Ok first of all, I know I was stupid but I need help. I volunteerly took in someone's dog "temporarily." It's a long story, but here's the gist. The dog, a full breed Boxer, gave birth to 7 puppies (mixed breed). I told the owner that the dog and the pups would have to go before my family came into town. He said he would try, but he found no one to take them. Since the mamma was sweet and my daughter has fallen in love with the dog, I did not push the issue.
Well, everyone was gone from the house except my 88 year old grandmother. She called me and asked if I could come home from work because the puppies got loose. I called the neighbor to come over to help, and the mamma snapped at her and broke the skin. Nothing major, but understandable that the mamma was protecting her pups. I told the owner. Two days later, gramma goes outside and mamma dog gets out and bites another neighbor-the husband of the woman she already bit. This time the bite was deep and totally unprovoked. In fact she ran up to him wagging her tail.
So I contacted the owner and told him that all of the dogs need to leave ASAP. That was 3 days ago and I still have the dogs. What can I do? I already contacted the local Boxer Rescue and they will not take her since she is not mine. Any other suggestions?
Please do NOT just leave them at the owner's house. They will probably be neglected. Ask the owner if he will sign them over to the rescue.
Can you take the dogs to the owner house and leave them there?
How long does it take before it can be said the dogs are abandoned by their owner?
If they are abandoned, then I think the Boxer Rescue can do something.
It's either that or the pound.
The dogs have been abandoned by their owner. You are now their owner and responsible for them.
I don't see you as stupid at all. I'm not sure what makes you think or believe you are stupid. You did something for a friend. Your friend is the one that is stupid. Abandoning the dogs.
If I were you? I would take them to your friends house and have him deal with him. If he refuses? I would sell the puppies to reimburse myself for the time, money and efforts spent on them and take the mama to a shelter and tell them that she bit unprovoked.
A dog wagging their tail means NOTHING. It's their FACE and their EARS. If their ears are pulled back? They are not happy. And Boxers don't really have a tail to wag...lol!! sorry - but her butt may have been wiggling but it's the face and ears that you need to pay attention to, not the tail.
Did the guy have one of her puppies with him? I'm trying to figure this all out. I'm really sorry your friend put you in this position. VERY CRAPPY of him.
Well, I don't think what you did was stupid first of all, so don't beat yourself up over taking in the mom/pups. I'm not sure what the circumstances are that caused your friend to be unable to care for her/them, either then or now, but I'm assuming he is not in a position where he can take them back to his own property.
You don't mention how old the puppies are - have they been weaned (usually >3 weeks)? Are they ready to be placed into homes (usually >8 weeks)? Have they received up to date health checks & vaccinations? This all makes a some difference, because if the pups are not health-checked & ready to be placed, a rescue will have a greater burden being able to take in all of them & care for them before placement.
I understand the Boxer rescue not being able to take the dog - but try contacting them again to see if they have any suggestions/resources you can pursue. Otherwise, contact the animal control in your area to notify them of the situation, and get advice on what to do. Unfortunately for you, it may result in expenses to surrender. If you are in Ft Worth, here is the contact information: http://fortworthtexas.gov/animals/
Regarding the 2nd bite - there is rarely a time when a dog will simply bite unprovoked. The exception to this is when a dog attacks, which is a prolonged experience, & not a single bite. The presence of a wagging tail does not mean that the dog was comfortable with the person, or that something didn't happen to concern the dog & elicit a reaction. That's not to say the person did something wrong, just that the dog had a reaction to a stimulus. Because of that, you need to make sure to fully disclose her behavior to whoever you surrender her to.
If you have any other questions, feel free to message me privately - I've been involved in breed rescue, & have some connections throughout the country. Best of luck. T. :)
contact the local police. Tell them that you are harboring a dog which has bitten two neighbors. You are concerned that the dog might do more damage to them your children or someone else. You have contacted the owner but the owner won't collect or otherwise assume responsibility for the dogs. You hope the dog can be rehabilitated but can't assume the risk of another bite given it's two bite history.
Good luck.
Sorry it has come to this.
F. B.
No good deed goes unpunished. That sweet dog isn't a sweet dog. She has bitten 2 people and if they decided to sue you could be named in the suit since the dogs were on your property and in your control (although the dog's owner would probably be sued also).
Text or email the owner to let him know that he has 24 hrs to get the dogs off your property and if he doesn't then you will consider them as abondoned property and take ownership of them. After that contact the local Boxer rescue again and tell them that the dog is yours and turn over control of her to them. If the rescue group won't take them then call animal control and turn her in. She's a biter and she will continue to do so.
Your friend is taking advantage of your kindness so as long as they dog and pupplies are at your house he'll continue to ignore the problem. So give him 1 last day to do the right thing and then solve it yourself. Next time this person asks for anything remember that NO is a complete sentence.
