(Don’t forget to check out my blog love this week.)
If you follow me on Twitter than you already know that Kainoa was bit by a dog.
Our dog.
The precious, sweet, gentle Victor E. turned out to be not so precious and sweet. In the dog’s defense Kainoa was not being super “respectful” of his space while the dog lay sleeping. He clumsily climbed over Victor E. to get to me and without warning the little dog snapped.
I had no idea Kainoa had been bitten until Pat leaped up to punch Victor E. When I saw the damage I did what any 31 year old mother in her right mind WOULD do…I started crying and called my Mom. Pat and I decided not to take him in…the cuts did not appear to be too deep.
And then came a difficult decision. In the first 24 hours I decided that maybe Victor E. deserved another chance. I could train him, read books, muzzle him, teach the kids (mainly Kainoa) how to respect his space and to never bother him when he’s sleeping or eating. Victor E. is such a sweet boy…I just couldn’t believe he lashed out the way he did. I bought him a muzzle and started training him to stay on a bed blocked out of the daycare area of the house. And by “training him” I mean I “threw pieces of sausage at him” to get him to stay.
I realized we could be in for a long road. I would always have small kids in the daycare. If I’m isolating the dog from people…and muzzling him when he’s around people…what kind of life am I offering that dog? The thought of putting Victor E. back in the foster system made me sad. He was used to his new home and we had bonded. I was mad at myself for not picking Kainoa up and stopping him from using Victor E. as a throw pillow.
On New Year’s Day I did the hard thing. I wrote the rescue group leader and told her I didn’t think it was in our best interest to keep Victor E. The liability with the daycare alone was enough to prompt that final decision, but the thought of him striking one of my kids again, and knowing that it would be my fault for selfishly choosing my bond with him over their safety…I would hate myself.
The night of New Year’s Day I got the kids semi ready for bed and headed to my sister’s house…no more than an hour into my evening there did I receive a calm and polite phone call from my husband…on opposite day.
Victor E. bit Maile.
The pidgin-talkin’-smack-down-island-hood came out of my husband that evening. No longer the easy going, chillaxed local boy we all know and love, Pat went straight gangster for a sec.
In short, that dog is lucky to be alive. Not only did he bite Maile on Pat’s watch, but when Pat threw him in the backyard Victor E. dug his way out. When he finally got him in the house, Victor E. ran away from Pat tracking mud all over the place.
All this while Laina chirped on and on about how Pat’s not being very nice to the dog, Kainoa’s repeating “no bite bictowee…no bite…”, and Maile’s screaming.
In Pat’s own words, “Kat…if we lived inda boonies I woulda’ taken dat mutt out to a field an’shot’im inda head”. With a gun we don’t own apparently.
Pat’s hardcore.
Maile needed stitches. It was awful. My Mom took Laina and Kainoa home with her and we were in the Emergency Room until after 1am. Maile was exhausted…and screaming about the thought of needles before the dr. even touched her with one.
The only thing I could do to squeeze a smile and sense of calm from my daughter was to talk about how if I were a princess with a magic wand I would turn all of her friends into slugs and pigs and boogers…I kept going until I could no longer think of anything repulsive enough to make her laugh. I gave her candy, I promised a trip to Target where she could buy anything she wanted, I offered milkshakes…I’m desperate when my kids are hurting. I’ll do anything.
Victor E. is no longer a member of our family.
The rescue group is aware of what happened and will not be placing him in a home with small children.
We will not foster dogs again. Game over.
Maile and Kainoa look beat up.
And Victor E. needs anger management.
Maybe he should go to the place Pat went to lose the pidgin-talkin’-smack-down-island-hood.
….Oh and Maile said she was petting Victor E. at the bottom of the stairs when he bit her. She is adamant that she was only petting him and that his eyes were open. I’ve tried to coax more information out of her. It’s hard to imagine him just jumping up and biting her in the eye for nothing…but since she’s sticking with that story I have no choice but to believe her.
…Oh and I nearly forgot the sweetest part of the whole story. On our way to Target the next day Maile said she wanted to stop talking about what happened because it makes her sad…and then she said the most amazing thing. She said she misses Victor E.
My heart!
A child’s forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
{ 144 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh how SAD! I am so sorry for Maile and Kainoa and your whole family and the dog. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I don’t blame you for getting him out ASAP though!
