My father warned me yesterday that no good deed goes unpunished. I am aware of that but had to speak up and will suffer the consequences.
There’s a saying that there are no bad dogs, only inexperienced owners. I am of the school that the good and those that can be rehabilitated should not be euthanized in shelters. My first was a danger to men and children and I worked day and night with her because when I walked toward her and she was lying down, she jumped up thinking I was going to kick her because that’s what her former owner, a deputy sheriff, did.
Shortly before she died, everyone in the tot lot yelled out “Chani!!!” every time we walked into the park. They came and petted her and we loved it.
My second dog was fine when we got her at six weeks, then lost function and had to have both hips removed as a pup. She’s happy, healthy and will turn nine years old in January. Happiest critter I’ve ever met and I’ve spent over 20 years volunteering with dogs.
She was attacked by a neighbor’s dog shortly after we moved in. We met in a doorway and I asked if they could meet and the owner said yes. Next second, one dog had my Zoe’s jugular in its mouth and the owner dropped the leash and said “severe leash aggression.” I did what one is not supposed to do and grabbed the offending dog’s collar and pulled it away. No apology, no “is Zoe OK?” or offer to pay vet bills. I ran home and my husband and I went through her fur to see if there was any blood or puncture wounds.
That same dog attacked a neighbor the other day. You’ve heard of the 99% before when it comes to economics. I’m talking 99% of good dog owners, but the 1% rule the roost. It’s time for that to stop. It’s not right for an arrogant owner of a vicious dog to make me cross the lobby, sidewalk or street. Yet that’s what they do. “My dog is aggressive and will bite you or your dog, so move. I’m coming through, move Zoe.”
I spoke out, found out the policies and called professionals to find a list of local trainers. I called the preferred pet sitting service that we use and got them to devise a special lunchtime “quickie” walk for dogs of working professionals who crate or leave their dogs alone for many hours, in order to better socialize them. Done.
The legendary Barbara Woodhouse once said (I paraphrase because can’t find it online) “I can train any dog in five minutes, the owner takes longer.”
It’s like politics. Complaining about something without coming up with a solution wastes everyone’s time. Do you need a solution to thicken a sauce or de-grease chicken stock? I’m the answer lady. Enjoy the day, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
Another terrible incident yesterday morning. I just ran into the injured dog (horrible wounds) and its owner who was also bitten by the same dog. I believe it was all caught on videotape from the security cameras. What I don’t understand is how owners want their dogs to be this way (as in fighting pit bulls) or not correcting the behavior by training. Saying you work all the time and don’t have time to train your dog doesn’t work. Take the time or don’t have a dog. Dr. Dog in San Diego once said “A backyard dog is a dog without a home.” I agree with that, also that if you routinely leave your dog in your apartment/crate for more than ten hours a day, have a sitter come in midway. Chances are you’ll come home, take a shower and go out again. That’s no life for a dog. Give your dog to someone who can appreciate it, but not if it’s aggressive. Dee
Hope there are repercussions – even though in all likelihood this will end badly for this individual dog (owner unwilling or unable to train properly; he’ll probably be euthanized). I swear I’ll never understand why some people HAVE dogs if they won’t care for them or socialize ’em properly…
No argument here, girlfriend. I’ve given the owners of the second dog recommendations for a coat, not to use now but after the 100 puncture wounds have healed and the snow is flying. Zoe sports a Cloud Catcher from Ruffwear that one neighbor called a “dress” the other day! He told me I should ScotchGuard her instead. Luckily he doesn’t own a dog. I just remember how long it took Zoe to get her fur back after your hip removal surgeries and this poor girl has a 10×14″ shaved patch on her back and is on massive antibiotics and when the snow starts flying she’ll be cold and wet.
If the errant owners don’t care to begin with, they won’t get a trainer and then they’ll lose their dog or their home. All I did was call local experts for names and #s of trainers. Hope it helps. Thanks for all you’ve always done for the Z-Girl. Dee