Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Vallhala and other rescuers, please help if you can!

109 replies

purplepidjin · 06/06/2011 20:31

A friend of mine rescued a dog last year who had come in from a very abusive home. He's a big lad, 9st (not sure of breed) and absolutely beautiful. The problem is that he's terrified of everything and it's got to the point that she thinks he's going to bite. He's already tried to nip her son (who has AS and has struggled to bond with the dog) and currently has to be walked on a muzzle.

She's pretty much decided he needs to be PTS, but if you know of an experienced home where he could get the attention he needs please let me know. I will add that my friend is an experienced dog owner but she's a single mum and just can't afford the behavouralists etc. It's breaking her heart to even consider PTS

There's a photo here

As I say he's a gorgeous boy, really sweet when he's comfortable with you, prefers women.

I don't expect you to work miracles, and it may be he needs out of this life so he can be reborn into a better one. He's due in for an operation on Thursday, and the official story will be that he doesn't survive the anaesthetic Sad

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 13:25

And pre-empting, to Rob, to me and to many, many other people, means rehabilitating, means muzzling if necessary, means a lot of things. It does not mean killing a dog.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 13:31

He's got a muzzle, it's very uncomfortable for him due to the shape of his face, and he is walked wearing it.

I'm here to do everything I can to avoid killing him. He's currently slobbering all over my jeans wanting me to throw his ball Grin

Please remember that you too don't know the full facts and are neither judge nor jury over his fate. My friend will talk to Rob once she has verified that she can trust him. We won't be taking the word of a person who uses the internet to attack a person who is actually trying to do what that internet user wants them to Hmm

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 13:53

Oh dear Lord, this isn't an attack! I'm trying to verbally shake some bloody sense into the owner.

It's sensible that the owner verifies that she can trust the rescuer she deals with, I'd be concerned if she didn't. The need here is for the dog to be rehabilitated by a rescue which offers total sanctuary, for life if necessary, in order that the dog doesn't end up in the wrong/incapable hands with nowhere to go but a one-way vet appointment.

You misunderstand me. I hold my view about all dogs, not just this one and do not need the full facts to decide that he doesn't deserve to die.

DooinMeCleanin · 07/06/2011 14:00

You said the dog was dog aggressive. You didn't mention it being child aggressive in yoru original post? Why add that now, surely it is the most relevent bit of information.

You can buy many different kinds of muzzles btw, all different shapes and sizes. Although training is still the best option.

Scuttlebutter · 07/06/2011 14:04

Oh, FFS, Purple. We've all asked for the full facts, and you've refused to give them (such as the rescue this dog came from, which is mysteriously unknown) and have drip fed various bits of info, many of which are contradictory. If we "don't know the full facts" it's because you haven't provided them. And yes, I will judge anyone who comes out with twaddle about killing a dog to send it to a better place.

K9999 has suggested a rescue you could work with in good faith. She, like many of us, sees the dreadful consequences of irresponsible ownership, including dogs who pay with their lives. Refusing to accept this, when you came here asking for advice (but didn't seem to get the answers you were presumably looking for) is a bit rich.

Oh, and please brush up on your knowledge of the law, particularly the DDA.

And how on earth can you be throwing a ball for him when according to you, he wears a muzzle on walks, and not so long ago, you lived miles away from him and didn't see him very often? Is this the world's first patented ball snatching muzzle? I also notice he's not wearing it in your picture of him.

Too many things don't add up in your posts.

chickchickchicken · 07/06/2011 14:05

purple - you posted earlier "I have seen her take a skinny, half dead dog shivering in the corner and turn him into a child-safe, healthy, shiny, alert and happy animal."

you said he was "child safe"

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:08

She's got a lot of sense, which is why we're trying absolutely everything.

He's not child aggressive, however if a child or adult were in the way when he got aggressive there would be some very serious consequences. This is a dog who is my ideal weight (need to lose a couple of stone) so an accident would be potentially very serious.

On phone to Rob now, will update...

OP posts:
Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:10

X posted, scuttle. Owner is currently talking to the recommended rescuer.

He has only recently needed muzzling. The pic was taken several months ago in an isolated area. He is child-safe, however you can't predict all situations.

I have said several times, I am ignorant and inexperienced in these matters.

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 14:12

OP is telling me that the dog can't go into kennels owing to his distress when in them and so therefore can't go to rescue. Naturally I've explained that not all rescues are kennel-based and in fact Rob's rescue runs from his home where the dogs live as part of the family.

OP also tells me that "luckily we don't need a rescue or foster place as he's safe and secure here" and that his behaviour is managed well by her very experienced friend, so why that friend is considering killing him is really beyond me. It doesn't sound like he's safe or secure, that's for sure.