Isn’t it awful!?! I’m super bummed that Victor E. wasn’t as fond as my kids as I thought he was…I wonder what made him flip that switch…
Sucks! At least you made the right choice before it got worse. I actually let my dog bite #2 4 times before I gave him the boot. Something about the fact that #2 was sticking a pencil in his butt and pile driving him the second allowed me to overlook the fact that it was not okay. We’ve decided not to take in any more 4 legged friends until #3 is in Pre-K so that we can all be on the same page about how to treat a dog. Doesn’t sound like treatment had anything to do with your situation, though. Dogs are like people in some ways and they can have personalities not suited for kids just like some of my neighbors, I mean some people I know. Hope everyone heals up nicely and I’m sorry your little buddy got the boot.
Yeah I’m thinking we’ll give the dog thing a break until Kainoa is older….and I’ll still have the daycare to consider. Our boys sound similar hahaha…although the pencil up the butt I could definitely do without.
I’m sure Victor could too.
Oh, no…
My mom had a cocker. He was the cutest and sweetest damn thing in the world, until one day he snapped. At Lily. And my mom’s neighbor. And the mailman.
Cockers are so poorly bred that they go crazy and it’s heartbreaking. I felt the same rage as Pat and insisted my mom get rid of the dog. He ended up being put down because he had become so out of control and couldn’t be placed anywhere– the whole thing was a mess.
I’m so sorry you went through this!!
I had heard that about cockers too! My Mom had one that had to be put in a back room when the kids came over. I thought maybe since Victor was mixed with something that he might have the personality of another breed.
Ummm….I was wrong. Cocker through and through.
Oh no. :(
So sad. I feel bad for everyone involved. This must have been tragic for your family, after you were being so open in letting this dog in to your lives. Sigh….
I hope your kids heal quickly. Tell your girly I LOVE her penguin pajamas!
She does have cute penguin pajamas…and aside from a puffy black eye, they both seem to be recovering fine. The hardest part has been letting go of a dog that I told them we would keep forever. I’m SO disappointed that Victor had to do that. I really really liked him!
Oh, so sad to lose your dog, but under the circumstances, you did the right thing. This was a no brainer–your kids come first!
That’s absolutely awful. You did the right thing. He clearly didn’t have the temperament to be around children.
Oh man, what a drag! I thought Victor E. was doing so well – what an absolute shame! Obviously, you made the right decision – this pup is NOT good with young kids and that’s not a good thing in a day-care-type of way.
Yeah, I wasn’t about to lose my home and the shirts off our back over a lawsuit because of this dog. He had such potential.
I am so sorry!
The poor kids.
Will Pat go all pidgin-talkin’-smack-down-island-hood on me if I say I feel a tiny bit bad for the dog. Not for biting, cuz that is just wrong, and trust me, I would have done the same thing. I would not have kept the dog, but I still feel bad knowing that he may not get a home again.
If it helps we adopted a mastiff when we were first married. He was two and everyone told us we were crazy for taking in a big dog when we knew nothing of his past. (and we didn’t, he was found roaming the side of the road). Our nieces and nephews ran around him, climbed on him, sat on him, etc and he never even so much as barked at them. My parents on the other hand bought a cocker spaniel as a puppy and did all the “right” things. One day my 3year old niece was eating a cookie, the dog wanted it, she wouldn’t give it to him and decided to bite her. He was gone the next day. I only tell you this so you don’t feel bad and/or guilty about fostering a dog. Some dogs are just jerks.
I hope Kainoa and Maile feel better. And when you get that magic wand, I have a few people I would like you to turn into a booger.
But Victor seemed SO gentle. I NEVER would have predicted this outcome. I feel bad for him too…I hope he ends up in a home with an elderly couple and he can just relax and enjoy his life. And I hope they don’t let kids pet him at the park.
Wow! I would totally be freaking out. Your poor kiddos.
You did the right thing getting rid of the dog.
Your daughter is a total sweetie to be so forgiving.
Oh no! We had a bad experience with an adopted dog too, I always tell myself now that there is probably a reason they are up for adoption! Get a puppy, yes they are a lot of work but at least you can teach it not to bite your babies faces off!
Yeah you just don’t know where they’re coming from. I’d consider doing it again when the kids are older or out of the house. If we do a dog again it will definitely be a puppy…though there are no guarantees going that route either.
