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

1 2 3 4 5

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

The doghouse

My mastiff has mauled a small dog, I have a baby, my family want her to be pts. wwyd?

113 replies

bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:06

I will try and keep this short whilst not drip feeding. Needless to say I am devastated.

Bull Mastiff rescue bitch - very dog aggresive, never shown any human aggresion. I got her when she was 6 from rescue, she had a bad fight when I slipped on ice and lost grip of the lead and since then she is not off the lead due to her bad dog aggression. I have worked with her intensly and trained her to be okay to walk past other dogs without too much tension, took 4 years but we got there!

We live in a flat, so as a holiday every 6 weeks or so she goes to my parents house in the country with huge garden so she can relax and wander off lead in a gated and fenced area. She must be about 9 now, no problems since I have been on top of her training and walks. She has bad hips and Cushings disease which we medicate but she still hates the stairs in the flat.

We have been at my parents for a week and having coffee outside when we hear the gate latch. The church warden has visited unannounced and walked in with her miniture breed. We did what we could but obviously my mastiff gets there first and mauled the dog. The dog is fine, thank god, after surgery but it was a close call - I am gutted. My family wont have her here again and think that she is a risk to my 10 mo son.

Yes she is a risk, but no more than she was 2 days ago. she has never shown human aggression, when we pinned her down to let go of the dog we really hurt her hips but she just howled but didnt harm us at all. I dont know what to do. Every one is saying to put her down, but I think this is unfair because a the dog walked into her territory. I know she is dog aggresive and i manage it. but do you thinbk she is a risk to my son in the flat? I keep them apart at all times, I will teach him to respect her space.

Sorry for the typos, very upset.

WWYD/

her quality of life will be diminished now she is not allowed back to my parents lovely garden and stuck going up and down the stairsand I can understand and respect thier desicon on that, but pts is a step too far or is it?

Help!

OP posts:

Report

Fumbled · 27/08/2013 08:48

Oh didn't mean you had a lack of understanding op! Take care, the other thing about pts is that I have only regretted it after leaving it too long, from a health point of view earlier is better ... Letting your dog go whilst facing a poor future but still relatively well is a kindness.

bittenipples · 29/08/2013 14:08

Hi

I dont know if anyone is still reading this, but I just wanted to thank everyone for thier advice and let you know my beautiful Mastiff, 'Amber' was pts at 10.40 today.

It was a tough decision, I think I had hurt her back legs when I pinned her down to release the other dog as her back legs gave way several times in the week since. I took her home and she found getting in the car impossible and the stairs difficult.

I may be wrong but I honestly dont think she posed any more risk to my son then she had ever had, I will never know.

I put her down because she would have had an ever decreaisngly sad time here with me. I took her out and all the training and hard work had been undone and she went potty like she used to when we saw a dog. She couldnt be taken to places dog free as she refused to get in the car, she would have to have been muzzled lead walked around the streets avoiding all other dogs.

I realise she may have had another 6 months or so in her but I feel I made the right decsion. I am heartbroken though and already feel like I have a dog shaoped hole in my life. A flat is not suitable for an old large dog, I realsie that now.

When I am ready I will look into volunteering for the Cinnamon Trust.

I also want to get involved in raising awareness about the horror and plight of dogs from puppy farms, as I beliebve this was the start of her sad life. I really hope she enjoyed her time with me. I feel privileged to have known and loved her. She was kind and gentle to me, a very regal dog and i loved her.

Thanks for all your wise words, you all helped me through this process.

RIP my beautiful Amber Girl, Im so sorry, I hope your soul forgives me, I loved you x

OP posts:

bittenipples · 29/08/2013 14:10

Sorry I just wanted to add that the Vet agreed she was in chronic pain.

OP posts:

LesserSpottedNeckSnake · 29/08/2013 14:11

:( Sorry for your loss x

DaleyBump · 29/08/2013 14:11

bittenipples · 29/08/2013 14:13

Thankyou LesserSpotted Hardest decision of my life. I feel empty.

OP posts:

Idespair · 29/08/2013 14:28

You did so much for her, absolutely everything in your power. You loved her and she loved you. The fact that she was in pain meant that you could have had to make this decision even without the incident at your parents' house. Be kind to yourself, you will need to grieve for her for a while and I hope you feel better soon.

frogwatcher42 · 29/08/2013 14:32

No quality of life never going off a lead though surely. And one day, she will slip through the door, or off the lead and kill another pet. Is it worth the risk.

