Text 6700, 84 rader
Skriven 2008-05-08 21:17:37 av Jim White (1:123/789.0)
   Kommentar till text 6582 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: dogs (was Re: Meeses and Killing 265)
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MICHAEL LOO -> JIM WHITE wrote:

 JW>> We have a 13 yr old rott, a 12 yr old pit bulldog that we rescued
 JW>> from a neighbor, and a pair of 5 yr old boxweilers(boxer/rott)
 JW>> from the same litter.  The pit mix is 55 lb, the boys are 75
 JW>> lbs, and the rott is 85

 ML> Good medium sizes. Why did you have to rescue a dog from a neighbor,
 ML> and what did the neighbor think about that, and what did the
 ML> dog think about that?

long story, but since you asked..
They got the dog (about 8 weeks old) for their son who wanted one for his
birthday.  After a month or two, dog got chained to a fence outside because he
pooped all over the house(no training was given by ignorant inner city idiots).
 The son soon tired of the dog and his jumping up, so he ignored the dog.  From
the beginning, we talked to them and the dog.  He looked like a little pot
bellied pig.

The fence he got chained to was the property line between our houses. We soon
noticed that they were not making sure the dog had water, so we offered to
watch it and keep it filled.  They were appreciative.  Next they stopped buying
dog food and started giving only table scraps, pork chop bones, chicken bones,
etc.  So we offered to help out by supplementing what they fed with some dog
food that we had bought just for this purpose.  This also was accepted.  Dog
grew and started breaking the swing set chain they had used to hook dog to
fence.

So for EIGHT YEARS, we fed the dog, repaired the chain he kept breaking, caught
him and returned him when he jumped the fence, etc.  *I* found a doghouse and
offered it for the dog-accepted.  I put snap hooks on both ends of a broken
light-duty tow chain that was laying around in their yard.  Now the dog can't
break out.  In the winter my wife gave him heated food, made sure his doghouse
bedding was kept dry, made sure he had enough water every day, etc.  So
basically, he was our dog for all these years, (and he knew it and showed his
appreciation)but dog didn't understand why he was on the wrong side of fence! 
Remember that this dog is part pit bull, so if I call Animal Control(SPCA),
this GREAT friendly little dog will end up being euthanized.  We were allowed
to bring him in our yard several times a summer to bathe him and let him run
with our dogs.  We were also allowed to take him to free rabies clinics and we
had him heartworm tested.

Big summer windstorm comes along.  Huge tree in their yard splits, crashes
down, destroying their garage, damaging my fence, but not injuring dog who was
safe under all the debris.  We got the chain unhooked and relocated the
doghouse.  Now their insurance adjuster shows up sees the dog and get all upset
threatening to cancel their homeowners insurance within 24 hours if they don't
get rid of the dog.  Turns out they had told insurance company they had gotten
rid of dog over 6 months earlier.  Dog is PART Pit Bull and insurance company
is breed discriminatory.

Owner comes to me and asks if I will take the dog.  IMMEDIATE response of YES! 
He wrote out transfer of ownership on paper.  Lawyer, sister-in-law was
visiting, writes a legal version and we get him to sign it.  This insures he
CANNOT get the dog back.  Quick trip to the pet store for a portable 5' x 10'
kennel, and I tarp a big plastic crate to provide a doghouse.

Within TWO weeks, we had housebroken the dog and he was sleeping on the family
room sofa at night.  We renamed him and he's been a spoiled "kid"  ever since
and he's now 12.

He's EXTREMELY protective of us if you come into our house, invited or not. 
However, I can take him outside to the city sidewalk and he's the greatest
friendliest dog you've ever met!!

 JW>> I've never met a rott that I didn't like.  One or two have been overly
 JW>> protective of their owner, but I can respect it since both owners are
 JW>> female and the dogs tend to be more protective.  Most are well
 ML> mannered
 JW>> and very friendly as long as you ask to pet first.  Most properly
 JW>> raised Dobermans are friendly too.

 ML> I'm a little uneasy with Shepherds, as one tried to take my
 ML> arm off when I was a kid, but otherwise I find dogs fine,
 ML> as long as they're regularly bathed and teethbrushed. Oh,
 ML> and poop scooped.

Shepherds are also one's I am most suspicious of.  Was bitten by one as a kid,
but have seen MANY that were wonderful sweet dogs.

My apologies to Moderator for long message!!

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