Why is it that when it rains it pours????
Darla and I are still grieving over the loss of my cat and her brother Mejio. But this is just the latest of my problems. A few months ago Darla was mauled by a Rottweiler Mix while walking home from school with my sister and mom. I was at school taking a test when it happened. Darla loves people, but every time she sees another dog she starts barking and goes nuts, for some reason she does this only when she's on a leash. So when my mom saw the other dog approaching, she stopped and asked the lady if the dog was friendly so the two could exchange a friendly sniff. The lady, (probally in her late 50s or early 60s) didn't even finish her sentance before the dog lunged and grabbed Darla by the neck. Darla wears a Gentle Leader, which if you haven't heard of it before it is a leash that goes along the back of her head and snout, (IT IS NOT A MUSSLE but is more like a bridle on a horse) Darla is able to bark and pant and drink with it on, but it restricts on how wide she can open her mouth and if the leash is tightened the slip closes on her mouth and prevents her from opening. So when the dog grabbed her she had no way to defend herself (which accually is the reason she lived, because the vet said that if she fought back the dog would have killed her) the dog shook her back and forth like a rag doll and my mom screamed at the lady to get her dog. She responded by slapping the dog on the butt, (!!!!!!!!!) my mom managed to pull Darla away from the dog, but the Rottwieler was NOT letting Darla go. She grabbed Darla by the leg and pulled her back. My dog had become a living tug of war. Not wanting to rip Darla in half, my mom gave the dog some slack and what she calls on a rush of adrenilin kicked the dog under the jaw. This surprised the dog and it let go. My mom, pulling Darla sprinted across the road yelling for the lady to take the dog and go in the opposite direction. That's when I showed up. After my mom filled me in, I called my house to have my dad come pick me and Darla up so we could get her home. I could see that Darla had been badly wounded and needed medical attention. She ended up getting stitches on her neck, leg, and cheast. I was a few months until she was fully recovered. Although she's fine now, (and still loves people) but we are worried how she'll react to other dogs now. My altimate goal is to get her back to dog beach, one of her favorite places in the world. But my mom seems just as tramitized as Darla, and she's having a hard time too. (And who could blame her??) So I just keep praying we'll find the right trainer. I don't really blame the other dog, the family sent us a card and offered to pay for Darla's medical bill. But I later found out the dog was rescued and had a hard past. So I don't really blame her, I blame the person who did that to her to make her like that.
Comment
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Comment by Geri & Sidney on March 18, 2010 at 7:27pm
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Poor little Darla. I bet your Mom was so scared....I know I was when a Boxer attacked Sidney, and they were separated before anyone could get hurt.
It seems that when on a leash, dogs feel territorial. It's almost as if, by being tethered to you, they feel the need to defend you. I have a lab/dane who is a perfect gentleman when off leash and a terror when leashed. We're very careful where we walk him, and my big strong teen-aged son is always his walker. With some training and positive reinforcement, he's gotten a lot better, but I still feel better safe than sorry.
Good luck to you and Darla and your Mom, When you go to take Darla back to the beach, be as happy and calm as possible. IF you are nervous, Darla will feel it. I was concerned that Sidney would freak out whenever we passed the home where the Boxer lives, but he's just fine.
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Comment by John Wolff on March 18, 2010 at 7:08pm
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Doesn't it make you grateful for vets and dentists and doctors and everybody else who has skills to help people in situations like this?
Can somebody here hold forth on what to do if a dog is attacked like this? Could be a good FAQ topic.
Since this was a Rottweiler, this was a very dangerous situation (see the photos of human dog bite wounds in the first link below).
how to break up a dog fight
break up a dog fight
ehow.com
how-to
And it's important to distinguish between a real dog fight and a simple, harmless "discussion":
vital role of dog arguments
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Comment by Tasha and Mochi on March 18, 2010 at 7:08pm
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Terribly sorry to hear the tragic series of event you just went through. All the best to Darla so that she has a fast recovery...and to your mom as well.
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Comment by Sondra on March 18, 2010 at 6:51pm
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Corgi hugs and kisses to Darla! wishing her a speedy recovery!! Please do keep us posted.
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Comment by Beth on March 18, 2010 at 6:49pm
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Poor Darla, and I'll bet your mom was terrified too! Some dogs are aggressive on-leash and not off, but that was a severe attack and I doubt it was all to do with the leash. Best of luck to all of you.
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Comment by Gail and Ashton on March 18, 2010 at 6:24pm
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Get well soon Darla!! I hope all her wounds, both physical and emotional, are better soon. Best of luck to you.
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Comment by Libby and Dyddy!! on March 18, 2010 at 6:09pm
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GEEZ!! Poor little punkin head! What a trooper your lil one is. I think that is all our worst fear. Keep us posted if you find a trainer for her!
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Comment by Sky and Lyla on March 18, 2010 at 5:38pm
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Oh dear, I'm so sorry for poor little Darla! She is a brave girl. I too would try to get a good, positive methods trainer to help both your mother and Darla become more comfortable over time. Good luck!
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Comment by Alice on March 18, 2010 at 5:37pm
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Poor Darla. That's so awful! I worry about situations like that arising when I'm out walking Finn. This is why many people carry pepper spray. Was the other dog on a leash? Did the owner know it was dog aggressive? I'm glad to hear they offered to pay for the vet bill but it doesn't undo the trauma inflicted on Darla or your Mom. I hope everyone is able to heal and move on.
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Comment by Meaghan Lopez on March 18, 2010 at 5:32pm
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Yes both dogs were on leashes
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