Pet Peeves - Abandoned Dogs
When my son was only five, a friend convinced me to take one of his friends 3 year old mixed breed as a pet for my son. He assured me she was friendly, house-broken and would make a perfect pet. What he didn’t tell me was that she was not used to being around young children and could get aggressive.
From the beginning, Susie showed a dislike for my son that started with growling and ended with a bite to his arm that resulted in her having to be confined for 10 days to insure her behavior was not rabies related.
From day one, I tried to introduce her to my son slowly and supervised all interaction. Billy was used to dogs and had a kind nature, never overly rough or mean. He offered her dog chews and bully sticks for treats, talked in a soft voice and moved slowly around her, but to no avail. Perhaps something in her history had convinced her children were evil. I on the other hand was convinced that Susie had to go….
I called my friend and told him that I could not have a dog that bit my child and to please come get her…. His response shocked me. “Just take her to a nice neighborhood across the bridge and let her loose, someone will take her in“. I wish I could say he was kidding, but unfortunately this happens all the time.
How can people just abandon their pets? How cruel? Not only for the poor confuse dog, but what if Susie attacked and bit another child.
People who desert pets by the side of the road or in “nice” neighborhoods should be held accountable. They are just too lazy to take the time to find a proper alternative.
Tags: , abandoned dogs, abandoned pets, Bully Sticks, dog bites, dog bones, dogs and children, pet ownership