Our Animals

[pieces o'nine]

I removed the Cone of Shame tonight as the odds of him being able to get at the stitch are...slight. Since then he has been purring at the top of his lungs and lying on his back in celebration. Biopsy due back next week,

[black bart]

Any news?

[pieces o'nine]

Thank you, Bart; he has pulmonary rum edema. No, wait, that's *you*!

It was benign, thank the FSM. It was a very expensive trip, but Dom has been a yeoman cat over the years and has more than earned the care.

[black bart]

Thank you, Bart; he has pulmonary rum edema. No, wait, that's *you*!

It was benign, thank the FSM. It was a very expensive trip, but Dom has been a yeoman cat over the years and has more than earned the care.

If only we had a "National Pet Health Service"...it is so very expensive...especially if you own a dog who likes to bite other dogs!

[Roy Hunter]

Molly met a young bullock this evening.

She obviously was an urban dog before she was rescued - she gets a bit freaked out by nature, wildlife, farm animals, so it took us a little while to get her confident enough to meet other animals.

But tonight she met a bullock through a wire fence. They had a good sniff at each other, eyed each other up. Then Molly licked the bullock on the nose. Then the bullock stuck out its tongue and licked Molly's entire head.

It may be a while until we are able to introduce her to any other animals after that...

[Roy Hunter]

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this tonight.

Molly attacked another dog in the street today. No warning, no provocation, she latched onto its neck and refused to let go even with fairly extreme encouragement to do so. That was the fifth dog she has attacked in very similar circumstances in just about nine months that we have had her. I could not tell you how many times she has 'started' on another dog, but I have had time and space to restrain her.

She has been a ball of nervous energy ever since we got her, she pulls constantly on the lead, she will not sit, she will not stay, she will not stop at the edge of the road. More to the point, my wife and I have expended a lot of energy and time trying to stop her from sensing threats from other dogs, calming her down, offering her rewards and treats. Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, incremental desensitisation, we have tried everything we can to get this dog to calm down and stop going for other dogs. None of it has worked. Not even a little bit.

Molly weighs nearly 30kg, and it is all muscle and bone - she can really do some damage. My wife cannot walk Molly as she is pulled off her feet regularly. Molly doesn't care, she shows no remorse or learning from it, and my wife is now scared of her. I can barely control Molly at the best of times, but when she attacks like she did today, I've got no chance. After separating the two dogs, I am a bloody mess. My bathwater was pink, my bruises are settling into a nice black colour. My right thumb is a mess, I need to see a doctor.

I am constantly stressed when I am out with Molly. That is not good for someone with my mental health history. It is taking its toll on our lives, on our marriage, and if it continues I confidently expect to be arrested for failing to control my dog. I cannot invite friends with children round to the house. I cannot go and visit people even if they say "Bring your dogs, hey! It'll be great..." No, it won't. My dog will attack your dog. Or your neighbour's dog. My dog is a dick.

And that is why I am very sad tonight. Last time Molly attacked another dog, about a month and a half ago, my wife and I agreed that she was on her last chance. But despite all the work we have put in with her, despite giving her the best home we can and spoiling her rotten, she continues to be completely uncontrollable. Now she has to go back to the shelter.

This is not an easy decision for us. We accepted Molly as part of our family, and we loved her and spoiled her and let her sleep on our beds. Now we have to send her away. But we simply cannot continue this way. There is nothing more we can do with her.

And I am very sad about that.

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

:fsm_hugs:

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

That really sucks, Roy. At least you tried. You are doing the only thing you can do at this point. If Mrs. H. is afraid of Molly, and even a large person like you has that level of difficulty controlling her, unless you have the option of moving to a large farm in the country in the next few days, the only thing you can do is bring her back.

[ChowMein]

Sad news Roy.

[bacon]

So sorry, Roy. I agree with ET, at this point you probably would be best giving Molly to a shelter that may be able to find a better home for her. I know that you love Molly and are concerned for her welfare. You may be thinking that if you aren't there to take care of her she won't be able to survive, but you need to put yourself and your family first.

[Roy Hunter]

Thanks for all your kind words, everyone. Needless to say the shelters are all full, but I am on a four week waiting list. So Miss Molly gets a brief reprieve.

Went to the minor injuries clinic at the local hospital, got my dog bite wounds cleaned (that was fun...), now full of Tetanus Immune Globulin, a Tetanus booster shot, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Molly is under house arrest until I am fit enough to walk her again properly (I damaged both my shoulders and both my hands with her pulling like a maniac and biting like a maniac. Typing this is a real effort). When she does go out, she will be in a muzzle and on a short choke chain lead. Fuck being Mr. Nice guy any more.

No cops at the door so far. That's a good thing...

[DavidH]

That's really hard, Roy. You did your best for the dog and it looks like it's not going to work. I imagine you got her from rescue after an irresponsible, ignorant owner had failed to socialise her. Possibly she had been trained to fight; that happened to us with Tom, a rescue Staffie who in the end was considered too dangerous and had to be put down. A young Staffie can be allowed to go beyond a point from which it can never recover. Still, you may win and I hope you do.

A muzzle is now a must. You may find that she ignores a choke chain howver hard you jerk. Good luck!

[PKMKII]

How is she around Milo, same sort of aggression or is she okay with him?

[Roy Hunter]

How is she around Milo, same sort of aggression or is she okay with him?

No, she's been fine around him since day one. They play together - rough play, the way Staffies do - but no intent to hurt him. She is fine with the neighbours' dogs too, and she has a few regular 'friends' she meets when we're out walking. But when she gets agitated (which she does a lot) and meets a new dog, she is more likely than not to go for it with deadly intent.

A fearful dog that is defending itself will nip another dog as a warning. Molly is aggressive and attacks: she clamps down hard and refuses to let go (in fact, as I witnessed yesterday, she only lets go to try and get a better grip).

You may find that she ignores a choke chain however hard you jerk. Good luck!

I dare say she will, but it's better than nothing. Muzzle bought. I will try it out in a few days, once I have functioning hands and arms again.

[black bart]

Still no newts in the pond. You may remember I introduced tiny baby newts a year or so ago. Earlier this year my youngest daughter found a dead adult newt right next to the pond so my hopes went up, but there's been no sign of a live one.