Tough situation with my dog

[fbrdphreak]

Here's the situation: a year and a half ago, my then-SO and I adopted a dog from the county animal shelter. She was 6 months old at the time, a Pitbull mix of some kind. Full grown, around 30 lb, and the sweetest thing ever.

Fast forward a year - SO & I split up. We were living in the same condo, didn't have a yard for the dogs, but both of us were there to take care of them (she had 1-2 dogs as well, the Pit-mix was mine). My dog didn't get along with her boxer and they got in a couple bad fights; otherwise my dog has never been aggressive with any other animals or people.

I moved into an apartment. She was destroying my stuff, so I had to keep her in her kennel when I was gone (she likes her kennel). I was getting her exercise, but not enough.

A month ago, I gave her to a friend who has a house & yard in a neighboring city. It was a tough decision, as she is a real sweetheart, but it was better for her to have the yard & living conditions and it was better for me to focus on the rest of my life (career, traveling, etc).

Since being at his place, I don't think he enforces any discipline on her and she's a bit out of control. She ran out the door into the yard, jumped up a normal-height fence, snatched a squirrel off the top of it, and killed it. Yesterday, a cat had wandered into the yard and she killed it. This is on top of multiple escapes from the yard.

He can't handle her anymore. My ex can't take her. I can't take her (my gf has moved in and has cats). The only saving grace I may have is to post a plea on Craig's List for someone to step forward who could do something with her. But it appears without discipline (and likely proper exercise as well, I don't know that he has run her more than a couple times in the last month), she can be dangerous around other animals.

I do not want to put her down. It will kill me inside to do it. I don't see another option. Please help me find a realistic option that doesn't involve her staying with me, my ex, or my friend.

Before I get any lectures, I love animals. But I'm between a rock and a hard place. If anyone wants to give me any sh@t, you will be ignored.

Thanks in advance for any constructive input.

 

[jpeyton]

Pitbull with a discipline problem and a history of killing living things = ticking time bomb.

Put her down ASAP.

 

[olds]

Move to a place where you can keep her.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Pitbull with a discipline problem and a history of killing living things = ticking time bomb.

Put her down ASAP.

I agree. Unless you can give it to someone who you know has the right place for a pit, I see no other option.

 

[gorcorps]

Sweetest thing ever that likes to kill other animals on a regular basis? Sounds pretty contradictory to me. Now I love dogs, and believe pitbulls can be great behaved dogs if you train them/bring them up right. Unfortunately it sounds like that didn't happen and I highly doubt you'll be able to find anybody willing to deal with a pitbull set in those ways. If you can't take it yourself you may have to go with jpeyton's way.

 

[novasatori]

if neither, you, your friend, or your SO want a ill mannered dog that will not give second thought to killing anything that enters the yard, what makes you think someone else would want it? especially a pitbull - they're no joke, compared to a smaller dog.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Move to a place where you can keep her.

Unfortunately not possible. When I adopted her, my life was such that someone would be able to take care of her at nearly all times. Well despite subsequently marrying my SO, life happened and plans changed. Now I have a work schedule & travel that would prohibit having a dog and a living arrangement that prohibits having a dog.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: novasatori
if neither, you, your friend, or your SO want a ill mannered dog that will not give second thought to killing anything that enters the yard, what makes you think someone else would want it? especially a pitbull - they're no joke, compared to a smaller dog.

She is the sweetest thing to most animals and to every person she's come across. She has only fought with one dog, which she lived with, and never attacked the four cats she used to live with. I think she killed the animals in the yard because they were there for her to chase/hunt - an opportunity she never had before.

Also, she is 30 lb and a medium-sized dog at best. She's not a scary monstrosity.

But that is all moot, as she now has that history and I agree, it is likely no one will want her.

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: novasatori
if neither, you, your friend, or your SO want a ill mannered dog that will not give second thought to killing anything that enters the yard, what makes you think someone else would want it? especially a pitbull - they're no joke, compared to a smaller dog.

She is the sweetest thing to most animals and to every person she's come across. She has only fought with one dog, which she lived with, and never attacked the four cats she used to live with. I think she killed the animals in the yard because they were there for her to chase/hunt - an opportunity she never had before.

Also, she is 30 lb and a medium-sized dog at best. She's not a scary monstrosity.

But that is all moot, as she now has that history and I agree, it is likely no one will want her.

well I wish you luck.

Make sure any ads you post, you charge an adoption fee ($50-100) so that you don't get any bad people trying to take it.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Kill the dog.

/thread

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: novasatori

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: novasatori
if neither, you, your friend, or your SO want a ill mannered dog that will not give second thought to killing anything that enters the yard, what makes you think someone else would want it? especially a pitbull - they're no joke, compared to a smaller dog.

She is the sweetest thing to most animals and to every person she's come across. She has only fought with one dog, which she lived with, and never attacked the four cats she used to live with. I think she killed the animals in the yard because they were there for her to chase/hunt - an opportunity she never had before.

Also, she is 30 lb and a medium-sized dog at best. She's not a scary monstrosity.

But that is all moot, as she now has that history and I agree, it is likely no one will want her.

well I wish you luck.

Make sure any ads you post, you charge an adoption fee ($50-100) so that you don't get any bad people trying to take it.

Thanks. I posted a Craig's List ad asking for input from anyone. There are a lot of animal lovers who peruse the ads, at least around here, so hopefully I will have an option.

