[at-l] Update on Middleun...

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

At 09:27 PM 2/26/2005 -0500, Shelly Hale wrote:
>I have to agree with you Sly.  If it were my dog, there'd be no question 
>in my mind as to what needed to be done.  However, there are those that do 
>put an animal's life over that of a child.

I doubt those are the terms in which they see the situation.

>There are 2 children in the home that are younger and smaller than 
>Jerrica.  And, I fear that this may be a case such as that.  What would 
>they do if the dog had bitten one of their own children?

When I was a very little kid (3-4 years old) we had a dog that was thought 
by many to be vicious. In fact, to strangers he was prone to be aggressive 
and living alone at the time with 2 small children, my mother considered 
that an advantage. With my brother and I, he was completely docile. We 
could climb on him, pull his hair, whatever and he wouldn't even growl.

>Plus, with the dog belonging to my husband's cousin, it's making it that 
>much tougher.  We're gonna give them the opportunity to put the dog 
>down.  If they don't we're gonna get a warrant to have it put 
>down.  Family be damned, but if it will keep another child from going 
>through this same situation, then so be it.

It is a complicated situation. I don't envy you.

>For all of those out there that are dog owners, if you have dogs in your 
>home, please, please, please, put that dog in another room or outside when 
>you have company over.  It would keep so many instances such as this from 
>happening.

I have two dogs. One is a scardy-cat who will bark at you all the time you 
are here but won't come anywhere near you. He was abused as a puppy before 
we got him and doesn't trust most people as a result. The other will bark a 
couple of times then pester you to play with him and pet him. We never shut 
either of them up for company. They are part of the family.

Dogs have the same sort of social problems people do. Some are happy and 
friendly, some are shy, a few are belligerent. In general we humans try 
harder to understand why people are the way they are than we do with dogs, 
especially other people's dogs. One thing I know about dogs is that early 
socialization is extremely important. It may be too late for this dog but I 
would recommend the opposite to anyone getting a dog. Take it out to as 
many social situations as possible as early in the dog's life as possible. 
Bring people into your home specifically to get the dog accustomed to 
people coming in. Behavior like this is harder to correct than to avoid 
with proper early socialization.