Last night was one of the scariest, saddest nights. In an nutshell, my dog Isabel (who's part hound and part pitt-bull, or some variation) as my roommate and I were sitting around (I was reading...Nicole was doing her nails) when out of nowhere Isabel snapped or something but she just reached out and killed Chloe our other dog: a tiny little Chihuahua. Got her by the neck and just broke it's tiny neck. Mind you these two dogs have been friends for years and they even used to sleep together all the time. This came out of nowhere...I'm so upset. I can't stop crying. I did not sleep at all last night. I had to open Isabel's jaws so she could let go of her. I scooped little Chloe up and drove her to the vets office in some vague hope that she was alive. Of course I felt no heartbeat but I drove on anyway...whith Nicole at my side screaming hysterically.Our other dear, friends and pet lovers, shortly joined us and there was about six of us crying at the vets. Our question now is this: What are we to do with Isabel? Tony, Nicole's husband, wants Isabel out of the house. We have another two dogs, one of which is Sophie, Chloe's little Chihuahua companion, and who witnessed the whole thing and has not stopped shaking. I'm so torn. I love Isabel...who's generally really sweet. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I don't know what to do. Everyone in our little circle is pretty torn. Our dogs are the like the life blood of our little band of friends...everyone that ever comes to the house loves and adores our dogs. We already lost Chloe and now we have to figure out what to do with Izzy...my poor Isabel.

Resistor, your dog is no longer safe. it's killed once. I'd have the dog euthanized, as painful as that is, for everyone's sake.

tehre 1ce was this ladyy in my town who had a pitttbull and the ppollice needdede SIx bullets 2 kill the dog cuz he had bitten her pitbulls aint nutttin 2 fuck wit

That's awful. I wouldn't take the chance of keeping the dog as much as you love her. Next time it could be someone's child she bites.It's not fair to the remaining Chihuahua to make it live with that dog.
IMO not worth the risk involved, and I love pitbulls.

omg! thats terrible.

Maybe Isabel didn't realize she couldn't be that rough with the other dog? Maybe it was an accident?

We have 3 dogs, the youngest being a stray beagle we took in. The older two dogs hated her when we got her (they still do to a certain extent), and would beat her up from time to time. They're not mean in general, they would just get irritated once in a while and all 3 of them would act up.

Did you get Chloe after Isabel?

Dogs do not normally turn for no reason. I help out at a rescue society a Jack Russell was brought in 4 months back the family had the dog for 9 years, over a 6 month period the dog owner said out of the blue it had turned aggressive the people just could not deal with this. The rescue society vet found that the dog had a thyroid problem and with drugs the dog stopped the aggression and was given a new home. If the dog is normally a placid dog and this is the first ever time attacking another dog then I would take the dog to the vet to see if the dog has an illness first before making any decisions. I wish you all didn’t witness this much love 2 u all

Pit Bulls tend to snap like that.

Hard decision you have in front of you.

Tom said:

No. Chloe was here first. We had our first dog,Leo, a ridgebackm for over 10 years, then the two Chihuahuas, then Isabel came last. We figured Leo needed a companion his size. We've had all four dogs together for at least five years.

I know what we need to do...I just can't seem to accept it. I know non-dog lovers won't understand. My mother called this morning bitching about something or other and when she sensed that something was up, she asked and I told her and she said to stop being ridiculous...I hung up on her.

TheResistor said:

How awful!!!!! I can't even imagine the pain you're going through right now. I wouldn't keep Isabel if you have other dogs around, because she may do this again. I know it's hard to part with a pet that you love, but I would hate to see the same scenario repeating itself.

I do not believe that once a dog kills it means it will kill again.

However, the problem with this dog is it's shown itself to be dangerously unpredictable. If that is a risk you are willing to take and you are willing to now keep her away from other pets and other people, I say give that a try.

Otherwise, I would put her down.

I'm sorry for the loss of your other little dog.

shellyevon said:

Agreed!

katt said:

You know...Isabel had surgery recently. She had a tumor. And Chloe has just healed from a broken leg. You should've seen her little tiny pink cast, hopping around on three legs. Maybe it had something to do with both of them being in and out of the vets offices...I dunno.

katt said:

Oh, that's a good suggestion, taking the dog to the vet's for a check-up. Perhaps it is a medical condition that made Isabel do what she did. I would try this first before giving her up for adoption. Good luck to you.

