What would you do?

[Fran27]

On another forum, someone posted that she has a problem with her dog - she bit the neighbor's kid. She then stated that it's not the first time she bit, but never someone she knew... and finished by saying that she's going to put her in a shelter because of it, as she's supposed to adopt a baby that should be born in 3 months... that dog is 7 year old. For now, all shelters are not non-kill around her so she hasn't found one...

I find it wrong on so many levels. Why was that dog in a position where she could bite the neighbor's kid? I asked if she ever saw a trainer after the first bite, she didn't answer.

Am I the only wrong finding it very wrong that she would put a biter dog in the pound? What would you do in her case?

 

[Brattina88]

What would I do in her case? beat myself in the head with a newspaper for not watching the dog... and then do something about it... ex. TRAIN

Placing a known biter in a shelter or pound that is not non-kill is like killing the dog yourself...

 

[tessa_s212]

Oh geeze.. you'd think if she was on a dog forum she'd be more educated and at least know to visit a trainer for advice or something.

Firstly, I'd try to figure out why the dog was biting. Then I'd try desensitizing. And above all else, I would not allow the dog to be uncontrolled, EVER.

 

[Fran27]

Yep, but you know people. So much easier to take the dogs to the pound...

Now, assuming she actually tried to fix the problem, and it didn't work, what would you do? I wrote that I would PTS the dog before risking another bite... she didn't answer that one either... And that dog is 7 for God's sake...

 

[SummerRiot]

Honestly.. I would either go to a professional behaviourlist or have the dog PTS.. if its a biter there is something mentally wrong with the dog. Either it needs to be fixed, or the dog needs to rest.

Obviously try the behavoiurlist first. PTS would definately be a last option, but a biter in a shelter usually doesn't have a chance..

 

[Scotia]

Agree with you Fran27, it sounds like she doesn't want to be the one to make the decision to PTS, but by taking it to a shelter, it's out of her hands. Sometimes you need to do the hard jobs when you're responsible for an animal. An even worse thought, what if she took it to the shelter and didn't tell them it had bitten a child, and it was rehomed with a family?

Scotia

 

[RD]

No WAY would I place a known biter in a shelter or with someone who is not aware of the issue or prepared to handle it.

Honestly, and I don't know what this is like because I've never had kids, I would hold off on adopting the baby until the dog was under control. If she couldn't control the dog and wanted the baby anyway, I'd either have the dog PTS or placed in a very knowledgeable, responsible home. The problem with placing a dog like that is that it's an older, nearly senior dog, it's got issues, and most knowledgeable, responsible homes are not going to want a dog like that.

If I were her, I would still try as hard as I could to place the dog with people who have had experience and SUCCESS in controlling and training aggressive dogs. It really doesn't sound like this is the dog for her, since she obviously doesn't have a lot of control over the dog (how many times has it bitten?)

 

[MomOf7]

Honestly.. I would either go to a professional behaviourlist or have the dog PTS.. if its a biter there is something mentally wrong with the dog. Either it needs to be fixed, or the dog needs to rest.

Obviously try the behavoiurlist first. PTS would definately be a last option, but a biter in a shelter usually doesn't have a chance..

I agree

 

[smkie]

possible troll?

 

[Jules]

I'd say, don't let such an irresponsible person adopt a baby! There are more people out there who'd love to adopt a baby in a splitsecond.

Why does she make a difference between the dog biting several people she did not know and the now the child? It doesn't make it any better.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

What would I do in her case? beat myself in the head with a newspaper for not watching the dog... and then do something about it... ex. TRAIN

Well said.. after beating myself for failing my dog, I would work on some big time training and with a professional at that.

 

[moonchild1970]

If that woman cant handle a dog, what makes her think she can handle a baby?!

 

[Gempress]

I would either try to find a behaviorist or have the dog PTS.

It is not right to just hand off a dog with a problem like that to an unsuspecting family. What if a family with a small child adopts that dog, and the dog bites them? And Fran, mention to the poster that if that happens, SHE can be held liable in court.

 

[Fran27]

I did Gempress... She's just ignoring my comments... I don't want to force the issue either as it's an adoption forum and I know people are going to say that I am a know-it-all... It made me really mad too.

What's sad too is that she is a nurse. You would think they would know what a dog can do when they bite, and be responsible about that not happening again...

But what can you do Sometimes when it comes to dogs it just seems to be Chazhound vs the world...