All went swimmingly with Jack, even though he regularly tormented poor Gus, who is too big and dumb to defend himself. (Actually, he's just a really sweet dog who didn't want to hurt the little one, but it's more fun to call him big and dumb). He even slept at the foot of the bed with Betty Boop. Until last night. Last night, completely unprovoked, he did this:
Silas was sitting on the floor putting his shoes on when Jack attacked him. We are so lucky that there wasn't more damage. The thought of those disproportionately long teeth that close to my baby's eyes makes me cringe. Silas did the right thing by covering his head and rolling over as soon as the attack started. It breaks my heart that my little boy, who loves everyone and everything, had to use inherent survival skills in his own home. That I knowingly exposed him to harm. How could I have known, you ask? I dreamed it the night before. And my dreams always come true in some form. So I knew he was going to bite him, but I thought I had time to place him in a rescue. I gambled and Silas lost.
Jack has been taken by animal control. He has to be quarantined for ten days and then he'll be euthanized. There is no other way, the law will not bend on this. I just wish he didn't have to die. Even though I could've killed with my hands if I hadn't been tending Silas. But since we have no history on him and don't know if he's had his rabies shots or not, he must go.
This is the wound this morning:
It's the wounds to his heart that worry me most. He feels so betrayed and hurt. This is the first time he's ever been hurt by something he loved. I wish it would be the last.
I took the picture before we left for the ER because I knew animal control would need it. NOT because I'm an awful mother exploiting her kids injury. but since I had it anyway.....
21 comments:
oh heavens!!! I hope the doc in the ER fixed him right up... even more importantly I hope your little guy bounces back.
That sucks. BAD dog!
Hope Silas heals quickly.
Ohhh. Poor thing! The skin will heal before the heart will, but he'll make it. You've had plenty of wonderful animals that haven't and won't do this to him. Time.
Sorry about your son’s wound but how do you know it was completely unprovoked? Animals respond to gestures more than anything else, wouldn’t it be possible that Silas moved in a way Jack interpreted wrongly? Anyway, I’m not minimizing the incident just saying that the dog shouldn’t be killed, he should be re-trained. Euthanized? Cruel and inhumane. Re-train the dog and give him away or vice-versa.
I'm so sorry you're little guy had to go through this! My heart breaks for you guys & the little dog.
Poor baby! Oh I want to hug him.
Not to be the animal hater here cause I love animals but not Jack Russells or as they are now referred to Parsons Russell Terrier. We had a few growing up and they were unpredictable.
Oh, this is not a happy story for anyone involved. I hope your son is doing better. Though it sucks, the dog does have to be put down. You're right, there is no other way.
Poor baby! I know what you mean though. It's nice to have pets, but not when they attack loved ones.
I hope that he still grows up to love dogs (even though I am a cat person)....it sucks when one animal taints them all...
Oh no. =( I'm so sorry this happened to Silas. It must have been terrifying.
Or that must be awful. A hard decision for you and a bite for him.
Poor baby!!! Having your trust betrayed in anyway hurts.
It's too bad that the animal has to be put down, but it would be worse if another individual was to get bit.
Feel better soon Silas.
Oh. My. God.
It's so rare we see an external wound to match the internal one.
And again, because I mean it: Oh. My. God.
That sucks. All round.
Big hugs!
It's heartbreaking all around. I'm sorry for you, your son and the dog but you have to protect your kids, period.
shania i am sorry for jack too. i grew up on a farm and my dalmation bit a boy who was visiting us with his parents. my father sat down and explained to me that dogs that bite cannot ever be trusted around children. ever ever ever. i said good bye to my dog. to this day i know that my father was right.
I'm so sorry to hear about this! Some dogs just don't do well around children, but you never know until it's too late.
i am so sorry this happened to Silas
So sorry, Shania, that your kindness to the dog ended with such awful results for your family.
Oh, shame, your poor poor Silas. Horrific. What would make the dog just do that unprovoked? Some dogs have been teased in the past by kids, and then associate any kid or high pitched voice with a threat. We had a dog like that once, who we took from an animal shelter, who HATED high pitched ladies/kids voices. Shame, very sorry.
Poor baby! That laceration looks awful, but hopefully will heal quickly and leave little physical scaring. His poor little heart though, I have no good words for that. He sounds like a tender little heart and soul, but hopefully with enough animals, he will see that not all are like Jack. Perhaps a few trips to the petting Zoo to de-sensitize that situation?
omg! how scary!! poor baby ... poor you. You CANNOT beat yourself up over this. You should talk it out with S, though, and let him process his grief about the incident.
You are in my thoughts, mama!
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