Thank God that the kids’ injuries, though painful and ugly-looking, are still minor. I am glad that Victor E. is gone. There’s no way you could subject your kids and the daycare kids to the threat of a dog who has some anger issues.
Sorry that you’ve had such a traumatic experience with fostering.
Oh, I’m so sorry! Your poor babies. Ya know, it doesn’t matter if the dog was sleeping or unaware… that should never happen. You made the right choice to bounce the dog. We have two big dogs. One we got as a pup and one is a rescue and my kids can absolutely do ANYTHING to them, pull ears, grab a handful of hair, etc., and they do not react. My 10 month old can crawl over and put his hands in their food while they’re eating or take a chew toy away from them and they do not react. It was the dog NOT your sweet babies’ fault (and I’m with Pat… that would have been one dead dog)!
It has to be the breed…cocker spaniels have a bad reputation for this kind of snappy behavior. I should have known better.
I am really sorry about the whole thing. Hopefully everything heals well, wounds and emotions.
And wow a trip to Target. Maile is a lucky girl. I would take an injury for a trip to Target. Target is a magical place.
I got myself a couple things for the “emotional trauma” as well. ;)
Wow, what a difficult situation. I wouldn’t tolerate that with my kids either, but it is a little sad for the puppy. I hope everyone is doing well and Victor E. finds another good home!
OMGoodness. So sorry this happened. I’m sure Victor E will find a loving home, w/o kids. I don’t blame you for not wanting to foster more dogs. That is the risk we took with adopting our Golden, Chief. Luckily, the breed is a sweet-natured breed, but you still never know. When lil’ D bugs him and he growls, I fear the worst. Lil’ D is getting better at being sweet with the Goldens, especially Chief. I hope your kids heal quickly. Take care.
I wish I could get the Golden Retrievers personality in a smaller dog. :)
Oh, this story is heart wrenching. Poor kiddos. Poor you. And even poor Victor E. (Although I am still mad at him for biting those beautiful babies!)
Haha…yes that’s exactly my frame of thinking…in that order.
Oh, goodness. We went thru a similar episode when Ella Numera Una was close to a year old. A scary situation, to be sure! Listen, your words of wisdom are posted up at my place today. Thanks mucho!
ITs wonderful the way MAile reacted in the end and its sad that you had to get ride of Victor E but I truly believe you did the right decision.
Oh I’m so she doesn’t seem to be harboring a fear towards dogs now….we’ll see though.
Oh no! I guess sometimes cuteness lies. That’s so weird that after all this time he all of a sudden started biting. You’d think that at this point he would have been used to kids!
It’s not your kids’ fault. They’re kids.
It’s not the dog’s fault. He’s an animal.
It’s not your fault. You did everything right.
That only leaves one party left. I’d blame Harry’s new owners. None of this would gave happened if they weren’t so damned selfish.
I feel better already.
Best comment of the day! Hahahaha…it’s so true…if Harry were here none of this would happened. Maybe his parents would consider a swap? Would it be crazy for Harry’s psycho foster mom to make another house call?? Hahahaha….ohhhh and I might.
Oh no! How scary! And so sad! Even the best dogs have their moments. I have a golden retriever who is not used to being around young children. My niece is too young to understand not to pull his ears, sit on him, take his bone from his mouth, etc. since her dog lets her do it. Hercules does not respond well to this. He never bites but he growls and it scares the hell out of me to think he would do what Victor E. did. The good news is that as my niece gets older she learns not to do these things. It’s still scary though. Hercules is hands down the best dog I’ve ever had, he’s just not used to children.
You had to do what was best for your kids, that is nothing to feel bad about. Victor E. will find a new home. Maybe with an elderly couple who don’t have children and he will be the perfect dog for him. My heart aches for you, I know it can be such a hard decision when parting with an animal who has become part of your family, but you did the right thing. It’s no one’s fault. Sometimes these things just happen.
I know…I just glad we figured it out as soon as we did. It would be even harder to let him go if we’d had him for a year or something.
oh man…what a rough start to the new year…kids all bitten up, your husband all ghetto and you’re dogless…crap! i think you definitely made the right decision though. poor victor e. hopefully he gets placed in a home with old people who don’t have grandchildren and that have a huge backyard for him enjoy. peace out victor e. and god speed.
