Anyone suggesting mekkia should work with this dog or retrain this dog needs to shut the fuck up.
She almost lost use of her hand from this attack. HER HAND. And, as you well know, She is deaf. Her hands are not just important for living a full life and caring for her child, THEY ARE HER MEANS OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE WORLD.
(I'm only on page three but there are a few people who refuse to listen to mekia's clear and justified statements that she will not keep the dog.)
sonrisa, thanks. I'm sure a lot of people don't realize how important hands (and eyes) are to deaf people.
This must have been terrifying for you, I'm so sorry.
I'm confused by the people who say this dog would be good for someone with no kids. You didn't HAVE a kid at the time of the attack, right?
What if he attacks again? An old person? Or someone loses a limb?
I think contacting the breeder should be your first stop. I would be shocked if they won't take him back or at least advise you on what to do. Then speak to the rescues and see what they have to say. If they can't help you then the most humane thing you could do is it to put the dog to sleep in the least traumatic way possible.
sonrisa, thanks. I'm sure a lot of people don't realize how important hands (and eyes) are to deaf people.
This must have been terrifying for you, I'm so sorry.
I'm confused by the people who say this dog would be good for someone with no kids. You didn't HAVE a kid at the time of the attack, right?
What if he attacks again? An old person? Or someone loses a limb?
I think contacting the breeder should be your first stop. I would be shocked if they won't take him back or at least advise you on what to do. Then speak to the rescues and see what they have to say. If they can't help you then the most humane thing you could do is it to put the dog to sleep in the least traumatic way possible.
I'm so sorry you have to deal with this.
E was a newborn. People are suggesting childless owner as an option because they could set safer boundaries (an adult can learn to read and correct early signs of possessive aggression and address it before they get hurt. Also establishing the pecking order is easier which with a resource guarding dog can help reduce aggression, particularly for a lab that becomes really attached to the pack and particularly the pack alpha.
This must have been terrifying for you, I'm so sorry.
I'm confused by the people who say this dog would be good for someone with no kids. You didn't HAVE a kid at the time of the attack, right?
What if he attacks again? An old person? Or someone loses a limb?
I think contacting the breeder should be your first stop. I would be shocked if they won't take him back or at least advise you on what to do. Then speak to the rescues and see what they have to say. If they can't help you then the most humane thing you could do is it to put the dog to sleep in the least traumatic way possible.
I'm so sorry you have to deal with this.
E was a newborn. People are suggesting childless owner as an option because they could set safer boundaries (an adult can learn to read and correct early signs of possessive aggression and address it before they get hurt. Also establishing the pecking order is easier which with a resource guarding dog can help reduce aggression, particularly for a lab that becomes really attached to the pack and particularly the pack alpha.
Exactly, especially if Tucker had some intense training with a behaviorist.
If you got him from a reputable breeder, you should be able to go back to the breeder for help.
Yes, so much this. mekiakoo, please call the breeder you got him from. If they truly are a reputable breeder, they will take him back. In fact, they would want you to call them before rehoming him.
About 800 miles away. At this time we are exploring every option so yes, I will appreciate seeing if her rescue can.
Ugh, that's too far. Keep looking at local rescues. Maybe this can be a final option.
It's not too far. We adopted and then had to give up a lab beagle. The rescue found him a new home in Manitoba. We live in Denver. We drove to South Dakota to meet them and give them the dog. We did this for an animal we had "known" for all of 3 weeks. Mekia is pretty serious about this, so I imagine she considers this a viable option. I would have done whatever it took to get that dog to an appropriate family for him.
Lurker here, but we've searched for pets through Secondhand Hounds in Edina, MN. I know they take owner surrenders, but I can't speak to the degree of behavioral issues they accept. Might be worth a look! All the animals get homed with fosters so hopefully he could get the behavioral help he needs.
I am so sorry. That is such a tough situation Forgive me as I haven't read all the responses. Was he aggressive prior to this incident or aggressive since? Has he had formal obedience classes (no, I am not suggesting you do this, bear with me...).
