To have no sympathy for this woman (potentially upsetting - death of a dog)

[Watermelonsugarcube]

A woman I work with owned an XL bully, which last week attacked and killed her other dog. The XL bully has been put down, so she is understandably devastated to have lost two dogs in one day.

I don’t know her very well as we work on different teams and our paths rarely cross, however colleagues who are closer to her are all fawning over her, talking about what a tragedy it all is.

Willing to be told I’m completely heartless here but I think she’s a fucking idiot to have owned one of those dogs in the first place and while it’s sad her other dog died (terrier type breed) I’m struggling to find any sympathy for her.

I encountered one once, when.walking my little dog. It came bounding up, 6-m-o, full of pup eyes and daft behaviour. Absolutely massive, though.

We played it cool, petted it, chatted with its owner - think Sapphie from Abb Fab, who also had a sad- looking Staffie ( God help that dog).

I have never felt so unsafe.

Shame for the dog that was killed by the XL Bully, but thank goodness this XL Bully beast didn't kill a human.

Why the HELL do people have these bloody dogs?!

Actually no, she’s pretty ‘normal’ and definitely doesn’t fit the stereotype of a typical XL bully owner- I was shocked when I discovered she owned one (and have never changed my opinion on someone so quickly, but that’s a whole other thread).

I don’t know the ins and outs but I believe it was originally owned by a friend of hers who for some reason couldn’t get a licence when licensing came in, and it would’ve otherwise been put down so she took it. So well intentioned but bloody daft to put it mildly.

This was my first thought too

RIP both to dogs, especially the little one who would have terrified 😞. This has thoroughly depressed me.

I know, the poor little soul

I am going to go for another more standard breed here, German Shepherds. Where I live they seem to be very popular and it bothers me. There are at least 5 in the local area. Each one are the most engaged looking dog breed I have seen, alerting and focusing on everything going on around them, dragging the owner behind. It is frightening because you know the control is not there and anyone who owns one probably knows it is a breed you really have to be on the ball with. I wouldn't be capable of owning one. People are buying them like show ponies and it is so unsettling because they are so alert and in control. I met a woman who had severe anxiety issues and had a bourboel in a city terraced house because he made her feel safer. It should be like getting a driving licence, if that was even theoretically possible.

I can see how it's possible to be sucked in by this. She heard about this dog that's going to be put down, and it seemed like a sweet dog, so she thought she could save it. Not something I would do, but I can kind of empathise - different to someone buying a pup.

I feel sorry for the terrier, but also all XL bully dogs. They shouldn't exist, sadly, they do. I've met several and they do tend to be owned by a certain type of person, not one you'd let babysit in their homes.
Now they all face a crap futures, if any future at all. The blame needs to be put squarely at the owner's door, not offering tea and sympathy when things go wrong, as in this case.

They are also extremely intelligent and well behaved. I used to walk one for a friend. Brilliant dog, stayed at heel. The one time (for good reason) he got off his lead I was shocked- he could have pulled me about any time he wanted. But he is just such a good dog

Once, my then 5 y o son ran past a young German Shepard, brushed his fingers on its nose, the dog didn't flinch, kept his eyes straightforward (I know, lost control of my kid for ten seconds)

I’d have sympathy for her if she took the dog on to save it being put down as a pup, I have a “new” friend who also did similar. A man dropped one into her arms on her doorstep and bolted. The pup was very poorly, full of worms/abused etc. and the “breeder” has since been banned.
My friend isn’t the usual owner of such a dog either.
Watching any dog mauling another to death would be terrifying so I’d have sympathy.
I wouldn’t necessarily be surprised though 😬 just glad it wasn’t a child.

i had no idea how many XL bullies are registered across the UK. A quick search showed It’s 59,000 with 10s thousands estimated to be unregistered still.
im really surprised it’s that many.
your colleagues may be just making the right noises but thinking the same as you.

Yes because well educated people/people from decent backgrounds can often be seen out and about taking their two labs and their xl bully for a walk.

it is class or a certain demographic that has these dogs and it’s disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

no sympathy whatsoever this is on her

I feel dreadfully sorry for the dog that was killed.
I knew an XL bully and I adored him, but never would have I ever left another animal around him (not for anything he had done, but simply because of the innate unpredictability traits they have).

Wow I had no idea either!
I was worried this would be easily identifiable but sadly the stories that don’t make the press are probably more common than I realised.

How did she come to own the XL bully? If she rescued it, I have some sympathy - she was naive but would have acted in good faith. If she got it from a breeder, then I have less sympathy although I feel terribly sorry for her other dog.

This is so true - owning a big dog is like operating a car or owning a loaded firearm . Terrifying to me, how people don't understand this.