That is so awful. I am so sorry to read this. It’s so scary that dogs are capable of that in a matter of seconds. Hope they recover fast!
I was over on flickr and happened to see “the latest uploads from MamaKat” and I just had to see what the heck happened over there!
Oh you poor thing – what a week/end you had. And gosh, all you wanted to do was the BEST for the pooch & for your children. So sorry your little loves had to go through that.
You’ve made me much more aware of what can happen instantly with even the sweetest, most loving animals. Something must have been bothering Victor E. to strike like that — and you did the best thing by letting him go.
Children are amazing like that – to forgive and forget and move one…things like this hurt US the most :( Many hugs to you for all those booboos to heal quickly. Though, you had a crazy one – want to wish you a Happy New Year…to better days Mama….hugs. xo mamajoss
I think it’s funny that the people who are contacts on flickr and twitter always get wind of what’s going on before the post actually goes up. :) You’re officially an insider.
It’s great to be aware of what these animals can do, but I never would have predicted this from him and obviously wasn’t able to stop him. I have no idea what was up with him.
Wow. Your husband showed a LOT of self control.
I would have gone INSANE.
So sorry for all of your tough decisions!!
I’m so sorry Kat! I hate to hear that that happened to your little ones. I am such a “dog person” but I totally agree that you did the right thing. Victor E had to go. I hope you don’t give up on dogs forever but I think you’re right that fostering might not be for you guys. Good luck.
Oh no, I’m so sorry! I’m sorry for the kids, sorry for you (I know how much you love fostering dogs), and I’m even sorry for the dog, who lost a great home “/
I wouldve done the same thing you did, with the same sadness in my heart.
omg she misses him? what a sweetheart. oh your poor babies, Kathy! I’m glad it wasn’t worse, though. :)
Oh geez! I’m so very sorry it didn’t work out. I got my psycho dog when I was 12. She was NEVER good around small kids, but it was easy to keep her separate, especially once she got older. By the time Avery came around, she wasn’t as interested in eating small humans. But it was (almost) a sigh of relief when she passed away RIGHT before Avery started crawling. If I had gotten her when my kids were little? And she had done what Victor E. did? Twice?
Yeah. As much as I loved her, I would have done the exact same thing you’ve done. I know it’s hard on you though. But I’m sure Victor E. will find a really nice home sans kids.
I’ll be thinking about you. :(
We had a dog like that in high school too…I’m thinking it’s a big red flag when deep down your own dog is scaring you. Haha…it was the same situation too…we had to put him down for an illness, but were kind of relieved. It doesn’t take much for an animal to tear a person up!
We had a dog like that in high school too…I’m thinking it’s a big red flag when deep down your own dog is scaring you. Haha…it was the same situation too…we had to put him down for an illness, but were kind of relieved.
It doesn’t take much for an animal to tear a person up!
This post broke my heart, M-K. I feel terrible for you.
No more fostering is a very good thing.
The one thing that really does shine through in this post is how good of parents you and Pat are.
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! What a terrible thing to happen to your kiddos! We had a dog once that would bite everyone but me. I tried to train him and we even paid $150 an hour (two times a week for four weeks) for an animal behaviorist to help us with the training. Nothing worked. When I got pregnant we had to find another home for him. I was sad, but relieved. I learned that some animals just are not meant to be with kids. And unfortunately in your situation you have no idea what other influences that occured in his life previously would have caused the behavior he is exhibiting now! Just hug your kids a little tighter every day. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Victor E. was totally attached to me. This was good to read though because I was wondering if the behavior could be “fixed”…I guess you just never know for sure.
Oh. my. gosh!!!!! I am so sorry to hear about this but you did what you had to do. Poor babies…they are so precious!
I have the cutest 6 1/2 year old cockapoo in the world. Didn’t adopt so his problems are my fault. He was always a bit testy but lately he is snapping at my hands (actually…biting, not snapping. need to say it) and I am afraid someday he will be cuddling up to my girls and snap at their face. They are older but don’t seem to be afraid of him. He is so unpredictable and far more territorial than he used to be. I don’t know what to do because much of the time he is a sweet, cute little guy but…
Anyway, enough about my problems…hope the kiddos are feeling better!
This is exactly how I felt about Victor. He was so sweet most of the time…I did hear him growl once or twice…and it totally made me edgy to watch the girls curl up to him and put their heads in his face. Ner.Vous. I hope yours shapes up!
