My story

[bearkat]

" Oh, but he was only playing, sugaaaa." That is the first thing I heard out of mouth of the owner of the dog that bit me and changed my life.... I have given great thought to sharing this with everyone, as I am sure that I will get "nasty notes" about it, but I also thought it was worth sharing....
In late August 1994, I had just gotten my first Rottie pup, Rotten... Our neighbor had 2 female Cockers that used to come visit, because they had no where else to go, and no where else to get food and water. The winter before, I brought these little girls into my home to defrost their feet... they had ice inbetween their toes, and their fur was matted with ice and snow, and they had obviously not eaten regularly. Needless to say, they went into heat, and came to my house. A very large mongrel dog followed them, but not realizing that the "girls" were in heat, I went out to protect them. The mongrel dog bit me, but luckily I had on sheepskinned lined mittens, and the bite did not penetrate my skin. I called the Animal Control, and they came and got all three dogs. Later, I saw that my neighbor had a Border Collie in her yard. Just like the Cockers, he was not fed or watered, and he came to my house. I played with him, fed, watered, and brushed him out. Then one night, I took Rotten for a walk, and he was only about 8 weeks old. The BC (Chance was his name), came into my backyard and grabbed Rotten my the HEAD!! I immediately picked Rotten up, over my head, and Chance lunged at me, grabbed my arm in his mouth and tried to "get" both Rotten and me. I kicked out at Chance, and he bit again.... After I yelled at Chance and convinced him to "give it up", I got back to my house with Rotten in my arms. I confined Chance, and called the sheriff, and they came, took pictures, examined me, and Rotten, and took Chance with them. ONE day later, Chance was back at home.... 3 DAYS later, I had a "zit" on my shoulder.... within DAYS, I was completely covered with boils, oozing infection, and I was quarantined by my doctor, because he didn't know what was wrong with me. Chance was also quarantined because he had not been kept current on his shots. After going to a specialist in communicable disease, it was discovered that I had a staph infection from the dog bite. He lived in a horse barn- roping arena, and had been eating horse poop to survive, so he had lots of bacteria, etc, in his mouth when he bit me. Because of this dog bite, I am scarred for life. No, not on my arm, or someplace I can cover up, but my face. My face looks like a WAR ZONE!!! About 18 months later, Rotten developed a very high fever and his head became misshapen with infection.... It turned out to be a nasty bug called "actinomices" bacteria. Rotten was healed, but it took it's toll. He is deaf, and the fever that he had has made him "slow". He has trouble coordinating his desires to what he body does...
Did the neighbor pay??? Yes... We sued her, and I was granted a settlement for the dog bite.... But Chance also paid..... and that is what this story is all about... Was Chance in the wrong?? NO! He came to my house to be fed and watered, because he knew that I wouldn't abuse him and he TRUSTED ME!!! He knew that he would not be fed and watered at home, so he came to me.... I have felt an overwhelming sadness for what happened with Chance, because it was not his fault... BAD OWNERS... BAD DOGS.... but the pain of knowing that Chance was put down because he DIDN'T know better will be with me for life..... as will the scars all over my body, because of a BAD OWNER!!!
Thanks much for letting me have my say-
Val


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[CUTE Fan]

Bearkat: I doubt very seriously that you'll be receving any "nasty notes". This is a very sad story for everyone concerned. I feel badly for Chance. Unfortunately, there are a lot of "Chances" out there. By the way, is the neighbor allowed to own any animals? Just curious.

[bearkat]

Thanks, CuteFan... No, after the neighbor's lawyer and her insurance company found out all the details, including the 2 ADORABLE, sweet natured Cockers the she had left to fend for themselves, she was dissallowed by the county and her insurance company from having any more dogs. We have been known to have LOTS different animals come here... we had 5 greyhounds come as a group, and they stood in the backyard and silently pled... water, please??? Of course, we fed and watered them, petted them, played with them, and tried to find the owners.. Nobody would claim them, so they went to the Animal Shelter, as well. We have had parakeets come here, 4 stray kittens, an old decrepit Golden Retriever, a terrier of somekind.... We even had 11 head of steers in here, and the last big one was 12 horses.... Maybe they all know that they will get the "treatment" from me!!! I now keep horse feed and some hay for the steers in my back yard, just in case they decide to run away from home again!! I am not bitter about my scars, but I am bitter about Rotten's disabilities, which can be directly attributed to the dog bite in 1994, and I am bitter about Chance not being able to live the life he should have. Someone (forgive me for not remembering who it was!!) said that pet owner's should be spayed and have to be registered. That is how I feel about my neighbor... by the way, this last summer, she was up on her roof fixing something and her grandson was playing the backyard, which abuts our back yard. She saw me coming with my Rotts and yelled at her grandson "Get back in the house!!! Here comes THOSE dogs".... My dogs have never been on her property....... or threatened anyone over there. My dogs wanted to smell the little boy and perhaps get some pets, but nobody had the "chance" because she went into hysterics.....

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[ohio]

bearkat its good to know these animals have a compassionate place to go. i thank you for them

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connie marabito
private stock rottweilers

[Lady B]

My dear, sweet, "mighty mite" friend: I am so glad you shared your story with us. It moved me to tears -- but then most things of this nature always do. Actually, I think a lobotomy is in order for this woman. Once the hair grows back, who would know the difference?

For you I think the guardian spirits of all animals have a very special place in their world for you. You are very special, indeed!