Dog Issue:

There were two issues, they wanted to wait the quarantine period to make sure there were no rabies, we wanted to do it immediately, the decision had been already made if there was any more issues with her she would be pts, and they wanted to do it themselves. I’m not a rabies expert but we have had the dog since she was 6 weeks old and had all her vaccination records. Why do you vaccinate for rabies if they are meaningless in the end.

1 Like

Ugh. So sorry.

That’s kind of ridiculous. Since you need the brain to find rabies, wouldn’t it have been quicker to go ahead and pts instead of waiting the quarantine period?

3 Likes

Quicker but probably more expensive, I would think.

OP, please visit Losing Lulu https://www.losinglulu.com/

This dog is not healthy or well. Please be kind to both of you and lay him to rest. Then join the Losing Lulu FB group to help in your healing. :orange_heart:

4 Likes

Your state may have different regulations, but in MA, a dog must be held for 10 days after biting a person to rule out rabies, unless one submits the brain for testing.
This is a public health issue.
Why?
Because no vaccine is 100% effective, and there is no such thing as a mild case of rabies.

11 Likes

I have two horses with health challenges and need to be carefully managed. That is a lot of stress. I can’t imagine the stress of having an aggressive animal that might turn on me at any time if I mess up and mismanage them. My rule is that I take my hard earned money and feed you and care for you and you don’t get to hurt me intentionally. Because if that is a possibility then you are gone. Period. Luckily I haven’t had animals like that. I have friends with aggressive horses so it doesn’t have to be a dog. Nope - not feeding you.

Sort of like being married/ or living with an abusive spouse. That person could be loving and charming 95% of the time and you don’t know when something can set them off that 5% of the time. Life is too short to live like that.

14 Likes

I was struck by that earlier- if they thought it might be a rabid dog, don’t they have to hold onto the dog?? I guess as you said it varies by state but that’s bananas.

The vet sounds almost (?) negligent in saying take him home and let’s make sure he doesn’t eat your face because of rabies. Say what?

In my state you can self quarantine if current on rabies vaccine and not neurologic. In many areas there is absolutely no way the county could support doing quarantine for all bites.

1 Like

In most places, a vaccinated animal can be “quarantined” by the owner. It’s the 10 days before euthanasia that is the important part, not so much the location of the dog, so long as it is kept restrained/isolated.

1 Like

@GottaLuvIt thinking of you and hoping you find a way to put the dog down ASAP. I’m so sorry that you are having to deal with this situation. It’s horrible, but you have to do what is best for the dog, and any human that might be affected by its aggression.

5 Likes

Oh yikes. OP, I hope you get the vet to see the light and PTS. Sounds like a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.

There are too many nice dogs to deal with the ones that make your life a nightmare.

1 Like

Ok yes that makes sense!

OP, your vet might not believe you, but all of us believe you.

I urge you to call your equine vet and do what needs to be done.

4 Likes

You need new vets.

I am sorry to be blunt and say this, but any vet who doesn’t believe you is not one that you should be working with. Dismissing, minimizing, basically disrespecting what you say, are not ok.

There are other things that you might describe to them in the future about other animals, things that are not behaviorally related. What if they don’t believe you then?

This.

The dog has no perspective on life. They only know how miserable and frightened they are at the moment.

The behavior you describe, OP, is either uncontrolled aggression – too dangerous to tolerate – or pure fear, which is extraordinarly uncomfortable to the animal.

Either way, the dog has already had many pleasant moments to make up a full life. But is a ticking time bomb for other people and animals, as well as you.

In the end your first responsibility is to your own safety, and then to the safety of everyone around you. Not to the dog, sadly.

So sorry for this situation. Very big hugs for you.

7 Likes

A short good life is a good life.

This dog has had a good life, thanks to you OP.

If, in the near or far future, he does serious damage to any human (perhaps even animals?) then possibly law enforcement or some sort of animal control intervenes. The situation may well pass out of your hands.

This dog can end up in a traumatic situation if a serious situation escalates. You can’t control how other people may react. You can’t control a governmental enforcement agency.

What if someone sues you for having a dangerous dog? What if their personal injuries, their pets’ injuries, etc., become your financial burden, in addition to any further damages a judge applies?

He can peacefully go now, making the world a safer place for humans and animals. Leaving him in less danger to himself than he is now (due to the possible consequences of his behavior). And he is quietly at rest, through a ‘good death’, no longer a menace, or a potential victim of a system that will have no regard for him as an individual.

8 Likes