Oh gosh, that is so scary. I’m glad the kids are okay and even glad the dog is okay…as long as he is out of your home.
Thinking of you…
xoxo
Oh kat!!! I am so sorry. Tht is a very ahrd thing to experience. My sister had to put her dog to sleep because a similar situation of the dog sleeping and her son falling on the dog. He neede stitches and the dog had to be put to sleep. we hav a dog ourselves and she isnt the best around kids and it now 12. I have to have her seperated most of the time because I dont want this in fact to happen. My friend also has a friendly dog who has bite her 1 yr old twice in the past month because she has jumped on the dog while he was sleeping. Unfortunately my friend hasnt learned her lesson. I just hope stiches dont come her way. :) I now just recommend people who plan to have kids or already have small ones to be careful, very careful. No dog is 100% safe even if they have been around forever. I hope you little ones are ok and feeling better soon. And you did make the right decision! Hard Im sure but RIGHT!!! :)
It’s so easy to let your guard down, even after biting Kainoa I was not as strict as I should have been about keeping the girls away from him. So stupid of me.
Unfortunately…the fact that the dog spent alot of time in foster care means at some point in his little life he was likely abused…that makes then nip/bite for seemingly no reason. We had a dog (when I was a child) that attacked a little boy on a skateboard once in front of our house (got him from the humane society) and as it turned out that was enough to scare my parents into sending him back.
I hope Victor E finds a family without small children that will love him just as much as you and your kids did!
Our first dog did this to Taylor and I saw Jimmy pulls moves out that I thought could only happen in the Matrix. Flying from the top story to the first without touching the ground….
I am soooo sad that your little babies got hurt….Victor E must stand for Victor Evil.
Hahaha…yes exactly! So funny how we can be such “mama bears” but holy damn, don’t MESS with DADDY! I think because we are nurturers we also try to see where the dog is coming from and try to justify the behavior. Daddy’s don’t give a crap about why the dog might have done it…he just SHOULDN’T have done it.
Plus it gives them an excuse to beat something up.
Poor kiddos. I’m glad they are going to be fine and that Maile is already forgiving him and ready to move on. I was attacked by our neighbor’s dog when I was in first grade. I had played with that dog everyday and then one day he snapped. I have scars but I still love animals. Children heal quickly both physcially and mentally.
I hope that Victor E is placed in a home with the perfect forever family without yound kiddos of course. As for you…maybe fostering is out of the question but would you ever consider raising a dog from a puppy?
And…just remember it’s no ones fault that this happened. Especially not yours.
XOXO
You’re so nice. I can’t even imagine how traumatic it would be to have a dog turn on me like that. I could tell that’s part of what upset Maile so much…that this dog she loved could be so angry and hurt her like that. I assured her she did nothing wrong and that Victor has his own problems.
I think we would consider raising a puppy next time…I don’t think we’re ready to take that on quite yet…puppies are SO much work…but maybe someday.
Oh my goodness….. what a way to start the new year!!! SheesH!!!!
Poor babies… I agree with you.. maybe, just maybe once was something that could be corrected… but twice… he IS a lucky dog that your hubby doesnt have a gun and you dont live in the boonies… lol…
Big hugs and hope everyone heals up fast…. sorry to hear you have no doggy now…. I know they have really cute stuffed ones… and they dont bite.. =)
I am so sad about your girls getting hurt and about losing Victor E. :( The part about your husband made me crack up out loud because mine would’ve gone all Brooklyn gangsta too. Always defend the children first.
Kids are so loving and so forgiving, wish we could be more like them sometimes.
That is a horribly sad ending to your story. Sad that Victor E. bit the children but I hope they are able to find him a good home. Poor dog. He just wasn’t meant to be with you I guess. Bless Maile’s little heart!
Oh no! That’s always the worse thing ever when your dog snaps at a child. You did the right thing for your family and Victor E. I hope he finds a home that he is suitable in.
I went through the same thing with a dog that I raised from puppyhood. He bit my son once, I blamed my son for teasing him. The second time I blamed the dog and he had to go. It broke my heart but my kids are way more important than a dog. I hope your kids are ok. It’s so sad to see them bitten :(
That’s what I was thinking too…the rewards of keeping Victor did not outweigh the risks. I could not in good conscience expose him to all these kids.
