Hurt, Sad and so very angry(huskymom)

  This was totally out of your control. You did everything you could and none of it was your fault. I'm so very sorry; {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}

 

 

I'm so sorry this happened.  This sounds like a horrible situation to be in and I really feel for those doggies.

I know my sister would be the same way with a dog, which is why I was OH SO RELIEVED yesterday when she said that she would probably never get a dog again (Buster was our dog when we were younger).  I was sooooo happy to hear that because I know that dog would be ignored and not at all well taken care of.

huskymom

I'm still waiting for someone to say ,"Jeez, Snicker only killed a dog and he got PTS, Crusher bit Kali and you did nothing..."   I know its coming. 

 

they better not!! 

KarissaKS

I'm so sorry for what you're feeling -- and for what those poor dogs had to go through.  I will say, though, that there are many fates worse than death -- and in this case, perhaps these dogs are better off now.  Of course a better home would have been far preferable, but knowing that it likely wouldn't happen, the dogs are in a better place.

I hope you do everything in your power to make sure that your sister & niece never get another dog again -- or at least until they show they are willing and able to give the dog the life & training that it deserves.  I will never understand why people get a dog just to leave it tied to a chain in the yard all the time.  Especially a Husky.  They are EXTREMELY social dogs and it must have been just dreadful for that poor dog.

I agree with everything 110%.... this is a sad story all the way around. Dogs don't deserve to live on a chain outside. JMO. That's not a happy life. I hope they never get another dog - ever......

huskymom

Sometimes it sucks when you're the only one that cares about something and everyone makes you feel like a dork about it.  and then something like this happens and still nobody understands.

Candace, I'm a dork right along with you!  I understand what you are saying about people just not getting it.  When Willow was sick, I had stopped by my mom's job on her break to grab a coffee and I told her about Willow's illness.  I'm obviously upset and she says, "well, I wouldn't plan on her living too long."  Right, that's what I wanted to hear when I was already afraid for her life. . .

The dogs are all playing with Pint now and are doing fine.  They'll be waiting for you. 

huskymom

I'm still waiting for someone to say ,"Jeez, Snicker only killed a dog and he got PTS, Crusher bit Kali and you did nothing..."   I know its coming

Making such a judgement would require treating both situations as the same or equal, which they are not. And you are not responsibile for your relatives' dogs, in addition to your own.

As for facing your sister and her daughter, let it hurt, you can't stop it. As for your mom not getting it, let her not get it some more. It's her loss to not understand you.

I can't stop the sacrificial slaughter of the lamb. That is where the innocent pay for the sins of the guilty.It seems endemic to our modern societies

You explained earlier how the neice got the dog in spite of all your scare tactics, warnings, etc. You just can't go on taking responsibility for others' actions. Other humans make mistakes or don't think the way we do.

But I can understand where you might have feelings against your sister or neice especially as they seemed accomplished in the art of ignoring you. I don't know what I can tell you there just that, in my experience, God forgives, the Brotherhood doesn't. There are some things we have a harder time getting over than others. This may be one of those things. Especially as you show that it could have been avoided.

I hope you feel better and can start to heal yourself.

 

huskymom

And finally Snicker

huskymom

The dog from across the road

huskymom

And I'm so sad for Tucker

 

Run free to all!

And peace to you because inspite of the sorrow....all three dogs are at peace right now. Try to remember that!

So sorry you have to go thru this...it is so sad.

What a bad story! Not sure I'd kill a dog for fataly injuring another, guess it would depend on the situation.

 Obviously all three of the dogs in this case are dead due to the ignorance of one family. They were irresponsible owners with one dog and extremely irresponsible with another. I don't care if the older dog "always stayed in the yard" - it is beyond irresponsible to let your dog loose outdoors while you are away from home. And knowingly leaving an aggressive dog tied up outdoors when no one is around (and a breed known for escaping) is pretty bad too.  It sounds like the loose dog DID leave the yard when the husky killed the neighbor's dog (I am sure there have been other exceptions as well, there always are). Please do strongly discourage them from getting any more dogs, if this experience hasn't already done so.

 I have almost stopped walking my dogs in our neighborhood all together because of loose dogs. Dogs that are "trained" stay in the yard, dogs "trained" to walk off leash, dogs that pull the leash out of their too-young-to-be-walking-the-dog owner's hands, dogs that live on chains and do nothing all day but lunge against them until they break, dogs left in IFs while their owner is at work all day, dogs who jump fences or dart out doors. Almost any time I have ever walked my dogs, I have to deal with loose dogs and the potential for dog fights. Even worse, half of the owners don't even come to get their dogs when they rush up to us. They stand on their porch or across the street yelling for the dog to come while assuring me "he's friendly!".

All I can say about the sister relationship is this; not everyone thinks or acts the same.  Your sister must have thought she was doing the right thing for her, even if only that she realized she was over her head in dogs and didn't want to deal with it.  The other alternative for someone like that is to do nothing and the next problem could have involved a child or person.  I don't understand at the very minimal not trying to re-home them first but again some people need a quick fix, rub hands together and problem solved.  Some people think, oh.. its only a dog - sad but true.