Do you really think he's just too much work for your MIL? Do you think he is treated well there? I guess I don't understand why he is kept outside and allowed to roam when she is not home? If the main issue is his wandering, is it at all possible for you to fence part of her property or build a large dog run or will she not allow that?
Does MIL say he needs to be gone like yesterday or can she keep on keeping on for a little bit longer. If he hasn't had any formal dog training, would she or your DH (not sure how far you guys are) be willing to do that with him if she would let him stay on for a little? I certainly don't think you should have him back to your home, but it might make him a more attractive candidate for rehoming if you can say he has been through an aggressive obedience program.
At the end of the day, I would not put him into a place like the Humane Society where he will be kept in a small confined area with strangers and, ultimately, put down alone. With his history, you can almost guarantee it. I would actively search out rehoming or the rescues as others mentioned. As an absolutely last resort, I would euthanize him At least he would be with people he loved and have lived out his days in a place where he is comfortable.
The Midwest is full of hunting dogs (whether they are from a breeder or not). The majority of them are also amazing family dogs and just because they have been trained to work doesn't mean they have some sort of prey drive.
When we adopted our dog (lab mix) there was also a litter of shepherd/collie mixes. The rescue warned us that the shepherd mixes have the prey drive, not the labs.
High prey drive also doesn't mean the dog will necessarily attack humans (adults or children). My fawn boy has an extremely high prey drive but can differentiate between animals (food) and people (friends). He'll happily let my nephews climb all over him and pull his ears. But Lord help me when the neighbors cat is in their backyard. Full on hunting mode.
To clarify the issue is possessiveness over 'prey' labs are retrievers, a good lab will shield the bird until the alpha comes to claim it because that's what they were bred for. They retrieve the bird then protect the 'kill' for the alpha. he is resource protecting because it is part if his job, he needs training to lower that to acceptable levels and situations.
Post by donnamartingraduat on Jul 29, 2014 21:25:49 GMT -5
I know a couple of others have mentioned this - but please call Secondhand Hounds. I know someone who had an experience VERY similar to yours. Secondhand Hounds took in her pup and he was just adopted by a family better able to care for his needs.
I know I am just a lurker, but seriously, your MIL needs a MAJOR talking to. At least while you find the next home for this pup~ she CANNOT let this dog roam around w/o a fence unsupervised NOR can she just leave on her "all day activities." I can only imagine how crazy a big dog would get being cooped up home alone for long periods of time. ( I mean, We have a small dog and we often forgo long activities because it's not fair to leave the pup alone for so long) it is probably making his behavior worse. And letting the dog roam unsupervised is SO dangerous- to the dog and other people as well. I would not feel safe knowing my dog is roaming free.
she agreed to take the dog and she needs to step up until you find another home. The fact that you know she leaves him for long periods of time alone and lets him roam unsupervised Without a fence is upsetting. You need to discuss this with her ASAP! She can step up for a few weeks- it's what she agreed to do!
i am so sorry for everything you are going through- what a tough tough situation. good luck with the next step and hope you find a great home or rescue for the pup!
I haven't read most of the posts so please excuse me if I'm missing something but I agree with you that he shouldn't be in your home. There's a big distinction between a warning bite and what happened to you.
The problem with looking for a rescue is that most won't take a dog with a bite history, especially a big dog. It's too much of a liability for them to adopt our aggressive dogs. I don't know much about breeders but I hope they will be able to work with you to help figure out the best course.
I could not keep a dog that attacked me like that in my home and I could not send him off to someone else knowing the kind of aggression he is capable of. People who aren't involved with animal rescue often think there is some magical "single person" or "childless couple" that can handle problem dogs like Tucker but the reality is that there are very few people that will take on a big dog with a bite history.
If it was me, I would have him put to sleep. The final act of dog ownership, in my opinion, is that the owners are the ones to hold the dog and tell him they love him while he leaves the world. It's not a decision any owner wants to have to make but sometimes it's the only option left.