So sorry your kids were hurt. I hate being in the hospital with my kids. Trying to make them happy while I am going out of my mind is no easy task. You didn’t say what she picked out at target? I hope it wasn’t the most expensive thing! (Not that she didn’t deserve it)
She picked out two beanie baby sized stuffed DOGS! Hahahaha…I know, out of all things!
What a horrible experience! I know it’s heartbreaking to get rid of animals, but you did the right thing. It’s hard not to make excuses for animals (he was being bothered by the child, he’s normally so friendly, he’s a part of our family, etc.) but when it comes down to your child’s safety there is no excuse. Hopefully Victor E. will find a wonderful home where it’s a perfect match for all involved!
Also, you have a wonderful child for being so caring.
Oh my gosh! I did not expect this post! I thought he seemed like a sweetie (from how I knew him so well from the internet and all). That sucks. You guys showed much restraint. If an animal had done that to my kids I probably would have killed it.
What an ungrateful little ahole he turned out to be, huh? You’d think getting a nice new home would make him loving and sweet. I hope your kids recover well with little scarring and no fear of dogs.
You know you do kind of hear stories about animals who are “saved” and how they seem so happy and perfect forever because they know they’re living a better life.
What a load of crap.
The timing of this post couldn’t be better… we’re suddenly having difficulties being good pet-owners and parents. Our dog is big, and rough, and LOVES people… but we can’t let her be big and rough and snuggling all over people (read:knocking them over) when they are holding our baby! My biggest fear is that she will get upset that she is no longer our one-and-only and lash out and bite Jackson (though she has never even been aggressive to other dogs).
I’m so sorry you had to make such a tough decision! And even more sorry that your babies had to get hurt ;( You are a good mama… reading your tactics for cheering up Maile when you yourself were hurting and scared is a beautiful thing :)
My cat is lucky to still be alive(we have hunting guns) and my husband has threatened her life since she scratched my son’s eyelid, barely missing his eye. I just can’t find anyone to take an adult cat, and I feel so bad putting her back in a shelter, that’s where I adopted her from 4 years ago. With a new baby on the way, I definitely don’t need the grief. You did the best thing for your kids, and not to mention the liability with the daycare.
Have you tried Craigslist? I don’t know how successful it is for adult cats, but you could post pictures and describe any problems it has and why you’re needing to rehome it. Worth a shot!
OMG!! I’m so glad the kids are ok!!
I’m glad the kids seem to be handling it well. It wouldn’t be a good thing if they were terrified of dogs forever.
Oh my goodness! What you guys have been through! Your poor kids…and both on their faces?! I can’t believe it.
Ouch! (At all levels).
Oh how awful. I am so sorry you and your family have to go through this. I am sure it is very difficult. But I feel you made the right decision I would have done the same thing for sure. Your daughter is so sweet..
I cannot believe Victor E. I would have strangled him…….I can’t believe he bit TWO of your babies………Oh, my heart. Poor Maile, especially!
This was no surprise considering what happened with the greyhounds. First of all where were the adults when these incidents happened? On twitter or blogging? With a new dog who bit once why was the child alone with the dog. If you think the dog bit your child without being prevoke you’re delusional. Children lie when they know they will get into trouble. You and your husband do not deserve a dog. You get a dog and give it back over and over. Stay off the computer and watch your children.
Oooh Marie you are sassy!
When Kainoa was bit I was busy smoking pot with the dog on my lap.
When Victor bit Maile Pat and I were in a locked bedroom “keeping each other company” *wink wink*
Nobody was watching the kids or Victor E. because our nannies called in sick that day.
And you’re right. Maile is a terrible terrible liar. I’m sure she was plucking Victor E.’s hair our with tweezers.
Bite me bite me bite me bite me. You are brutal!
I am so sorry that happened!! How horrible. And yes definitely time for the dog to go. Kids really are amazing at how quickly they do forgive.
How horrible. I love my dogs just like kids and would probably be a little selfish at first but you know you did the right thing. And my husband would of shot him too!
I am so sorry! Once might be forgiven (we had a dog who was elderly when my 2nd was born and she bit him pretty bad on his cheek-which still has a scar.) We forgave her because she was old and he was mean to her, but twice is pretty unforgivable when you have babies in the house. I hope you guys are doing okay and the kids are healing well.
Sorry to hear about your kiddos and the dog. I know it must have been hard. You’re a good mama!
