i've faced a very difficult decision this week, walking the dog's, the mid-week, tedious slog through the typical british mid-winter, dark day's, and i mean dark, the light fading by 1500hrs, black as a witches hat by 1600hrs, toiling through the mud, steady drizzle soaking you to the skin, cold, miserable-half-light-half-life, half-way around our five mile circuit i'm aware of someone walking towards me, a lady i know, we have met many times before, i pick gus up and tuck him under my arm, it's the easiest option, gus doesn't like other dog's, or rat's, or rabbit's, or the postman, or cyclist's or jogger's, cat's, bird's, or next door, [who insist on banging the fence to wind him up] tractors, mountain bike riders, buses and small children who insist on trying to 'stroke the nice doggy' safely tucked under my arm, [or so i thought] the lady passes us, her own jack russell, off the lead, decides to jump up at gus, big mistake, gus clamps her dog mid-flight and he starts to shake it, blood, snot, not good, the lady hit's gus on the head so hard she damages his eye and causes major ripping trauma to her own dog, who run's off towards the busy road, she's screaming as she tries to catch her dog, fucking hell, i'm gutted, i've tried to do everything i can to prevent this but it's happened again, this is the third time i've had this happen, i'm sore about the other dog getting injured, a sleepless night follows, is it time to let my boy go? i'm fighting my conscience, i love this dog, he's everything a J.R should be, tenacious, loving, hard, funny and a real character, what to do........
Whoa, that's heavy Tim, would a muzzle work?
ReplyDeleteAs you said Jan, possibly a soft muzzle just for walkies . . . I can imagine the turmoil Lovey but I would be reluctant to do anything other than see Gus repaired and back to health unless the council or whoever intervene . . . cold consolation mate but you did everything possible to avoid the situation, aggressor's fault not Gus' or yours . . . btw, Dangerman makes McQueen look like Jim Nabors.
DeleteHi its not your fault or your dog's.Its the other owners.i always put my staffordshire on her lead around other dogs just in case of incidents like this.Hope Gus is going to be ok.You are right he is just a typical jack russell.
ReplyDeleteHey Tim try the muzzle or go walking further away from people but Gus has to stay no injustice on the Loveless blog and what about the 5 - 1 scoreline something to celebrate !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer! Gus looks like a fine fellow! I had a pit mix who had the same problem. Lola loved me and most of the family but hated most every four legged creature. She was quite a handful on a walk. Good luck to you and Gus.
ReplyDeletethanks everyone, got a muzzle for the old boy, he doesn't like it very much! [probably the understatement of the century] going to try and break it in gently, he managed two minutes yesterday, today? as soon as i got it out he was away up the garden and into the tea house!
ReplyDeleteTough deal Loveless. Owning a terrier is a different proposition than owning most other dogs. They were bred to never quit, this tenacity is why we love them. I agree with anon, it's the other owner's fault for not being responsible enough to have her dog on a lead.
ReplyDeleteI've owned small terriers and large pit bulls in the past. Great dogs, but even way out in the country I had to keep, the pits in particular, fenced and was always worried they'd get out and eat the neighbor's dogs. Big responsibility.
Good luck, man.
Poor Gus, give him a pat on the head from me. I agree that the lady blew it. Had the same sorts of problems when I was a dog owner. Lately in my 'hood there are far too many irresponsible dog owners. My old Pete was good with other dogs...but had problems with the post man and cops.
ReplyDeleteSo how is Gus getting on with the new regime?
ReplyDelete