TheResistor said:

How mean of your mom to say that to you! I can't understand the attitude of some people.

TheResistor said:

Is Isabel still on pain medication as there is a few drugs they give that do have side effects and 1 of them is aggression. The drugs can last in the dogs system 4 upto a month so i have been told.

You know, it really is amazing how much love a tiny two pound dog can bring into the home. I just picture little Chloe staring up at me with her two huge eyes, staring up at me, tail wagging, wanting me to pick her up. She also had this habbit of crawling into bed with me, finding some opening in the covers and crawling in there and finding a little nook next to me...

TheResistor said:

I know hun I do not know what I would do withought my noodles he bring me so much joy each day

Oh, that's so sad.

Honestly, a dog who behaves that violently and unpredictably needs to be euthanized. You just don't know who it could be next. And should somebody outside of your family get hurt, aside from the misery of having been able to prevent it, you'd have a major liability problem on your hands, since you know the dog could be unpredictable and aggressive.

I hate hearing these stories, because I love pitbulls and pit mixes. But they're strong, so when you do get one with a screw loose, they're incredibly dangerous.

Whatever you do, please don't just find the dog another home. A person who hasn't seen with their own eyes what the pup can do is just not going to be as careful, even if you've warned them.


I'm so sorry.

katt said:

I agree that there could be a medical issue. However, how are you going to know for sure in a case like this? You're not, unless/until the dog snaps again.

With a Jack Russell, you can probably afford to take that chance, since they are unlikely to actually KILL anybody if it turns out they're still off. With a Pit/Hound mix, you're only going to know that medical intervention didn't help when somebody's life is in danger.

It's just not worth it.

But it's so sad.

very sad situation good luck

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Isn't there some sort of rescue mission for agressive dogs or something, a sort of rehab, farm something...I don't know if I can get it in me to even take her to have put down...I don't want her to die too...I mean, last night when he got back from the vets Isabel was clueless, in fact she wanted to play ball...

TheResistor said:

You might be able to find somebody to rescue the dog. That doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I know. I know, it's so hard. I used to be a vet tech, and then an animal control officer, and we'd have these sweet dogs in quarantine for biting somebody . . . they're in there wagging their tails, while the card on their cage describes how they ripped somebody's face off. . . it's hard. Even when it's not your dog, it's hard to put down a happy, tail-wagging critter who never intentionally did anything wrong. But I really believe that it is our responsibility as dog owners to do the right thing when we end up with an aggressive animal. And there is NOTHING more dangerous than an UNPREDICTABLE aggressive animal.

But, I know. It doubles the loss.

Take the time to think it through, so whatever you decide, you'll feel like you did the right thing.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I know you're right. My roommates and I need to agree on something. Now TONY AND NICOLE, my roomies, are arguing with a difference of opinion. Tony wants her out and Nicole is freaking out...

TheResistor said:

Geez. . . it's bad enough to have to make this kind of decision. . . to have to make it with roommates sounds like hell.

Well we're off...

Tony and I are taking Isabel in...we don't know how else to handle this. Nicole is crying and giving us a guilt trip.

This is freaky guys. I've never done this before. My heart is broken. I have a big lump in my throat. It's gonna be a tough drive...

Thanks for checking in to this thread. I was just sitting here giving myself a hard time and I remembered how my org world is always there for support. I'll check in later...

MUCH LOVE!!

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I know u have contacted your vet’s take her ASAP and have her thoroughly checked out, your vet may wish to keep her in over night to do tests this will give you a breathing space. If vet does not then keep her then keep her away from all animals and small children. You could use a stair guard to keep her out of rooms with the other animals or a crate. Just now what I would do is wait for test result then look at all options
This is so heartbreaking, ur under a great deal of pressure

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I have witnessed this myself it so heart breaking

TheResistor said:

Good luck i will be thinking of u all, try and stay strong, were all here 4 you

TheResistor said:

Do you know anyone, coworkers, family, or friends, that live out in the country and have a big back yard for the dog to play in? Maybe Isabel just needs a different environment and they would be willing to adopt her?

Tom said:

It sounds like they've already made a decision. . .

But in general, the only way you know whether or not you've solved the problem (with a big backyard, or medical intervention, or whatever) is to wait and see if it happens again. Meaning, somebody might have to die to discover that things still aren't ok. Does that seem like an acceptable risk? Doesn't to me.