I think you need to read the rest of the thread. No, it wasn't a warning bite but it has been determined that the dog is possessive aggressive and had shown lots of warning signs before this incident, which Mekia just didn't know at the time. She knows now. Possession aggression IS a behavior that many groups and behaviorists are willing to work with and can often make leaps and bounds of progress with the dog. Lots of people here have given her such places if the breeder doesn't pan out.
I think you need to read the rest of the thread. No, it wasn't a warning bite but it has been determined that the dog is possessive aggressive and had shown lots of warning signs before this incident, which Mekia just didn't know at the time. She knows now. Possession aggression IS a behavior that many groups and behaviorists are willing to work with and can often make leaps and bounds of progress with the dog. Lots of people here have given her such places if the breeder doesn't pan out.
You think even with such a serious bite?
I ran a rescue for a number of years and neither my group nor any of the groups I was associated with would take on a bite history like this. I hope something works out for them.
Some groups will. The shelter where I got our dog works with a rehabilitation group that specifically rehabs dogs (mainly pits) that were trained and bred to fight. That's all they knew. Just fighting and aggression. And by working with them for a long time, they are (mostly) adoptable dogs after they have gone through the program. Possession aggression is a lot more common and (typically) less serious of an issue than a dog trained to fight.
The bite was serious, and you are absolutely correct that a lot of shelters wouldn't take him and some rescues may not. But there are places out there, like some of the animal sanctuary groups posted in this thread, that would. Some will keep the dogs on their farm/property (I am forgetting the name of the group mentioned out in UT) and be the dog's family, not even adopting them out to other people. There are other options out there besides euthanasia at this point.
I think you need to read the rest of the thread. No, it wasn't a warning bite but it has been determined that the dog is possessive aggressive and had shown lots of warning signs before this incident, which Mekia just didn't know at the time. She knows now. Possession aggression IS a behavior that many groups and behaviorists are willing to work with and can often make leaps and bounds of progress with the dog. Lots of people here have given her such places if the breeder doesn't pan out.
You think even with such a serious bite?
I ran a rescue for a number of years and neither my group nor any of the groups I was associated with would take on a bite history like this. I hope something works out for them.
Some groups that specialize in aggressive behavior and rehabilitation WILL take a dog like Tucker. A regular run if the mill rescue will not have the resources (understandably given the limited budget and space most have to work with). It's a matter of finding the right place and right training. Resource guarding is VERY common. Tucker has an extreme case to be sure, but that is all it is. This is not unprovoked aggression, which would be a much different story.
Wow. I have a lot to say here but I guess will just leave it as I agree with MP, I do think Mekia's heart is in the right place, and it also do think she AND her husband have to own their role in this. And I say that primarily because this is a dog from a breeder, and I am assuming the breeder was not reputable because, if she or he was, it would have been communicated to Mekia and her husband in a way they could understand that the breeder would take the dog back. Reputable breeders also don't breed dogs with a bite instinct, and if Mekia had that dog from puppyhood, and he is biting, I will say odds are excellent they used a shit breeder or did something very wrong training him.
Sorry Mekia. I think it is nice you feel bad, I would be flaming much harder if you didn't, but your fundamental sweetness doesn't stop me from thinking this dog got a bad break.
In an effort to be helpful, I will say, I think it is kinder to put the dog down yourself. Because let's be realistic. If the breeder isn't going to take him back (which is where I would try first), the dog isn't going to know he is dead. But he is going to know he has been abandoned.
It's not that a dog like Tucker is a lost cause that can never be taught. It's that the system of homeless animals is even more over burdened and under funded than the system of homeless people. Rescues are up to their eyeballs with cases of dogs and people who need help and not near enough of a budget to even start chipping away at the problem. I'm going to side with MaudeGone on this one. Regardless of the dog's reason for what he did, the fact is you have a dog who dragged his owner around the room because he was jealous. Could Mekia live with herself if he did find a another family only to find he did this to someone else? What if he did it to a kid?
Look I'm the biggest animal lover that I know of. I've shared my home with more foster dogs or cats that I can count. A dog that attacks his owner is not a dog that should be rehomed. Sorry for Tucker but there are thousands of animals euthanized every single day in shelters. Every day. Why should this dog be given the chance to hurt someone else is beyond me.
