Last week, very late one evening I
found out that a dog was going to be euthanized the next morning. He was sentenced to execution after a severe
biting incident with one of the family’s one-year old twins. At the same time
many others were writing to me to please contact the family. Could AWL help
this family and dog?
As with all biting incidents, I
wanted to know the full story, and also to get more documentation and facts
from friends and veterinarians. I started to search for the family’s phone
number and several people that knew the family texted them to call me. I was
amazed by the help I received from people that I didn’t know.
At 21.00, I
finally got in contact with them.
The family was very upset and heart
broken. Many different emotions were tumbling around inside of their hearts and
minds. Their love for Mozart, a Dachshund --- he had been their baby for seven
years --- was colliding with their horror and concern after he had suddenly bitten
their one-year-old so badly in his face. They had to go to the Emergency Room and
ultimately the boy’s face required 15 stitches.
Imagine a small doll head with 15 stitches!
They don’t know how badly scared
their sons face will turn out growing up, undoubtedly, some plastic surgery might
be required in the future. When I spoke
to the mother, her voice broke down many times as she told me about the incident.
You could hear the guilt in her voice, because she thought they had been
protective towards the children knowing that Mozart had always been food
aggressive. The family had always kept the twins away from the dogs at feeding
time, and no treats around when the kids were there. The only explanation the
mother had as to why this biting had happened, was that out in the garden
Mozart and the other dog chased lizards and were keeping guard. The twins were also playing in the garden. The
mother was also outside, but for just a moment had turned her back --- which is
when it happened.
In any unexpected situation, a
normal human seeks an explanation to explain what happened and why. One’s mind
is spins with all the emotions like a tornado --- with guilt, fright and desire
to protect. Had a lizard come between
the little boy and Mozart? It was the
only explanation the mother could come up with.
The veterinarian would see Mozart
the day after the incident, to go through an examination and evaluation. In
that exam, Mozart was declared to be not sick.
Mozart came home with the family, and had to stay for 10 days in quarantine
and then would be euthanized. What horrible torture! The family cried! Mozart didn’t understand why he was
quarantined and kept away from his pack. They just couldn’t bring themselves to
go through with the euthanasia! He’d
been with them so long. They asked for help, among friends on FB.
The day came for Mozart to be put
down! The mother asked her husband to please let them wait a couple of more
days. Maybe someone would show up? She was praying for an angel to relieve them
from the task they didn’t want to do.
But they couldn’t keep Mozart, frightened that something else could
happen between the dog and one of their twins again. It was clear, Mozart could not be together
with them.
Three days past
the deadline we found out about this case.
I asked the couple for a few extra days
to find a solution. The family was very helpful. I was very thankful since I
had in the past met so many others who just said, “no the dog has to go, NOW!”
I called Martina and told her the story;
we both loved rescuing when we knew that something wasn’t wrong with the
animal. Martina got in touch with an Italian rescue organization in northern
Italy that are very well known for adoptions of this special breed. To find the
best family, they had a great working team in behavioral and training skills that
Mozart first had to be screened by. They didn’t want to send a dog that they
didn’t know anything about to a new family, for the concern and safety for the
dog. In the wrong family he might come back, or worse. Better to know and
understand the dog and then find the best family for his temperament and needs.
Many families responded in the northern Italy, and the organization would have
time to evaluate them while evaluating Mozart.
Every day I maintained contact with
Mozart’s family to tell them about our plans. After a couple of days, Mozart
was ready to travel to Rome where a lady with other dogs would start the new
journey in Mozart’s life, evaluating him for his future. Mozart’s original
family said he was protective of the family around other dogs, so this lady
would determine the extent to which this trait existed among her other dogs.
Volunteers Barbara-Ann, her husband
and their daughter Chloe-Rose picked Mozart up at the family’s house, to take
Mozart to the lady in Rome. What mixed
emotions Mozart’s family experienced. On
one hand, they were “happy” that Mozart would get a second chance in life, that
someone had been able to help him stay away from the executioner. But at the same time so heartbroken to have
to say good-bye to their long-time little buddy. Barbara-Ann told me that you could see their
love for this little dog.
The journey started first to Rome,
and Mozart loved every minute of the travel. Everyone that met him he touched
their hearts, such a positive little guy.
The evaluation lady told us that Mozart is doing great. You could see
that he had been so much loved by the family. He always wants to be up close
and cuddled. I can report that Mozart is
doing wonderfully, has found new friends, and we are waiting for his new life
up North to begin. Stay tuned as this story unfolds.
With dogs and people, every case is
unique. A lot of “home work” needs to be
done especially with professionals in the relevant fields. A family dog bites for different reasons, the
cause always need to be investigated. Too often, it is the dog that loses the
case --- and his life --- even if he isn’t entirely to blame. The dog cannot
talk and defend himself. Re-homing the
dog, in this case, is often the preferable solution, and while it is traumatic
for the dog to be uprooted from his pack, it is better than the alternative
(euthanasia). The most important thing
is to keep the family in the contact during the transition.
Many people say, “never leave
children alone with a dog.” Of course, this is very good advice. But, as a mother I know that an accident can
happen in the blink of an eye. I also know that different children are
different towards animals. When people ask me how a particular dog is with
children, I can never answer 100% accurately. There are so many variables: It
depends on the children, on other dogs in the household, on what activities are
taking place at the given time, on food. We had a case were a dog nibbled (no
stiches) two children. This dog met
other children and never bit again. It
is neither the children’s fault nor the dog’s. Many times it is the provider that hasn’t
taught the children animal manors.
Yesterday, a lady told my son how
to say hello to a dog. Then she realized who I am and blushed, apologizing saying,
“Your son knows this better than anyone.” Yes he does, but I have to remind him very
often, it is easy to forget. Never stop educating your children or yourself.
I don’t defend any dog that bites
but I know there is always a reason. Every case has to be looked into with many
open eyes and educated minds for everyone’s safety…. and mostly for the dog’s
very life.
That’s Amore!
St Fransesco Roma, Serena, and Patrizia Ibassottiperibassotti.org , Chiara Biagio, Sora Lisa.
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