This happened to a friend of mine. Her daughter ended up with 20+ stitches all over her face! She was attacked by the family Begle. There dog was also a rescue dog. You did the right thing but I know it is still hard. We had to give one of our cats away she would strike out for no reason:( We still think about her but know that the boys are safer with out her in our home.
Oh my gosh that sounds TERRIBLE!!! Crazy how you just can’t predict this kind of reaction from a pet. I can’t even imagine 20 stitches…I asked them to sedate Maile for just ONE stitch!! hahaha…they wouldn’t do it.
Kat, so sorry this happened to you and your family. (((hugs)))
Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s awful. To bond with a dog, only to have him turn on you like that…how heartbreaking.
The whole thing is such a bummer, sorry to hear it ended that way but you’re doing the right thing for everyone. Hugs to you all!
Poor things! (babies and doggie) I’m happy they are ok…and I’m sorry you couldn’t keep Victor E….sounds like a job for the Dog Whisperer perhaps. Anyhoo, love love love your blog! You tell a great story girl! Packed with wit, humor and even poetic justice I liiiiiiiive! And now…we’re twitter friends…this is wondermous;)
You’re too nice! Thanks for the compliments….always room for more of those.
And I was totally thinking the dog whisperer would be perfect…I wonder what advice he would have given…
Oh my gosh. Victor E would have gotten his Ass E handed to him in my house.
And then one of those awful “save the animals” commercials with that chick from “Just Shoot Me” would gave come on and would have tried to make this Mama Bear feel like crap but it wouldn’ t have worked beacause that cutie poodle thingy is not the angel he wants you to think he is .
In other words…did the right thing. Another person ( sans kids) might think he is the sweetest thing ever. But not a good fit for you fam.
So sorry to hear that. That’s sad for your poor kiddos and even sadder for Victor E. He sounded like such a cute pup, but I think you totally did the right thing. You’ve just had rotten luck with these dogs and I can tell it’s breaking your heart. Maybe it’s time to try fish or hamsters or something really easy.
We’ve been lucky with our dog Joe, but he’s cost us a small fortune in vet bills. We had to take him in over the weekend because he got ice on his paw and chewed it raw. There went another $80 right when we’re broke after Christmas – yikes!
Wow. Marie sure is cranky.
We had a pup from the time he was 6 weeks old. Sweetest thing ever. At age 3 he bit a neighbor boy. Hard. Not provoked in any sense. I was sitting there with the boy and the dog. It came out of nowhere. After doing some back tracking we found out that the dogs father was very mean and had been put down. We didn’t know, and this pup had nothing but gentle love from us. Sometimes it is just in the dog and there is nothing you can do.
Hahaha…yes Marie is having a hard time with this post today. I think you’re right though, sometimes a dogs genetics, breed, and history (one we know nothing about) can all trigger unwanted behavior. Crazy that the father of your dog had similar issues…what did you end up doing with him?
Sadly the vet said the only option for this particular dog was euthanasia. He was 130 pound German Shepherd and very very strong…too strong for us to even hold him back at times. The vet was aware of this litter and out of the 8 pups, only one didn’t develop neurological problems by the age of 3. It broke our hearts, but like you, I had a home daycare and the liability was just too large, to say nothing of what he could have done to our own children. They were very sad, but now that they are older they understand why he had to go. We have gone on to rescue two dogs and they are dream dogs, sweet, gentle, and very very loving.
Don’t ever question if you did the right thing. You did, no matter what the Maries of the world think. Now shut off the computer and get back to watching every move your children make :)
I’m sorry that you had to get rid of Victor E. I mentioned training to you on Twitter, but couldn’t get into a lot of details there (downside of twitter) and I didn’t have a blog when our situation went down. Long story short: we got our Otis training because he needed to learn his spot in our house. To him, Maggie should have been lower on the food chain: she was smaller, she was on 4 “legs” and the doggie bootcamp we sent him to helped him learn his place (he knows he’s not alpha, but I think he was hoping he wouldn’t be omega dog anymore). Otis only snapped at Maggie when she crawled into his space, but after training, he understood better that Maggie was higher than even our alpha dog.
However, having said that, if Otis had bitten her twice, I do not doubt that he would have been out on his ass.