 

[AndrewR]

I don't consider the behavior you described as being particularly violent or out of control for a dog. The incidents with the boxer could have simply been about establishing territory or dominance (were they both female? My dog hates other bitches). As for the squirrel and the cat, that's just a dog being a predator, which is hardly unusually aggressive. Given the chance, our pup would kill any cat, rabbit, or other small animal she could find -- it's just sport to her, not viciousness. She's an exceptionally sweet dog and loves people, and she is wonderful with our 4 year old daughter.

I can't really offer an ideas about the dog. However, I will say that adopting a dog should be given more consideration than any other pet, including a cat. Dogs require lots of attention (as you are finding out) and demand dedicated owners rather than casual ones. If you are relying on a relationship which may not last the lifespan of the dog, it's best to not adopt rather than run into a situation like you're facing. I hope you find a new home for your dog.

 

[thomsbrain]

A dog that attacks the other dogs in its "pack" is as much a danger to its owners as it is to the other dog. Once it has established dominance over the other dog, you're next on its list. It's a really bad sign, especially from a pit bull. And to have killed multiple animals on top of that, and be capable of jumping as high as a normal fence, AND having a history of escaping?

What exactly do you think is the difference between this pit bull and the OTHER pit bulls that escape and kill things? You know, the ones that everyone knew were problems but never did anything about until they mauled some kid or old lady on the sidewalk and permanently disfigured or killed them? I agree with the others, this is a ticking time bomb. Even if it wasn't a pit bull, it would be scary.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you or the new owner or anyone else. Yes, these dogs are occasionally sweet, but the fact is that they have been selectively bred over the generations to be aggressive, impulsive, over-reactive, vicious, and incredibly strong where it counts (the jaw). Owning one is like having a sawed-off shotgun for a pet. Yeah, you're pretty sure its not loaded, but that doesn't make it smart to let the kids play with it. So you did your best, but it sounds like this wasn't one of the few who turn out to be sane and calm.

You can take it to the pound or to your local pit bull rescue group. There, it will at least have an opportunity to be adopted by someone who can train and contain it properly. Most pounds are already full of psychopathic pit bulls with backgrounds just like yours, so chances are it will be put down in a few weeks. But at least it will have a shot.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Also, she is 30 lb and a medium-sized dog at best. She's not a scary monstrosity.

Tell that to the person whose cat she killed. :|

Look, man, I feel for you, and for your pup, I really do. Perhaps there is a pit bull rescue society, as there is for many, many breeds. Google is your friend.

Do your best, and at the end, please do your duty, and LEARN from it, please.

Don't compound this tragedy by not learning your lesson. Every animal I've taken in, and all my animals have come to me by this route, I have consciously taken the pledge "till death (by natural means) do us part".

Sorry to preach at you, but this situation fairly screams for it.

Godspeed. Grace happens. :thumbsup:

 

[0roo0roo]

nice to adopt yes, but since you didnt train from birth and don't know its trauma it is semi dangerous always. especially a pitbull. i'd take it back to the pound.

 

[thedarkwolf]

People over react to a dog killing little critters. It happens its what they do. Mine kill squires/rabbits when they'd can catch them and I'm sure they take cat too if one was ever dumb enough to jump over my fence into my yard. Had that happen once but the cat jump right back over the fence when it saw 3 80lb dogs hauling ass for it. One of my dogs is a shelter dog that was there for killing chickens. Cats kill critters all the time too but you don't see everybody call for those to be put down. There is a big ass thread on here of some guy listing all the crap his cat kills on a daily basis. They are predators.

My parents dogs live in a house with 5 cats yet still killed a kitten when they found one in the fenced back yard. In the yard its prey in the house its part of the pack.

 

[punchkin]

Rent and watch "Old Yeller", then do what needs to be done.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea but a cat with a killer instinct and a jekyll hyde at worst scratches you.
a pitbull is far more dangerous when it flips as we've seen all too many times.

 

[UnbalancedCheckbook]

I agree with most of these guys - the dog has to go under. Sorry, dude.

 

[Baked]

Delete pitbulls, they will kill children given the chance.

 

[Mo0o]

Doesn't sound like much of a sweetheart if its killed and found so many other animals already.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Wow, I can't believe the morons in this thread. My dogs have killed squirrels and would kill a cat if one walked into the yard. Yet are great with people, children and other dogs.

OP - not sure why you would adopt a dog and not be willing to be responsible for it's care for next 10-15 years. You may me sick.

My recommendation would be to find an apt that takes dogs, find a good doggie daycare to take her when you go away. Since, you're not willing to do this would be to find a local pitbull or animal rescue. Any good rescue/animal shelter would have required you to return the dog to them if you couldn't care of it anymore.

Doesn't sound like a problem that exercise, discipline and training can't resolve.

 

[murphy55d]

well we all know pitbulls are the only dogs who would kill a cat or squirrel. yeah better put it down. :roll:

sounds like lack of good exercise and seperation anxiety to me...our dog would tear the house up when we left, too. we had to put her in a crate when we left the house.

some dogs need more exercise and attention than others.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
well we all know pitbulls are the only dogs who would kill a cat or squirrel. yeah better put it down. :roll:

sounds like lack of good exercise and seperation anxiety to me...our dog would tear the house up when we left, too. we had to put her in a crate when we left the house.

some dogs need more exercise and attention than others.

Yep, at the age of two, it's still a puppy.

 

[murphy55d]

i should note our dog is a rescued pit bull..and is the sweetest dog ever. wants to sit on whoevers lap that comes to our house.(65 lb lap dog..nice!) plays nice with our 2 cats, and every dog she's ever encountered since we've had her. she's about 2 and a half right now. dogs require a lot of work... sometimes a lot more than whoever gets them realizes.