Tramatized!

[Guest MnMDogs]

This is just awful. I hope Betty continues to enjoy her walks and heals quickly. This is all of our worst nightmare

[FiveRoooooers]

[45MPHK9]

I'm so sorry for all that you and Betty have gone through.

[seeh2o]

Dreadful...every owner's worst nightmare. My thoughts are with you and Betty for a full recovery.

[Guest PiagetsMom]

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I don't know if I could get out and walk again. Sending many good thoughts your way, for you and for Betty

[Guest greytone]

yikes...so sorry this happened.

[BertnLil]

(((((Lou))))) keeping you and your hound and your dobie in my thoughts.

[JJNg]

So sorry to hear about your experience. I hope Betty heals up with no problems. With a wound that large, have you considered consulting with a specialist to see if skin grafts are a option to try to facilitate healing? Also, if the dog who attacked her is 10 years old and had truly never had a problem before, I'd wonder if he could have a medical problem that triggered the behavior change.

[grey14me]

Omg, this is just too horrible to imagine. I am so, so sorry. I don't think I could get out and walk again. Is your yard big enough to just gently walk the perimeter a few times for the exercise needed?

[Hawthorn]

I am so sad and angry to read about this.

 

As someone whose first dog died as a result of a dog attack more than 30 years ago, I completely understand how traumatic it is. I know I have never completely recovered from the trauma and to this day am extremely wary of other dogs and their people. We have a few people/dogs that we know and trust, but apart from that we do our best to walk in places where we are unlikely to meet off-lead dogs, but I know this is not always easy and there is always the potential for the unexpected to happen.

 

I do hope that Betty's wound heals nicely and that you both recover from your trauma .

[Charlies_Dad]

I am so sorry you and Betty are going through this. That is beyond scary. Good thoughts for both your pups and I hope the healing goes well.

[heartdogs]

After using a cattle prod Sunday while help my SIL work his cattle I'm not sure I'd use one on a dog. When I had to prod a 1100 Lbs cow to move her into the squeeze shoot, & she was NOT pleased but moved when I just poked her with a plastic paddle. A cow's hide is much thicker than a dog's skin so I think it might be too much of a shock. Sending many get wet wishes to you & Betty. I'm with Jennifer that maybe the other dog has a medical problem.

[Guest 3furkids]

We carry a large golf club when we walk. Long enough to keep them away from our dogs. Prayers for your dogs recovery!

[mom2four]

Sending prayers! What a nightmare!

[duncan41]

I live in the same county as Lou and have been speaking to her and exchanging emails since this incident. I, too, have had my dogs attacked two times by a dog who lives on my walk route, about which I have alluded in many other posts regarding protection measures. Fortunately for me and my dogs, there were no injuries either time! But, anyone who has gone through that experience knows the range of emotions that come with it. My overwhelming reaction was fury as was my DH's. In speaking with an Animal Control officer after the second attack, my husband asked if he could shoot the dog if it happened again - he doesn't own a gun - it was a hypothetical question. (That's the fury talking.) The AC's response was, "You can do whatever you feel is necessary to protect your dog and yourself if you feel you are in danger, as long as it is on public property." In our county, public property means from the sidewalk, across the easement, across the street including the sidewalk on the other side.

 

Those who express concern about harming an attacker should ask Lou to send pictures of Betty's injury. You wouldn't give a second thought to using a cattle prod if you saw the carnage.

 

Disclaimer: I am not a gun owner and I do not advocate the use of guns.

[JohnF]

How horrible! I hope the poor dog and person on the receiving end of this awful attack get as speedy a recovery as as possible.

I'd have asked the vet about skin grafts just in case it might help.

 

When faced with an existential attack like that you must use whatever protection measures you feel are necessary without any second guessing of the morality of it. Often if you feel sufficiently empowered you will be giving off the kind of energy that makes it less likely for an attack to occur in the first place.

 

Some dogs unfortunately act like magnets to the bad ones; whether it's their body language, their body chemistry, or a combination of those plus that of the walker I'm not sure, but whatever it is is... apparent indecisiveness or giving the wrong body language answer, the other dog will go for them in a heartbeat. We had much less trouble when we had a Great Dane as well... she had such a calm eye and steady presence that we never had any dog trouble. She was a smallish Great Dane too at only 120lbs. A GSD in a pack can be similarly disuasive; basically any dog that is confident and not a trouble maker.

 

Cattle prod? The ones we used on the farm would have shocked both dogs, perhaps lethally.

With any weapon it is unlikely you can get it handy quickly enough to stop the initial attack which will almost always come out of nowhere. I just carry a stout walking stick in dicey areas; Hickory is good for axe handles so it's pretty strong.

 

I wonder, could you drive the dogs somewhere where it is safe... perhaps team up with other Grey owners ... until Animal Control have the dog menace in your area back under control?

[carronstar]

I am so very sorry that you and Betty have gone through such a horrible ordeal. I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Too many of us know the horror of a sudden, unexpected attack on an otherwise lovely walk.

[GreyPoopon]

I'm so sorry.

 

I hope Betty heals quickly and well. for Jack too.

[Walliered]

The animal control guy is wrong. Halt works very well. I never leave the house without it.

[Guest Adrianne]

Oh my word, I am so sorry.

[Xan]

Oh lordy! Sending healing thoughts for you, Betty, and your dobie. What a plate-full of scary you got dished up! I don't have any protection advice, but I'm certainly reading it avidly as it shows up here.

[Guest dmt]

Oh my. Hope Betty heals quickly.

[Busderpuddle]

Sending prayers with healing thoughts for your girl. SO sorry this happened.

[forevergrey]

I am so sorry! What a nightmare to have it happen again. Try getting Bear Spray. I checked it on Amazon, it is suppose to be strong enough to deter a bear and it comes with a hip holster. I think I might get one. I live in fear of something like this happening to us. It's not very expensive either-$35. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/udap-79-oz-bear-spray-with-hip-holster~p~2002c/

[kronckew]

... Try getting Bear Spray. I checked it on Amazon, it is suppose to be strong enough to deter a bear and it comes with a hip holster. I think I might get one...