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Original poster

please help re:stray dog. Please dont read if squeamish

99 replies

AnAngelWithin · 19/02/2007 18:42

ok so last week we found a dog in our area. Apparently from what I had heard, he had been running round the area for a few days. He still had a collar and lead on. Anyway, we took him in. cleaned him up, fed him and then rang the local dog warden. He came and checked him and said that he didnt had a chip thing in him and asked what we wanted to do. He said that we could either keep hold of him and if after 28 days the owner didn't come forward we could keep him, or he would take him to the kennels for the month. Anyway, we decided that we would keep hold of him cos he was such a sweetheart, and the thought of him being in kennels. So the dog warden left us his number, said any problems to ring him. And that he would come and check on us a few times.

So fast forward a week of having a totally loving dog in the house who wants nothing but to sleep and be loved. Fantastic with the kids. Eats hardly anything, totally house trained, a dream to walk and leaves everything in the kitchen alone, even food that drops on the floor....

This afternoon I went to get the kids from school. I was running late and rushed out the door, ran to school and got home. When I got home, what I saw just mortified me. I had forgotten to move the rabbit and he had got into the cage and ripped her to pieces. When I opened the door he was stood there with the remains of her head in his mouth. The children saw and screamed the place down (understandably) He has never even looked at the rabbit before. Totally ignored her. Its my own stupid fault I know for leaving her in there. I might as well have killed her myself and I am beating myself up something chronic about it, so please don't tell me how awful I am cos I already know. I just screamed so loud and opened the back door he bolted out. I tried to let him back in after I had cleaned all the kitchen of the blood etc, but he has just stayed outside. He has been barking like mad (which he hasnt done before)

I know I was stupid letting him stay. At the end of the day I didn't know him. But I am an animal lover and the thought of him being stuck in a kennel mortified him.

Anyway, I said to DH that I think we should get the dog warden to come and take him after all. I don't think he wants to part with him but he said he doesn't trust him with the kids now.

The children wont' go near him cos of what he did to their rabbit.

I;m just wondering what the dog warden will do with him, if he will get him destroyed? I have tried so hard to find the owners but they havent come forward yet.

OP posts:

hercules1 · 25/02/2007 21:43

All what you have described is normal dog behaviour. However I wouldnt personally advise housing a dog with kids whose history you know nothing about. We did this last year and sadly the original owner lied through their teeth to us and in the end we took him to his breed rescue place as his bad habits emerged over time. We were told there is a honeymoon period whilst they get their feet under the table and then any poor learned habits and aggession can emerge as they grow in confidence.
A lot of rescue places wont house with young children.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 09:45

Well I have got home from the school run. Was gone 35 minutes. I set the camcorder and he did nothing but howl the whole time. He ripped down my curtains, ripped the door frame some more, ripped the bottom off the back door, chewed up my washing powder box and eaten at least 8 washing tablets and their wrappers, muddy paw prints all over the worktops, chewed the back door handle, table leg and pulled the draught excluder off the door and bent it in half. He obviously can't be left on his own. I think he is showing his true colours now. Like you said, they have a honeymoon period I think and now it's over. I feel awful cos he is a lovely dog otherwise.

I have just rung the dog warden to come and get him . He said he will come and get him later today or in the morning.

OP posts:

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 11:49

please tell me I've done the right thing? I am sat here feeling so guilty that I am just palming him off like his previous owners have obviously done. I am sat here sobbing. He is a lovely dog otherwise.

OP posts:

dolally · 26/02/2007 12:07

you HAVE done the right thing Angel, although the rabbit episode was tragic for your kids, he's just a normal dog but probably not the right one for you. Don't beat yourself up about it. He would probably have needed a lot of time and retraining... and with young children in the house you would never have been totally relaxed, would you?

JustUsTwo · 26/02/2007 12:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PinkTulips · 26/02/2007 12:12

ofgs! if a cat killed your pet mouse or canary would you think he was going to eat you kids?!

dogs are designed to kill and eat rabbitts and he was just doing what was natural to him, he's probably terrified now coz he doesn't know what he did wrong.

the kids will get over it and so will you.... it was a silly mistake to make but thats all it was, an accident. not anything more sinister!