And living in a sanctuary? No. Sorry. I don't agree with that at all. Not one bit. Dogs are companion animals that were meant to live with families, not running free like cattle in a field. Best Friends is an awesome place but they are also full to the gills with animals that can't find homes and are otherwise unadoptable.
This isn't a senior, handicapped, incontinent but otherwise sweet dog. This is an aggressive dog who unfortunately happens to be a breed that is in the top 5 of homeless dog breeds. Labs are completely overbred dogs and shame on the breeders for not taking more responsibility in this. They made their coin and they're gone. A good breeder will take one of their dogs back for life. I've seen it many times. These breeders suck.
I'm sorry Mekia. You did the right thing removing the dog from your house. I guess my big rambling point is among all of the cheers of "You can do it! Find him a home!" somewhere you are going to have to face the fact that you may not be able to find him a home because of this incident. Do not beat yourself up if you and your DH end up having him put down. By all means keep trying to find him someplace but if that doesn't happen, do not put yourself in some prison of guilt over this. Okay?
Post by walterismydog on Jul 29, 2014 23:43:00 GMT -5
I was finally able to catch up on this. Pretty much every single base was covered, and I know you are considering every possible option. I do believe (and have seen firsthand) that dogs can be rehabilitated, but it's a long road much of the time. There are a lot of programs out there, though. I have no idea if there is a prison dog training program around you (where the incarcerated train the dogs) but it might be another option. I know they sometimes take on tougher cases.
Also, do you know any hunters? Perhaps you know someone (or know someone who knows someone) who is really great with hunting dogs and is willing to take him in, knowing his full history. Worth a shot.
I also do agree that it would be nice, if you do decide to go with euthanasia, if you did it with him instead of leaving it at the hands of the shelter. My only experience in this is at my shelter, and I am extremely fortunate in that we take every single euthanasia case extremely seriously when it comes to euthanasia for behavioral reasons. We exhaust every possible resource before we make that very difficult decision, and we have rehabilitated dogs and cats in remarkable ways. IF we do have to ultimately put an animal down, it is done in an extremely humane way (I've watched numerous times) and is very peaceful and all present are loving toward the animal. But this isn't the case at all shelters; the shelter I worked at prior to this one was no-kill and there is no way we would have ever taken him in in the first place. So it's just a very tough road, but there are a lot of forks in that road that can hopefully get you to a place where you feel comfortable.
No matter what, I wish you and your family peace with your ultimate decision.
I ran a rescue for a number of years and neither my group nor any of the groups I was associated with would take on a bite history like this. I hope something works out for them.
Some groups will. The shelter where I got our dog works with a rehabilitation group that specifically rehabs dogs (mainly pits) that were trained and bred to fight. That's all they knew. Just fighting and aggression. And by working with them for a long time, they are (mostly) adoptable dogs after they have gone through the program. Possession aggression is a lot more common and (typically) less serious of an issue than a dog trained to fight.
The bite was serious, and you are absolutely correct that a lot of shelters wouldn't take him and some rescues may not. But there are places out there, like some of the animal sanctuary groups posted in this thread, that would. Some will keep the dogs on their farm/property (I am forgetting the name of the group mentioned out in UT) and be the dog's family, not even adopting them out to other people. There are other options out there besides euthanasia at this point.
Our rescue used to work with dogs who had possession aggression as well. The problem was that we only had the volunteers, space and funds to work with one dog for literally every 20-30 calls we got. "My dog bit me" or "My dog bit my kid" was a huge reason for surrender calls. And while it may not sound fair, it was always easier to be willing to take the biting chihuahua or yorkie than it was to take the pit or lab. When you're swimming in lab puppies that you can't find homes for, why take on one adult dog who bit?
and another problem is the fact that he attacked his owner. If you hear a dog bit a stranger or even a child, many times there is a more of a understandable reason behind it. Not that it's okay but let's face it, kids can be cruel to animals. But a dog that attacks his owner and drags her around the room is just going to get a "Yeah, no" from many places. And above all else, I know she's going to give full disclosure of the incident to a rescue and not dress this up as anything other than what happened.