I would agree with your family and PTS.

frogwatcher42 · 29/08/2013 14:33

Oops sorry, missed last page of thread. You did what you could. And it was the right decision.

You will feel awful, but have shown strength and care.

If I could do flowers I would.

SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter · 29/08/2013 14:39

I'm so sorry, it's never an easy thing to do. FWIW I do think you did the right thing. Not because of the incident with the other dog, but because it sounds as though her quality of life wasn't great, and would only have got worse. You will miss her terribly, but don't ever forget that you gave her all those years of love and kindness. She had a happy life with you!

bittenipples · 29/08/2013 14:51

Thanks all for your kind words. Means a lot to me.

Honestly this thread has helped me so much.

OP posts:

Pawprint · 29/08/2013 14:52

So sorry. Enjoy your happy memories of Amber.

Pawprint · 29/08/2013 14:55

You gave her so much and she loved you. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet.

If you ever decide to take on another 'big' dog, I heartily recommend a retired racing greyhound. Lazy and gentle, they make v good apartment dogs.

MissStrawberry · 29/08/2013 14:57

Oh this has had me in tears so I can only imagine how you feel .

You did the right thing. We recently had to have my cat PTS and I did it for her as she would have started to suffer in the next few weeks. Even when you know you are doing the right thing it still really hurts.

Cuddle your baby.

morethanpotatoprints · 29/08/2013 14:57

I think that you have to lose the dog because you have a baby and of course you would never forgive yourself if anything happened.
It must be a hard decision to make and you have done so well in training the dog, it is such a shame.
Rehousing would be the best thing for all concerned imo.

Selks · 29/08/2013 14:59

So sorry for the loss of Amber. I've read through the thread and for what it's worth I think you made the right decision. Please try not to be hard on your self, and think instead of the good times that you had together.

morethanpotatoprints · 29/08/2013 14:59

Sorry OP. have no idea how I missed your long post above.
So sorry for you, .

Shlurpbop · 29/08/2013 15:07

I'm so sorry OP. I know you have made the right decision for you, your daughter and Amber, who deserved not to suffer. Am also so pleased your vet was able to be honest with you too and help you make the right decision for Amber.

VoiceOfRaisin · 29/08/2013 15:17

and hugs. Sounds like you did the right thing. Concentrate on your little baby for now - you have kept him as safe as you can.

everlong · 29/08/2013 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cocolepew · 29/08/2013 16:02

I think you have done the right thing, I'm just sorry you had to make it.

Quodlibet · 29/08/2013 16:16

Well done OP. You did well by the old girl. Such a hard decision to make, but be comforted by the fact that she didn't have to go through the confusion and angst that you have had to, nor any more physical pain. It must be a hard loss for you.

TotallyBursar · 29/08/2013 16:57

Bitten There is nothing for her to forgive. She loved you with everything she had and would have stayed in pain to be with you. Your love for her means you chose to carry the burden of grief over her suffering - that is bravery and moral courage, sticking to your principles for her welfare over your own feelings.

I'm sorry you have to feel this to get through to remembering her without tears. I'm sorry you had to make the choice and health forced your hand.
But I hope your grief is short and your memories plentiful and one day, when you're ready, you go ahead with your plans; because Amber has made you a gift to the countless rescue dogs that have difficult needs. She has a legacy that will help hundreds. Not every dog can say that.
Take time, be gentle with yourself and it probably doesn't mean much but I'm thinking of you and sending hugs.

bittenipples · 29/08/2013 17:42

Thank you all for your kind words. It really helps.

Can I just share this one memory?

When I had just got her and she was still relatively young (6ish) and energetic, I used to walk her on private land (with permission) We were walking offlead around some fields (no dogs) and she disturbed a small group of deer. There was no way she would be able to catch them so I just let her chase and for about a field and a half she was free to do what dogs love most - to run free and chase.

She came back to me very joyful. I like to think that not many dogs, rescue or not, have had that joy i was able to give her.

Thanks again, all.

OP posts:

LeoandBoosmum · 29/08/2013 18:06

You're stronger than I am.

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