Tonight, my family and I watched a horrifying piece on “The National” showing the aftermath of a dog attack in Quebec on a young beautiful woman by three dogs three months ago. This woman’s injuries were so horrifying my 15-year-old son chose to leave the room. While she will be hideously scarred, mutilated for life, the piece ended with her interacting with her own beloved spaniel.
As a veterinarian of 30 plus years, there are three times that stand out for me where I saw a cocker spaniel, a female golden retriever, and St. Bernard dog. In each case at the end of my consult I recommended two alternatives, euthanasia point-blank or making sure these animals never were able to interact with strangers or children ever again. The owners needed comprehensive homeowners’ insurance, there was something deeply wrong with their pets. On the other hand, some of my favorite clients/patients have been: the sweetest most loving wimp of a pit bull called Gilmore (my personal favorite), an American Eskimo dog, an Akita, two Chows, and many more. Therefore, as a veterinarian, I personally hate breed-specific bylaws, unfortunately a disproportionate number of cases come from specific breeds. All dog owners need to practice a higher level of care to mutually protect all other people and pets in normal society. There are amazing behaviour specialists available for consult, but they also preach protection of society from potentially threatening animals.
For those that face an attack; be a tree, be a log. This is old tried and true philosophy and often works. Something sets off the prey drive in certain animals or dogs that have formed a pack. Usually these are well-fed pets, they don’t need to eat but the fear, shrieks, and struggles of prey set off deep instincts and attacks occur. Wrap yourself up as a log, roll up in a ball, or a tree immobile or silent and you become boring. This is not how prey acts. Avoid eye contact. Close your eyes. Boring…. the dog or pack moves on.
Now for those of us that love and live with our dogs. Take responsibility to avoid the acts of our pets inflicting more laws, bylaws, rules on us to prevent us living with our pets. I was at a rented cottage in Invermere last weekend. My pets are well controlled, I did teach and compete in obedience. But I was guilty of walking out of our condo with my dogs unleashed to allow them to urinate and defecate in the appropriate areas. At all times my dogs were controlled verbally, but in the process, I discovered our neighbours on both sides with small children were deathly afraid of big dogs. My big black 85-pound lab worships humans, they did not care, and he paralyzed them with fear. And our eight-pound yapper growling-under-her-breath Papillion didn’t help. With mutual respect the weekend evolved with the same neighbours offering the remnants of rib bones to our pets. No way, to the rib bones, but the message to all dog lovers is we all have to work to live together…to prevent legislation hampering our enjoyment of our pets and we must respect those who do not love and even fear our pets. BE RESPECTFUL, KIND, AND CONSIDERATE. I love travelling with my pets and I need everyone out there to allow dog lovers as a community to ensure this does not change.
To the pet owners and everyone else: Namaste.