I'm totally confused.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:15

PS I won't be naming the rescue because they can do without any adverse publicity. They are a no-kill independent rescue.

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 07/06/2011 14:17

Does anyone get the feeling this dog is a 'free to good home' gone wrong dog and is infact Purple's dog and the simple truth is she just cannot be bothered to train him or muzzle him and was expecting everyone to back her up in taking the easy way out?

I'm sorry if I am wrong Purple, but your making no sense at all.

Please give this dog a chance and allow him to go into rescue it's the least you/your friend owe him. A life in rescue/foster care is better than no life at all.

K9999 · 07/06/2011 14:19

Fuck off are they a no-kill rescue! Angry (not at you OP, at the so called rescue).

If only precisely because they're professing to be one whilst recommending that one of their dogs should be killed you should IMHO have a moral duty to warn others who might think of handing in their dog to that "rescue" so that they can reconsider, particularly if he is a difficult dog like this one.

That is not a no-kill rescue and their claims to the contrary are lies.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:26

They are a very experienced no-kill rescue, I've seen the very upset email from the owner who obviously doesn't know what to recommend Sad They feel there is nothing more they can do to help. I will not name them, because they do wonderful work with other dogs.

I don't own a dog (cats, rabbit, fish), which is why I'm coming across garbled and confusing - I have no experience of situations like these. The dog was found as a stray by the rescue and re-homed to my friend.

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 07/06/2011 14:30

A very experienced no kill rescue would be insisting they take the dog back if your friend was threatening to kill it. They also would not have homed a dog with problems to a family with small children. They would also have a behaviouralist working with them who would help your friend.

The rescue I work with is very, very small and relies on a few foster homes and pivate boarding kennels paid for by donations. Even they have a behaviourist on their books who donates his time free of charge. They also have special foster homes with very experienced people for problem dogs.

The rescue your friend took this dog from is neither experienced, reputable or no kill.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:35

Older children.

On the phone still, sounding positive...

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 14:37

FFS!!!!! THEY ARE NOT A NO KILL RESCUE

NOT IF THEY ARE SUGGESTING TO THE OWNER THAT SHE HAS THE DOG KILLED. WHAT PART OF NO KILL DOES THAT COME UNDER????

There are two "rescues" that I know of in the Portsmouth area, they are short on any facility in that area. One is Scallywags, which is a rescue and is owned by a dog trainer and the other is Portsmouth City Dog Kennels.

PORTSMOUTH CITY DOG KENNELS ARE NOT A RESCUE, THEY ARE A COUNCIL POUND.

ALL pounds will kill a dog if it conveniences them to do so.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:43

I don't know enough to debate or discuss this issue further.

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 07/06/2011 14:43

How'd the phone call go Purple?

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:45

They're still talking...

I'm trying to distract myself Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:47

We have a hopefully positive result.

Owner says:

Thank you very much, K9999 for the phone number. Can we please draw a line under this discussion, as the alternative we were looking for has now hopefully been found.

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 14:54

Thank you, owner, for accepting my decision and calling Rob. I must speak to him myself this evening, catching up with him is long overdue so I'll look forward to finding out how this boy is doing.

I may be mistaken but it seems clear to me that the owner made a big mistake, one which people often make and which pounds make no effort to correct, which was confusing a POUND with a RESCUE. Pound dogs are NOT rescue dogs and I advise everyone never to leave or return a dog to a pound having taken him on from such a place.

No pound can genuinely claim to be no-kill.

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 14:58

K9999, I'm sure you'll get a clearer picture when you speak to him. I respectfully ask you not to publicise any details that might identify people and dogs involved. There were mistakes made, and the people who made those mistakes are now not associated with the rescue.

The owner is now in talks to foster a puppy while her dog is rehabilitated, with a view to either adopting the puppy or having her dog returned. Result! Im now sobbing my heart out

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 15:02

I'll wipe the bloody floor with any pound or "rescue" claiming to be no-kill when it isn't but of course wouldn't dream of identifying this dog, his owner and family or you.

So Rob has puppies? Oooooh! :o

I told you it's been too long since he and I last spoke. I'm in London for a wedding at the end of the month, I might just have to lose my way and end up at Rob's house!

Original poster
purplepidjin · 07/06/2011 15:08

Thank you. The rescue has at no time said they want the dog pts and the idea is extremely upsetting to all involved. It was looking like the only safe option at the time, and we have averted that still crying Grin

OP posts:
K9999 · 07/06/2011 15:18

"She has spoken to the rescue she got him from and has been told that PTS may be the best option."

The above was written by you at 22.47 yesterday. I can only respond and react to the information I'm given.