A few of them may actually have gone to college, may actually be a veterinary behavior specialist. Most have no college degree. Some are qualified to assess a dog's behavior, through experience and classes. Many are not. There is no governing body, no licencing regulations, nothing, to determine that a dog trainer or behaviorist is actually qualified to do anything with dogs. I could call myself a dog trainer and behaviorist, and set up a practice--and probably make a lot of money. I have absolutely no qualifications to do so, but I do know how the jargon goes, and could probably fool people for quite a while.

 

[IvoryRain]

Some places will work with the Dog.....Dog specialists for example.....if we kill all aggressive Dogs....they would be out of a job.

Wouldn't that be wonderful, if we could phase out aggressiveness?