Please help

[mbster]

We just had to put my beloved Bear dog down. He attacked our neighbors kid.
here is how it happened. First time, Christmas eve, she put her finger through the gate, he bit it. Mind you, it is a solid 6 foot metal gate, she put her fingers through the side. Ok, a small bite, but a bite none the less. No stitches or anything. Many kids in the neighborhood, but he used to lunge only at her every time we walked him. If she was out.
Well, we had guests over last friday, they left late at night, maybe left the gate unlocked????? Been here many times before, know to shut and lock gate, because of Bear.
Let Bear out in the early am to do his biz, came back in, did not get out of yard at that point.
Let Bear out later in the day, he was being too quiet, so dh went out to see whats up. He caught the tail end of Bear being on top of this little girl. Thank god she is Ok, went to hospital, just superficial cuts. No stitches.
Parents were beside themselves, as I would have been, had it been my kid. BTW, the kid is 4.
It was a no brainer that we had to put Bear down, that behavior is beyond unacceptable. He had issues since we got him, but where we are, and the circumstances, we feel we had no choice. to rehome him, knowig he bit a kid, I feel would be irresponsible.
So he is gone. I miss him more than I can say.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for listennig

[TrinaJ]

Having to put a dog to sleep regardless of what the circumstances are is heartbreaking and I am so very sorry for your loss.

You did the right thing and perhaps avoided another attack that could have been far, far worse.

I hope that the little girl is okay.

~*sending you a hug because I think you need one*~

Trina

[Anne]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You did the responsible thing but that doesn't make it easier for you.

[ftsinc1]

I to am very sorry for your lost. He was loved.

[webangel2b]

I'm so sorry. Losing him that way is tragic, you just wanna reason with them and explain why it's wrong like with a kid but it's no good.

Once it's betrayed our trust in that way, what you did had to happen.

I applaud you for being a responsible owner, I really do.

[stale]

it's a pity, a terrible one, that you had to lose bear...

no matter the reason, it is a horrible pain to lose a pet.

curious though, from the post it's not clear - was bear in the neighbour's yard? or was the child in yours?

i know this makes no difference for either bear or the child, but it may be something to use for experience in the future...

i feel for you, and you're welcome to share any pain with us.

"shared pain is lessened, shared joy increased"
-callahan's law

[Sheenagirl]

I am so very, very sorry for your loss of Bear.
I also realize it was incredibly hard on you to say goodbye because of the circumstances.
Just heartbreaking...
RIP Bear, fly high with the angels. You are in very good company.

[harleychik66]

This is so heartbreaking. I am truly sorry for what you have had to go through. It is so very hard to make a decision like you did. Kudos on being responsible and not making excuses for what happened. It is obvious you love Bear very much and he was lucky to have you. RIP Bear.

[moz205]

How sorry I am to hear this. You've done what was needed to be done as heartbreaking it was. It doesn't make it any less hurtful though.

[kerry grant]

Really sorry,you are so brave and it must of been so hard to make the choice you did but as every one has said it was the right choice,as Trinaj said you need a big hug [ ].Sending you lots of love and Rip peace Bear you are now with all the other Rottie Angels. xx

[missingmarley]

I, too, am terribly sorry - it's been said, and you know it, but you obviously did the only thing you could do. Hope the girl's OK and her parents are OK with you too.

Goodbye Bear. RIP.

[mbster]

Thank you all, so, so , so much. For telling me I did the right thing.
I actually could'nt bring myself to go to the vet, dh took him .
That morning I let him eat cookies in bed with me before he went.
He was not allowed in our bed, but that day was different. I let him jump up on me, as dh was taking him out the door, as I was crying hysterically, he seemed to put his paws around my neck and hug me.
Dh said he sat in the back, and stared at him driving the whole way to the vet. Almost a 2 hour drive. He actually liked going to the vet, and he went willingly with our Dr.who was 100, no 1000 percent professional about this very hard decision.

In response to the question about where it happened, Bear got out of our yard, it happened in the middle of the street. Full of kids and neighbors.How he got out I'll never know. The girls brothers pulled him off her, and he went right back after her. Didn't bother any of the other kids, Just that one girl.

She went to the hospital, no stitches, but definately she was very shaken up.
I have talked to the parents, and they thanked us for our sacrifice, and I assured the little girl that the doggie went away and will ever come back.
The family sent us some food that night and I reciprocated by sending their dish back filled with home made brownies.
They had dogs before, a Husky I believe, so they understood.

I thank you all so much for your hugs and assuring me I did the right thing.
And for letting me ramble on here, it helps to talk about it. Dh is being strong, silent guy about it. So thank you for letting me do this.

[debbiej]

how hard this was for you, how sad. I'm very sorry.

[missingmarley]

The family of the girl sounds unbelievably gracious - thanking you for your sacrifice and sending you food - How thoughtful they must be; it sounds like they do understand. You're ALL so lucky the girl wasn't hurt too badly - it could have been a disaster. I find it confounding that Bear only had a problem with her, but I've seen it happen before - dogs have a problem with A PERSON - not people, or A DOG, not dogs. Chemistry?

Take care of yourself, mbster, and thank the lord for your apparently really good neighbors. It would be hard to find others that would be so forgiving. And again, I'm so sorry about Bear.

[mbster]

We are living and working in the Middle East, right now. As a matter of fact our neighbors are from Iraq. The girl he bit.
Things are very different here, but I must say the lord or whoever works in mysterious ways.
we are from WA state , and things may have been different if we were there.
Anyway, thanks again for all your support, and for listening to me, It helps.
Ad my heart goes out to all who have lost their precious rotts, how ever, where ever, My heart is with you