If it really comes down to it call animal control and report them as abandoned
I'm very sorry. But I gotta say that you could be legally liable if this person sues you. You were in possession of this dog and it had even bitten before. A lawyer could have a field day with you over this.
You have to get rid of the dog and the puppies. You should call a lawyer and have him or her handle the dogs' owner LEGALLY. If you don't, you could be in hot water on both fronts - the owner and the person who was bitten.
Do yourself the favor of paying a lawyer NOW before you end up having to pay one later. (An ounce of prevention...)
Keep the mama dog in a kennel where she cannot get loose and bite anyone else. Tell the owner he has until 7pm to pick up his dogs or you are taking them to the shelter. If he does not come drop the dogs off at the shelter this evening or first thing the next morning. Dogs often wag tails while being aggressive and attacking. Please take care that your daughter does not get bit. My friend's dog who was "sweet" attacked their daughter when she was young and her whole face is a mass of scars.
This stinks. I would notify the person who "owns" the dog that they have until 10pm on April (Pick a date) to pick their dog and puppies up or you will consider them your property and that your plan is to terminate them. Have the letter delivered where you know he got the letter because he has to sign for it. Then you have proof you served him proper notice.
Not that you would really be terminating them but this person doesn't need to think he can push you around anymore.
Then if he doesn't come get them by that date you have served him notice and can do anything you want with them.
I agree that this mama dog is behaving oddly but there's no telling what she's been through in her life. Perhaps these neighbors remind her of someone that abused her and maybe she's a biter and that's why the guy won't come get her.
If you really live in Texas and you have the dogs in your possession? Ownership is 9/10ths the law. They don't need to know you volunteered to take care of them.
You may need to have the dog put down. I'm a huge dog lover, but in this case? She bit without provocation? She might need to be put down.
In my opinion? He's surrendered the dogs to you and they are now yours. You have attempted to contact him to arrange pick up. He has failed. I would say that he has abandoned the dogs and they are now yours.
You are being held responsible for them, not him.
You do what you need to do. I hate saying put the dog down. Unprovoked bites are not acceptable. Who knows who she could bite next.
Here, people would have the dog put down for biting. If it were me, I'd pack them up and take them to the guy's home when you know he'll be there, or if he was trying to avoid me, it wouldn't stop me from taking them to his work. It's not your responsibility.
If for some reason that doesn't work, I would tell the guy that unless he gets in touch and signs the dogs over to you so you can take them to the rescue place - you have no choice but to take them to the pound. I'd hate to do that myself but not sure what other choice you have at this point.
Take them to the Humane Society. Tell them that the dogs are abandoned. If the owner has tried to find someone, ask him to take them to the Boxer Rescue group or the humane society. If he doesn't want to get his permission to do so.
Your county has an Animal Shelter. If you tell them the dogs were abandoned, they are more likely to take them than either of the other places. You can also tell the county shelter that the owner refuses to get the dogs and ask for advise. I think that there is a legal way to list them as abandoned if owner won't help you.
First off. Get a crate for the mama. That way she will be secure when no one is able to watch her. Have the owner sign the mom up to rescue along with the puppies so they can be rehabilitated before it's too late.
I'm surprised that the bite didn't signal a call to animal control and a quarantine.
I'm wondering if the owner knew the mama was reactive and that is why they got you to take them.. either way, this is one big mess..
How old are the puppies?
Call the ASPCA to come and pick up the dogs. Who ever this "friend" is they are clearly overstepping boundaries and have no regard for you, your family, your neighbors, and the dogs. It's time to put an end to this drama and get rid of this dog and her pups. No guilt necessary. If you don't intent to keep this dog because of her behavior then let her go and her pups too.
It's cruel to keep her and not be able to tend to her properly or safely for your community besides you will be the one the law comes after not your friend since the dog is under your care. Handle this before it becomes a great big ordeal financially for you.
Sounds like you have no choice but to call the pound.
How awful. I would stop calling the owner and just drive the dogs back over to his place.
I don't know what the laws are where you live, but here if a "fighting breed dog" bites someone once, the police have to be notified. Twice and the police confiscate the dog to have it destroyed. I don't know that Boxers are considered a "fighting breed" or not, but I would think you would still have to report both incidents by law - especially since it wasn't a family member she bit.
Call the police, report both bites, and ask what THEY want you to do. If they do nothing, then take them to the nearest shelter and drop them off. The puppies are still young enough to be rehomed - with two bites (and likely others you don't know about), mama probably needs to be put down. Don't wait. YOU will be held liable if mama bites someone and they decide to sue. Worse, could you live with yourself if mama takes off someone's face?
Good luck!
First, call your local dog warden and give them the owner's name and information and explain the situation. They can notify the owner to get the dogs within a certain amount of time and/or give him a citation right away. The dog warden should also be able to take the dogs to the local shelter. If not, take them yourself. Boxers get adopted pretty quickly; especially puppies. Good luck!!
