URGENT - DOG ATTACKED PARTNER **Please read OP's latest updates** [edited by MNHQ]

[FlangeBoil]

Hi all, my 6yo JRT has attacked my partner twice this morning. He has recently developed some territorial aggression, and we have to 'coax' him away from his bed each morning. This morning was as normal, but he wouldn't come so we just left him. My partner went to get milk, about 2m away from him, and the dog lunged and has bitten his hand fairly badly. We managed to lock him away whilst we sorted things, and have since boarded a section of the kitchen away so he can get outside but also can't get to us.
Anytime we enter the kitchen he viciously barks. I have a 4yo at home, so this isn't something I can risk.
He has since bitten my partner again when we went to open the back door for him (by leaning over the barrier we've created) and it's really bad - blood everywhere and he is now in a&e.
I cannnot get near the dog. How do I get him to a point where I can get him checked out - or as I'm probably denying to myself, put to sleep..?
I'm in absolute bits - I just need advice please urgently.

To note - I can't get a vet to come to him, I have already called around

• [Note from MNHQ: We've already edited the title to ask people to read the OP's updates before responding (just click on the See All tab). As that doesn't seem to have worked, we feel the need to explain here in the opening post that the OP's dog has been put to sleep by now as he was found to be suffering from a brain tumour. The OP is obviously in pieces about this so please be sensitive when responding.]

I’m so sorry OP.

this happened to our family dog when I was a teen (small cross collie lurcher type) - same behavioral switch and she also had a brain tumor. We too had to PTS.

Very very sorry for you, but I hope you can take comfort in the knowledge that Donut was a very good dog right to the end, and that the end when it came, was peaceful and dignified and full of love.

💐

We don’t have rabies here.

So sorry OP, he looks gorgeous on his photo💐

I was following your thread yesterday and my heart went out to you guys. Well done for getting the police dog handler in and for getting Donut checked. I'm so sorry that it was a brain tumour, but I'm glad that you now have a clear picture of exactly what caused his change in behaviour. I'm glad that you guys were with him in the end and that he went peacefully. It's so clear from all your post just how much you guys loved him and how much you did for him. He sounded like such a lovely boy. Sending you all lots of love xx

@FlangeBoil might the ‘Goodbye, Mog’ book help with explaining to DD what has happened? It’s about a cat but it is a sensitive and age-appropriate way of tackling the subject of pet loss

Rip Donut x

Ah I'm so sorry. Pets are family and they are with us for far too short a time. It's horrible when you think you see them around the house or expect them in their usual place. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself time to grieve because it is a real grief. I'm glad in a way that you know know that he really was the loving good boy you always knew, but it was just the horrible tumour acting out at the end - and that you got to say goodbye in peace and dignity 🤍

So sorry OP, it is so hard to lose them. Rest well Donut.

Aw that’s so sad, poor Donut but in some way good that you know it wasn’t Donut being vicious, he couldn’t help it and he had a great life with you by the sounds of it.
Can I make a suggestion? Write a letter or email to the officers inspector praising their handling of the situation, so few people ever say thanks to officers and this would make their day.

I’m so very sorry, what a heartbreaking story.

Just read your update OP. I am so so sorry. At least you know he was always your kind gentle boy and that a horrid tumour was why he acted out - it had changed him.

He is up there fighting over a chicken carcass with our late beagle, Chelsea, I just know it! Lol 😆 what a loved boy he was.

I’m so sorry to read this.

In terms of telling your daughter, at the age of 4 she might be more understanding than you think. I remember vividly our cat died when I was 4: I saw my mum crying, asked her what was wrong, and she just said very simply: “Charlie was hurt, so he went to the vet, where he went to sleep and didn’t wake up.” I immediately understood what she meant without needing more explanation.

Don’t feel like you have to hide your emotions to protect her - seeing my mum upset showed me it was ok to feel upset myself.

I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss 💐

I’m so sorry for your loss.

It's ghastly when a beloved pet has to be PTS before their 'time' due to illness.
Our family cat Sammy who had a brain tumour {the vets said} passed at 6 yrs old - his brother lived to 18 yrs.
Even if you had caught the brain tumour really early on {Brain scans come in at about £2k} there is probably little you could have done to 'Save' Donut.

I only know this as used to follow a dog charity who asked for donations for a brain scan as one of their dogs had unexplained symptoms.

When your Daughter asks where donut is, this will be hard to face up to..
A book that may help is ''Goodnight, Fred'' about a Family cat who dies.

It's a lovely children's story, but made me cry -and also laugh.

When an animal had a crisis like this, and they are taken away suddenly, it's a huge shock.
Pet loss Grief is real. {A hospice I volunteered at said never underestimate the grief of losing a beloved pet}

One ''Sees'' the animal on early days of loss, and one expects to hear them come in - it's a normal reaction.

Donut had a lovely life with you..so glad you were able to be with him at the end.

xx

@FlangeBoil just read your update. Sending you a hug, we lost our boy 2 years ago this week and it was the saddest time. I know where you’re at, keep hold of knowing you did right by your little friend. He wasn’t a bad dog, he was sick. He had a lovely life with you and you will always remember him. The picture of his paw is lovely, his paw prints will be on your heart forever ❤️

Very good point about the terms used.
Children can worry about ''Put to sleep'' as they can think ''If I sleep, I might die''
Similar with the ''He's gone on holiday''

''Doggy Heaven'' sounds like a good compromise..I know people pooh~pooh it scientifically, but I too like to think that we will meet our beloved animals when we too die.

“Lottie and Gretel will surely see me out. And when that time comes I fancy that, waking one morning to find all my old dogs sleeping on my bed or nuzzling my face and demanding to be let into the garden — then I shall know that I am dead and in Heaven.”

Brian Sewell

I’m so sorry for your loss, RIP Donut.

You’ve done the best thing for him, no matter how hard it’s been for you. He’s clearly had a great life being part of your family.

When you’re ready, speak to your little girl. There’s a few social stories online for grieving and grieving the loss of a pet so it might help you to look over first and then read one with her. You could also keep his collar/ favourite toys and let her hold it when she wants him close.

So sorry to read about your lovely dog, OP. Poor boy must have been as confused as you not knowing what was happening to him. Hugs to you and your family x

Op I have had a dog pts for similar issues.

You did that dog a kindness in the end. It was a huge sacrifice to give him one of the worst times of your life to make sure he went peacefully. It might not feel like it at times but that is love.

You have also been very sensible and level headed throughout and it's easy to lose your head and be rational when it's such an emotional thing to do. The head and the heart often disagree.

It's really better to use non ambiguous language when talking to children about death. Use words like "Donut became ill, and then he died". Make it clear that the dog is dead, and not using fluffy language like on holiday or over the rainbow bridge etc. Children often handle death of a pet better than we imagine. Anytime we lost a pet, I was always very matter of fact about it with our children, they always coped well. First experience was when eldest was 3yrs old.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Especially as the road to this was traumatic.
He will have known you were there for him at the end and that was such a brave thing to do.
Be kind to yourselves.

I'm sorry for the loss of your cat@BirthdayRainbow . It is so hard. Still expect to see them sometimes

I lost my 17 year old in July last year and I still miss him. I never even got to say a final goodbye to him. He was being investigated for weight loss and we were waiting on results, but he just lay down and died, one evening. No fuss, no signs. He just stopped living. It was a minute or two before I realised he was gone. I'm still struggling with it from time to time as it was such a shock

I'm so sorry, your poor broken heart. Run free, lovely Donut. It's such terrible pain to lose a beloved pet, no matter how much your rational brain tells you that you did the right thing. And you definitely did the right thing.