I feel sorry for this dog but it really sounds like she's doing right by him. I've usually got the flametorch lit for most rehoming cases. Not this one.
Best Friends animal sanctuary took in a lot of the Vick dogs. Many of them were able to be retrained and re-homed. I would think they or another good rescue would be able to do the same with Tucker who is not coming from such horrible conditions and trained behavior.
I'm not saying that's the route that has to be taken here. But it is not impossible that a rescue group would take him.
I have a "hunting dog". A coon hound. I've had her five years, got her from a rescue, from another state, we had absolutely no knowledge of her history aside from yup, we found her pregnant on the side of the road.
In the five years we've owned her, she has barely noticed another animal. I've since given up, but I used to show her bunnies, she just stood there, we were two feet from a wild turkey and I was like look, look right there, aren't you a hunting dog??? She wouldn't even look where I was pointing. I could smell the thing ffs . She was all derr.
So while it is likely hunting dogs have instinct to hunt, they are, as far as I know, not trained to kill, aren't they supposed to gently, quietly point out prey to their owners?
Mine is meant to tree animals, some point, etc. but it's my understanding they need to be quiet and tame and listen very well to owners, an out of control (meaning doesn't listen to it's owners) hunting dog is like the most useless thing, right?
Maybe I'm completely off base in my understanding of hunting dogs.
Hunting dog is a very broad stroke. Your dog is a hound. As is mine. Yours was bred to chase humans, not animals. And often that drive may have been bred out, or may not be 'turned on' due to your training of your pup.
My hound was bred to flush the bunnies out of the den, bunnies will run in a circle so the human hunters would let loose the hounds, the hounds would flush the bunnies and the hunter were prepped and at the ready with traps when the bunnies completes their circle. Hounds were then corralled and redirected. My hound was never meant to bite, or kill. Just to flush. Same with your hound.
THere's a bit of a misunderstanding with what hunting dog means,
Mine was not bred to chase humans, it's meant to tree animals. It does not even come close to that. It wouldn't notice another animal even when it's literally in her face. (I've checked if she is blind, for real).
I just meant it earlier in the thread for an anecdote that simply because a dog is a hunting dog, doesn't mean it has to be taking something or someone down to be happy or else it'll attack it's owners.
I know all dogs are different, just giving a diff perspective on some hunting dogs not = attacking or aggressive.
If the dog had bitten and released, even if he bit hard, I would say there were signs of his possessiveness beforehand and he could be rehabilitated and rehomed. However, he latched on, dragged her around the room, listening to her scream, and had to be pried off by his other owner. That is a whole other level of threat. The amount of time that the dog continued to attack his own owner, without EVER snapping out of it, is very disturbing.
I could never live with myself if the dog attacked again. Next time it could be a child, who could easily die from an attack of that level. I would make a solid effort to find a place like sanctuary where he might live without adoption. Otherwise I would have your H give the dog one last great day and then put him down peacefully at the vet. And that dog needs to stop being let outside off leash, period. That's hugely irresponsible.
ETA: I agree in theory that a behaviorist when he was a puppy could potentially have prevented all this. However, you can't un-ring the bell and now you know what this dog is capable of, which really limits your safe conscionable options. I also agree that he could be rehabilitated, but there are thousands of wonderful dogs who are much lower risk to humans who are put down every day. I'd rather see a dog-seeking person or family adopt one of those dogs, for their own safety. I'm sure that's flammable but we have many more dogs than willing guardians in our society and I'm looking at the big picture. Ideally all dogs would be adopted but that's not an option.
It's not that a dog like Tucker is a lost cause that can never be taught. It's that the system of homeless animals is even more over burdened and under funded than the system of homeless people. Rescues are up to their eyeballs with cases of dogs and people who need help and not near enough of a budget to even start chipping away at the problem. I'm going to side with MaudeGone on this one. Regardless of the dog's reason for what he did, the fact is you have a dog who dragged his owner around the room because he was jealous. Could Mekia live with herself if he did find a another family only to find he did this to someone else? What if he did it to a kid?