PinkTulips · 26/02/2007 12:18

just read the rest, do you not have a garden he can be put in while your out? i can't imagine a healthy active dog of any kind being happy to be locked in a small room on his own. much kinder to have him in the garden with a kennel to shelter in.

sorry you feel you can't keep him though, but if you're not comfortable with him it's probably for the best as he'd pick up on that over time.

hope he gets a good home poor fella

Bamzooki · 26/02/2007 12:40

The destruction while you are out sounds more like separation anxiety to me. He has adopted you as his 'pack' and is stressing when it is gone. I think this is sometimes to do with them having placed themselves 'in charge', as alpha male, and feels the responsibility to protect the pack. The rabbit thing was just dog nature.
But don't punish yourself too much - if you feel unable to cope with this dog, it is far better in the long run for him to have a chance to find a more suitable home, than for you all to struggle on, with him feeling constantly in trouble, and you worrying about the kids. Boxers are not suitable for everyone.

LittleB · 26/02/2007 12:41

Angel, You did the right thing, this dog obviously has some behavioural problems which would need alot of training - Pinktulips - he's probably upset because of seperation anxiety - not being shut inside - out in a garden he could still get destructive and howl. He would need alot of training and it doesn't sound like Angel has the time to do this, I think you did a good thing Angel to take him in and care for him for a while, he's obviously not the right dog for you. He'll go up for homing soon and they can find the right home for him, at least the home will be able to provide more information to potential owners now too.

LittleB · 26/02/2007 12:42

Sorry - crossed post - just what I was trying to say.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 12:53

pinktulips why dont you just report me to the rspca right away eh??

fwiw my kitchen is large. He is fine overinight when he knows we are here. Yes I was upset about the rabbit but at the end of the day I have accepted thats what dogs do, so please don't have a go at me about that. And also, I am sure that the RSPCA would view a dog being kept outside all the time with no company as cruelty which I do not want to be responsible for. Surely putting him in a crate would make him worse??

OP posts:

JustUsTwo · 26/02/2007 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:18

JustUs2 did you keep the labrador?

OP posts:

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:19

more to the point, did she eventually stop the destruction?

OP posts:

sazjaz · 26/02/2007 13:21

keeping dogs outside is not cruelty i have a deerhound and lurcher and there kept outside , they have more duvets than me . as long as u walk them everyday there fine, ,, and yes they do eat rabbits and there still fine with the kids

NotanOtter · 26/02/2007 13:23

dp says ring dogs trust if you dont want it - they do not put to sleep
he says all dogs will eat a rabbit
He says boxers are normally lovely - he has never had a nasty one

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:24

notanotter thats what making it so hard. he is lovely. its not that i dont want him. but being a big dog, the destruction is big too

OP posts:

JustUsTwo · 26/02/2007 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:26

did she calm down of her own accord? or did you manage it some other way? i just dont like the thought of putting a big dog in a crate

OP posts:

nailpolish · 26/02/2007 13:26

AnAngel you are obv upset

i think you have done the right thing tho, its hard on you and the dog to adjust together when you dotn even know his background

i feel he would do well with someone who isnt as busy as you (ie with children to run around for)

you can tell the warden a bit about him, his good points as well as negative (like maybe no other pets in the house) and they can findhim a suitable home

iyswim?

i htink you have done the right thing

NuttyMuffins · 26/02/2007 13:27

I think you have done exactly the right thing.
You took a stray dog in and cared for it whilst trying everything in your power to find the owners, alot of people wouldn't of even done that.

You have tried your hardest and it hasn't worked out, no ones fault, just one of those things.

Don't feel guilty, you tried really hard and should be commended for that not feel got at.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:27

when i rang the warden, he didn't really want to know. he sounded more cross that i had rung him. like he was blanking everything i said that he had done.

OP posts:

JustUsTwo · 26/02/2007 13:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

AnAngelWithin · 26/02/2007 13:37

thank you nuttymuffins.

OP posts:

nailpolish · 26/02/2007 13:38

hats off to you JustUs2

2-3 years is a long time, i dotn think i could have the patience

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