sorrow and dogs

[Shandi]

I have 8 dogs, I was a vet tech for 13 years and have taken in a few that where unadoptable. I have 2 pitty mixes one is 2 and the other is 6. I also have a 10 1/2 year old chow mix I call my "son" I have no children other then these dogs.  I always let the dogs out to run in our horse pasture when I feed. Today the two pits attacked and nearly killed my old boy. He's in surgery right now with damage to his chest and both hind legs. I tried every thing to get them off of him. I finally picked up a brick and repeatedly smashed it over the head of the one that had him by the throat. He would not let go. My old dog stopped breathing and let go of his bowels and I continued to smash the one over the head with a brick I had to throw myself over the body of my old dog to finally get them off him. I have never in my life been so afraid. I have bites and bruises all over me. I locked the two in kennels and went out expecting my beloved boy to be dead and he was standing. I loaded the aggressor into a kennel into the truck and loaded my boy in the front seat. They are both at the Vet.
I asked them to euthanize the younger pitty mix.
I feel very bad.
I've had him since he was about 4 weeks old. He's my couch potato and he's sweet...today I saw that he was a killer.  I feel like a looser killing him, I just feel like I can't risk it happening again, he's been going after the horses and I just can't risk it. As soon as I got the one off  the older pitty backed off and ran in the house.  I feel like the older pitt got into it because of the younger one, but am I risking this happening again?
I've  had  Pete for 6 years and raised him from a pup, he had surgery on his hips, hes never shown aggression. He's a dog I thought I could trust...now I'm scared.
What do I do? They nearly killed MY dog. I can't ever go through that again...I am so sad and so guilty. I brought those dogs into our family..I love them..
I'm a murderer.

[Auryn]

Shandi,
i am literally shivering reading what happened to you today.
I am so sorry this has happened to you and your beloved furry kid.

I honor and respect you for the decision to put down the younger pit mix. Everyone knows its not an easy thing to do but you are being both responsible and a loving parent for doing it.

I pray for your chow to get better and be able to come home with you soon.
My hugs and prayers

[Shandi]

i can't seem to stop crying....

[Grov]

Once the trust is gone, it's gone.  You are making the right choice.  I commend you for taking in so many animals but the cold hard fact is, you can't save them all.  For the rest to be able to live happy, you cannot expose them to risk like that now that you know it exists.  Let your guilt go.  You even gave the aggressor your love until he went psycho.

[ladybootlegger]

Your story literally brought me to tears. Like you, my furry friends are the closest to children I'll ever have, and it wasn't all that long ago, my boy was attacked (we're not sure by what/who). Every day he had to go to the vet, and every day for a month I was afraid of losing him. Sadly, after a month of surgeries, medications, and daily trips to the vet, he lost his battle, and if I ever find what attacked him...I, like you would avenge my precious boy!

My heart goes out to you in your situation. If I had the money and the land, I'd rescue every dog I could. That being said, I also believe you made the right choice. What would happen if the dog turned on you, or another human. The results of that could be far worse.

I sincerely hope everything turns out well for your chow mix. If there is ANYTHING I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask.

[Shandi]

Hoggle is in surgery the Vet had them call to let me know the damged was not into his chest cavity, he's got some bad tears and will have a drain tube in his chest but over all it's not as bad as she had thought, he has to stay overnight and is on morphine. I have 6 other dogs here but without my Hoggle the house seems very empty and very quite. I know that our time together is running out but as my fur son of almost 11 years he deserves his last years to be with out harrassment. I love that boy like I have never loved before, he taught me so much about loyalty and love. He's never far from me and sleeps on his own bed right beside my bed and I can reach down and touch him in the night. You get one dog like him once in your life, he's my friend,my companion and I love him so very much. He has filled my life with joy, when he leaves me it will leave a hole in my heart.
I feel like I should go up and see him but I know it will just confuse him as to why he can't leave with me... 8:00 am seems so very far away.

[auntiegiggles]

Shandi - I too will only ever have fur kids.  The positive is that the damage is not as bad as it looked.  You did the responsible thing with the aggressor.  I know its hard to hear that right now but the chance of him attacking again was extremely high.  It really is best to protect your other dogs and humans first.   You did the right thing.  Thank you for being a responsible pet owner.  Sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest.  I hope for the best for your boy.  I will keep you and your boy in my prayers for a quick recovery. 

[Becky10]

 Shandi, I am so very sorry that this has happened to you and your fur family. I am praying that Hoggle will be okay and it sounds like your pack is very lucky to have such a wonderful woman as yourself as their mommy.
As hard as it is there will never be a time when you have to let go of a friend and not feel like a murderer, even if it is for their own health or yours. What you have done is for the love and protection of you're family. You have done nothing wrong and you have to remember that. You are a strong and wonderful woman and this is a major testament to your strength.  I don't think there are many people who could have done what you have done.
I wish i could write something more to comfort you but this is something that will just have to take time. Please, please come on here and talk to us anytime you need the support.
  Sending you and your pack all my love and support.

[Rowan MacD]

    Hugs, Shandi,
   I would have done exactly as you did.  
   It's hard enough to lose a dog when the attacker is unknown or a stranger, but to have one pet turn on another....That is just horrible beyond words.
  You did what you had to do. You could not hesitate to attempt to rescue your older dog, and the younger pit could (and should) not have been saved once he bit you, proving he did not respect your status as alpha when you intervened.  Once that happened there was no other course of action for you, you know this in your heart.
  As a vet tech, you know that Dogs are Dogs.  They are not people, though we may love them like children, and even when we think we know them well, we really cannot truly know what will set them off.   You can't save them all, and sometimes you can't save them at all.
   
 

[DonaCatalina]

My heart goes out to you. I know you will second guess yourself for a long time to come but you did the right thing. Once the younger dog got into that uncontrollable you could never fully trust him again. I hope the best for your Hoggle.

[LadyFae]

I can add nothing new here but I'm sending you (((hugs))) and love.  You did the "right" thing.  I'm sorry that any of this happend at all and I am SO sorry for you!  =(  Best wishes for Hoggle's recovery.  (LOVE his name by the way!)

[angusmacinnes]

nothing really that I can add other than am glad you were not seriously injured.  Had a friend that got mauled by 2 pits and had someone with a baseball bat had not come along he most likely would not have survived.  Hope the chow recovers quickly.

[Lady Kett]

Also adding my hugs and reinforcement that I think you did the right thing in an extremely difficult situation.

[Mairte]

You absolutely did the right thing. Hugs and best wishes for Hoggles recovery.

[Merlin the Elder]

Don't try to second-guess. It's a devastating situation, and an extremely difficult decision. But like the rest of your friends here, I think you made the right decision. We have two fur kids, both rescues, and I can't imagine losing either one. But I know the time is coming. One is nearing the statistical end of normal lifespan age.

I can only offer you some positive energy and love...hang in there.