Is the only option PTS?

[MrsElle]

I have posted about this little dog before but things have got worse.

We look after a few dogs in the village when their owners are away and this particular dog is kept in pitiful conditions. The owners other dogs are allowed the run of the house and garden but because this little girl is rather aggressive with the other dogs she is kept in a small cage in an unused room in the house. She is let out to have a wee etc twice a day so is kept in this cage for 23 hours 45 minutes in a 24 hour period.

She is very aggressive if you go near her cage, but a sweetie out of it. OH has to use a broom handle to undo the cage as if you are within striking distance when you open it she will have you.

This time we have brought her up to our house and put her in one of our empty kennels. She was a bit stressed at first having all that room and being near to our dogs but has really settled well, although is still very aggressive if you open the kennel to go in to fill her food up etc.

Now the owner has rung rescue centres to see if they will take this little dog, but obviously they won't touch her with a barge pole. We have suggested to owner that perhaps the best thing to do would be to have the dog PTS but she won't. She has asked if we will have her. OH is now suggesting we tell owner we will take her and then have her PTS ourselves. However, I know OH, he is a complete soft touch and really likes this little dog.

If you were us would you return her to her owner when she comes back off holiday, keep her here and have her PTS or keep her permanently?

As far as I can see these are her only options. I couldn't take the dog and rehome her to someone else myself as I couldn't live with myself if she bit someone or attacked another dog.

What would you do?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Poor little mutt - doesn't sound like she has had much of a life.

No help at all on the agression - ask CAYLA for advice on that when she pops up later - if she has been allowed to cross over!!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

To be honest I would not associate with people like that, it would be all I could do not to punch them in the face for keeping a dog in that way.

Haven't you got a pack already? I would send her to someone who could confidently rehab her or PTS. She won't do well in rescue. She is living an utterly miserable existece.

 

[MrsElle]

I must admit CC we have considered telling this woman where to stick it with regards looking after her dogs but she would probably leave them alone for days on end then. We never actually see her as she texts asking us to look after them on whatever days and leaves the money in the kitchen for us. She pays us to go twice a day to let the dogs out but we go 4 or 5 times as we can't bear to think of them shut up for so long.

We do have 4 dogs of our own who all live out, but OH is talking about having this little dog indoors with us. We would then be able to spend a lot of time with her and hopefully rehabilitate her. I'm not sure anyone would take on an aggressive mongrel to turn around when there are plenty of perfectly sane and friendly dogs in rescues available.

She is a sweetie though, I think the decision has been made to keep her with us and see how she goes. I will post some pics of her over the weekend, she is a black and tan cross breed with quite a lot of English Bull Terrier in her given the shape of her head and nose.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I thought your dogs lived inside, you've posted pics of them in the house before (well, so have I, and mine live out )

She needs to be properly socialised. I really would consult a trainer or similar as this kind of thing will be hard to turn around without proper guidance and experience.

Sorry if I sound harsh but wouldn't be taking their money (taking the dog, possibly) and I would be phoning your local welfare organisation.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Poor little dog, being brutal I would think pts might be the best option. I have to agree with CC that it sounds as if a call to RSPCA, or perhaps dog warden mightn't be a bad thing regarding these people. If she thinks her dogs are okay just let out twice a day, regardless of how many times you are doing it out of kindness, then she really shouldn't have them.

 

[CAYLA]

Well I work with aggressive dogs all the time, but you do need the patience time and experience, if you cannot give that confidently then I would pts, rather than send her back to the hell hole she came from.
Rehabilitating a dog that is human aggressive is alot harder than dealing with dog on dog aggression which you already have issues with, (may be mixing the user up there) is so apologies, but maybe ask the owner if she will pay towards a behaviourist to guide you, they would have to pay the pts at the end of the day.