She is your sister and you love her and her family.  Let her know how you feel about what she did and that you hope she never consider another pet without making a real commitment - and to do so would prove irresponsible and possibly heartless.  Than move on love your family and put his behind you.  It is a real crappy situation to have so close to home but try and move past it.  Good luck.

luvmyswissy

  The other alternative for someone like that is to do nothing and the next problem could have involved a child or person. 

  Why would do people always assume that "the next time it could be a child"? Dog aggression and human aggression are two different things and I have heard this line too many times. Your dog killed a rabbit? Better watch out - could be a kid next time! Dog got in a fight? Better watch out - next he'll turn on you! Sorry but I think more often than not that is a cop-out when an owner decides to have a healthy, young dog PTS due to their irresponsible actions.

AgileGSD

I have almost stopped walking my dogs in our neighborhood all together because of loose dogs

Same here. I walk my dog in Sherman where people are more prone to keep their dogs on leashes and the AC response time is better. In my little town, plenty of people think it's a given right to let the dog wander loose even though the town has an ordinance against it.

 

AgileGSD

luvmyswissy

  The other alternative for someone like that is to do nothing and the next problem could have involved a child or person. 

  Why would do people always assume that "the next time it could be a child"? Dog aggression and human aggression are two different things and I have heard this line too many times. Your dog killed a rabbit? Better watch out - could be a kid next time! Dog got in a fight? Better watch out - next he'll turn on you! Sorry but I think more often than not that is a cop-out when an owner decides to have a healthy, young dog PTS due to their irresponsible actions.

  I think a frustrated dog is a frustrated dog..  you really can't predict what it may or may not do given a particular situation or if it would do anything at all.   The point I was trying to make is if they didn't want to work on the problems or rehome they would have done nothing at all. Therefore not helping the dog thru the behaviors. 

FWIW, I don't think leaving Tucker loose was a bad thing, except that when it came to making a choice between containing him and killing him the wrong choice IMO was made.  They live out in the country, on a road with only 2 other neighbors besides the ones involved and they are farther away.  So traffic is almost non existant.  Tucker was old, his wandering days were over, he was stiff from arthritis and laid around on the deck sunning himself most days.  

As for leaving the aggressive one on a chain when no one was home?  I think that is the very end of a long list of things gone wrong in this situation.  And containing him in a more secure way would only be a band-aid solution at best.  Its like people that go out and buy bigger and bigger chains because the dog keeps snapping them.  Doesn't fix the problem in the least, just makes the dog stronger.  

 

AgileGSD

luvmyswissy

  The other alternative for someone like that is to do nothing and the next problem could have involved a child or person. 

  Why would do people always assume that "the next time it could be a child"? Dog aggression and human aggression are two different things and I have heard this line too many times. Your dog killed a rabbit? Better watch out - could be a kid next time! Dog got in a fight? Better watch out - next he'll turn on you! Sorry but I think more often than not that is a cop-out when an owner decides to have a healthy, young dog PTS due to their irresponsible actions.

Honestly, with this dog, i don't think it would be too far off to worry about children.  He was never socialized with them, ever, and he has shown some human aggression, at least I think he has.  I've never seen it personally, but I remember this summer we went out to camp and he of course was tied up to my niece's camper.  The pop and water were in her fridge so I went in to grab some when we first go there.  He was still a pup then so I was expecting a rambunctious crazy dog when I went up to him.  I sided in and let him know he was fine with me, gave him some lovin and went about my business.  I also think I have a very "take no crap" demeanor from dealing with Crusher so that may have helped.  He was fine with me.  But later Tyler wanted a pop so my sister told him to go get one, and that if Snicker gave him any problems to just come get her and she'd go.  Thinking back on it now, and hindsite being what it is, that should have been a big red flag.  Huskies are not guard dogs.  They make terrible guard dogs because by nature they love people.  They can be dominant and arrogant, but human aggression is not on the list in a stable dog. ( I suppose any stable dog, but huskies are crazy people dogs)

But in any event, I'm still thinking about this too much.  I have yet to talk to my sister again.  But I think I've just decided to hope and pray that she's learned from this, my niece too.  I have a harder time being mad at her, though she was more responsible for this.  I still think of her as a little girl with her skinny legs that never filled out her tights.  She's still my first baby.

Thanks again to everyone that has posted.  

there's not much anyone can do unless there is direct abuse involved.

exactly. Good thing many people are starting to realize that keeping dogs on chains IS abuse.

Candance, I and others know or have an idea of what you are going through. I have four 'kids' that think i am a dog nazi and don't listen at me at all. Sure enough, a dog died because the guy was too cool to be a lead on the dog. And it continues to this day with two dogs this time around. I feel sorry for your sadness but you gave them the suggestions/advice and you did all you could do. People that just see the dogs as convenience will never see what they truly offer or provide. Its reality that not all people share the same views as most on this forum.

Yesterday, I told one of my friends of my dilemma about one of dogs, he said to shoot it because its going to be expensive. He said he she shot his rottweiler because the dog attacked his niece and mind you, this was the first time the dog has seen a little human before!! Its hard for me to grasp but this is the like the 5-6th 'country boy' story where I hear them shooting dogs for being bad behavior or for 'sport'. (they shoot stray dogs, they stomp on cats up here for fun)