Look I'm the biggest animal lover that I know of. I've shared my home with more foster dogs or cats that I can count. A dog that attacks his owner is not a dog that should be rehomed. Sorry for Tucker but there are thousands of animals euthanized every single day in shelters. Every day. Why should this dog be given the chance to hurt someone else is beyond me.
And living in a sanctuary? No. Sorry. I don't agree with that at all. Not one bit. Dogs are companion animals that were meant to live with families, not running free like cattle in a field. Best Friends is an awesome place but they are also full to the gills with animals that can't find homes and are otherwise unadoptable.
This isn't a senior, handicapped, incontinent but otherwise sweet dog. This is an aggressive dog who unfortunately happens to be a breed that is in the top 5 of homeless dog breeds. Labs are completely overbred dogs and shame on the breeders for not taking more responsibility in this. They made their coin and they're gone. A good breeder will take one of their dogs back for life. I've seen it many times. These breeders suck.
I'm sorry Mekia. You did the right thing removing the dog from your house. I guess my big rambling point is among all of the cheers of "You can do it! Find him a home!" somewhere you are going to have to face the fact that you may not be able to find him a home because of this incident. Do not beat yourself up if you and your DH end up having him put down. By all means keep trying to find him someplace but if that doesn't happen, do not put yourself in some prison of guilt over this. Okay?
Yeah, um, bashing a sanctuary like Best Friends is laughable. Sanctuaries done in the right way can be an amazing place for a dog. Do your research before you make blanket statements.
Some groups will. The shelter where I got our dog works with a rehabilitation group that specifically rehabs dogs (mainly pits) that were trained and bred to fight. That's all they knew. Just fighting and aggression. And by working with them for a long time, they are (mostly) adoptable dogs after they have gone through the program. Possession aggression is a lot more common and (typically) less serious of an issue than a dog trained to fight.
The bite was serious, and you are absolutely correct that a lot of shelters wouldn't take him and some rescues may not. But there are places out there, like some of the animal sanctuary groups posted in this thread, that would. Some will keep the dogs on their farm/property (I am forgetting the name of the group mentioned out in UT) and be the dog's family, not even adopting them out to other people. There are other options out there besides euthanasia at this point.
Our rescue used to work with dogs who had possession aggression as well. The problem was that we only had the volunteers, space and funds to work with one dog for literally every 20-30 calls we got. "My dog bit me" or "My dog bit my kid" was a huge reason for surrender calls. And while it may not sound fair, it was always easier to be willing to take the biting chihuahua or yorkie than it was to take the pit or lab. When you're swimming in lab puppies that you can't find homes for, why take on one adult dog who bit?
and another problem is the fact that he attacked his owner. If you hear a dog bit a stranger or even a child, many times there is a more of a understandable reason behind it. Not that it's okay but let's face it, kids can be cruel to animals. But a dog that attacks his owner and drags her around the room is just going to get a "Yeah, no" from many places. And above all else, I know she's going to give full disclosure of the incident to a rescue and not dress this up as anything other than what happened.
I feel sorry for this dog but it really sounds like she's doing right by him. I've usually got the flametorch lit for most rehoming cases. Not this one.
I've always said she should rehome him. I'm not sure where it came across I was against that....?
ETA, the first place suggested that we send Tucker to a trainer where he can live at too.
Doing a training camp may be pricey, but it's a really good option. Google doggy day cares in your area, I posted a link to mine earlier to give you an idea (FYI HCOL area, so you can hopefully find something less expensive). Just make sure they have an actual behaviorist on staff, not just trainers. And with a dog like Tucker, make 10000% sure it is positive reinforcement based and not a Caesar Milan style negative reinforcement program.
I just heard back from my friend. They discourage taking in dogs from the US since there are so many dogs in need in Ontario Understandable. She definitely suggested finding a rescue near minnesota though. She feels that there is a good chance that they will take him.
It's not that a dog like Tucker is a lost cause that can never be taught. It's that the system of homeless animals is even more over burdened and under funded than the system of homeless people. Rescues are up to their eyeballs with cases of dogs and people who need help and not near enough of a budget to even start chipping away at the problem. I'm going to side with MaudeGone on this one. Regardless of the dog's reason for what he did, the fact is you have a dog who dragged his owner around the room because he was jealous. Could Mekia live with herself if he did find a another family only to find he did this to someone else? What if he did it to a kid?
Look I'm the biggest animal lover that I know of. I've shared my home with more foster dogs or cats that I can count. A dog that attacks his owner is not a dog that should be rehomed. Sorry for Tucker but there are thousands of animals euthanized every single day in shelters. Every day. Why should this dog be given the chance to hurt someone else is beyond me.
And living in a sanctuary? No. Sorry. I don't agree with that at all. Not one bit. Dogs are companion animals that were meant to live with families, not running free like cattle in a field. Best Friends is an awesome place but they are also full to the gills with animals that can't find homes and are otherwise unadoptable.
This isn't a senior, handicapped, incontinent but otherwise sweet dog. This is an aggressive dog who unfortunately happens to be a breed that is in the top 5 of homeless dog breeds. Labs are completely overbred dogs and shame on the breeders for not taking more responsibility in this. They made their coin and they're gone. A good breeder will take one of their dogs back for life. I've seen it many times. These breeders suck.
I'm sorry Mekia. You did the right thing removing the dog from your house. I guess my big rambling point is among all of the cheers of "You can do it! Find him a home!" somewhere you are going to have to face the fact that you may not be able to find him a home because of this incident. Do not beat yourself up if you and your DH end up having him put down. By all means keep trying to find him someplace but if that doesn't happen, do not put yourself in some prison of guilt over this. Okay?
Yeah, um, bashing a sanctuary like Best Friends is laughable. Sanctuaries done in the right way can be an amazing place for a dog. Do your research before you make blanket statements.
I am absolutely not bashing Best Friends. Let me clarify. If this dog can to get into a place like Best Friends then he's very lucky considering how many calls they get on a regular basis and how little space they have. But others suggested just a sanctuary. And IMO unless you are dealing with a very reputable place like Best Friends, "dog sanctuaries" can easily be a hoarding situation. Trust me on this. Do you know how many "rescues" and "sanctuaries" our animal control used to get calls on? Just because a place calls themselves a rescue or sanctuary doesn't mean in any way that it's a good place for a dog or cat. Often it's someone with good intentions who got way in over their head.
I'm cautioning against a sanctuary, not Best Friends. I'd honestly be very leery of a place that said, "Oh your dog bit you and dragged you around the room? Sure we'll take him." And anyone who has a good amount of rescue experience will back me up on that. This dog can end up in a bad situation easily. A common expression that you'll hear in doing rescue is, "There are far worse things than a kind death" or some variation of that. There are horrifiic situations that animals end up in because someone was trying to avoid euthanasia. And once Tucker leaves Mekiakoo there isn't much that she can do. He'll be someone else's pet.
Believe me, I'm not trying to be judgy or know it all. I care about this dog. I've just seen this before and while this can have a happy ending it can also go the other way.
Mekia, another tip(you may be doing already) is offering a donation with Tucker. I know 99% of the calls we'd get were people just wanting us to take their pet off their hands and they'd never offer one penny for the animal's vet bills and care. So many offering some kind of a donation with Tucker will make it easier for the rescue to take him on.
And if you do find a group willing to take him, do some research on the group. Google their name and make sure they are legit and not some group who takes in dogs only to turn around and sell them to labs for research. I'm not saying this to worry you more! It's just this stuff happens. Often people are so happy to find a group to take on their pet that they don't do research on the group itself. Just make sure they are reputable. There are so many shady, disgusting people out there who prey on desperate owners.
Roxmonster, I didn't mean that you weren't saying to rehome him. I was just expounding on your comment that there are rescues that will take in an aggressive dog. Didn't mean that you weren't saying to keep him. It's just that while there are options, the hope is slim unless she plans on throwing a lot of money at the problem. We're already talking about him living with a trainer which can result in thousands of dollars. I agree with your post.