Yeah I think that was the thing…he actually chomped down and drew blood. I feel bad that he felt like he needed to protect himself or whatever it was that caused him to do that…but I’m still mad at him.
Wow. Scary times. I think you made the right decision about Victor E. (Love the name – not the dog!).
Oh bless their little hearts!!! And right near their eyes. Such a scary thing. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.
Oh your poor kiddos!
It is very scary getting bit by a dog..
It put a fear in me that still haunts me from time to time..
Your right, nothing is as sweet as a child’s ability to forgive so easily!
What precious kiddos you have..
and here’s hoping Victor E. finds a nice new home with some empty nesters who thick skin (literally speaking), you know-just in case!
That is so sad! Sad for the kids, sad for the dog, sad for you. I am just glad that the kids were not more seriously hurt and hopefully they won’t develop a fear of dogs. Did this cost you a lot of money – as in trips to Toys R Us?!!!
It is so amazing that Maille was so quick to forgive. What a little sweetheart. So sad about what happened to your little ones. Please don’t listen to anyone who is trying to make you feel bad about what happened or about your decision. Kids come before dogs–end of story. You are an awesome person for giving those dogs a place to stay, and even more awesome for offering to open up your home to a dog who didn’t have one. You cannot be watching your children 24 hours a day, nor can you keep an out of control dog under control.
How awful for you to have to deal with this on so many levels,most importantly being the kids. It may hurt but you made the right decision with Victor E. We have a challenging dog who with training got his act together, but I know that is not the case with all dogs…actually if I would have known his all of his breed/mix, he would not have been adopted to begin with. There is no question if he ever did something to the kids…bye-bye, even though it make us all sad. Hope the kids are doing well.
Oh, Kathy! So sorry!!!
:( Poor babies.
You totally made the right decision. Poor kiddos! Hope they both will recover fully with no permanent marks.
Yikes! That has to be scary, but I feel for the dog, too. He was definitely not a good fit in your house for a lot of reason, it seems. I’m hoping he does find a good home somewhere.
And not to freak you out, but I really hope the bites heal well. I’ve learned the hard way that animal mouths have tons of bacteria and even small bites — if they break the skin — can lead to huge nasty infections. It sounds like this happened long enough ago that you are out of the woods on that at least. I think the infection comes in by 24 or so hours, if I remember right. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked in the shelter!
Boo Victor E.! Boo! Bad dog. Oh, I know that must make you so sick. Sorry things turned out so sad.
Oh good. I must be un-blacklisted from WordPress. I would have given up if it weren’t for you, Mama Kat.
Gosh Kat, I can’t believe you weren’t hovering over your children EVERY SINGLE SECOND of the day and just LET that dog bite your kids. I guess you aren’t as attentive as SOME people who must not have ANY hobbies, chores, or the need for 5 minutes alone to take a crap and therefore not miss a single second of their kids’ lives. ;-)
But we can’t all be perfect, can we? Now I need to quit reading blogs because I have 2 children to go stare at so nothing unexpected happens to them. We have an 8 year old cat that could maul them at any time and since I am on the computer and not guarding them every second it’ll be all my fault. And what were you thinking trying to be kind and give an animal a home and your kids a pet?? What a rotten thing to do!! ;-)
Sheesh, seriously, some people need to MTOB.
Holy crapola, MK. So sad… But, like everyone here has said, kids heal and forget quickly. And what a sweet girl Maile is! Those poor, sweet faces! I just want to cry for you! It’s terrible and heart wrenching when our kids are hurt or sick. Especially when it happened because of something we feel we could have changed or is somehow our fault. Oh my. I just don’t know what to say…
My ils have crazy dogs that they “adopted” (read: found waaaaay out in the country and nobody would ever claim them… I’m thinking for a reason…) and we are getting more and more lax about the kids being around them. They also have a crazy not adopted dog. It’s easy to forget that no matter how gentle, how cuddly and how much a part of the family they may seem, dogs are still dogs… They’re just animals with animal insticts. I can totally see how this could happen. (And did happen to Henry when he was about a year old, but while at my il’s house, it was my b-il’s dog… Luckily it was on the arm and looked more like what happened to Kainoa.) We need to be more on top of it with the kids and the il’s “adopted” kids and this story will definitely help me remember it! So glad those precious babies are okay. {{{HUGS}}}
Your dog stories make me cry so if it’s game over then you can’t tell any more heart wrenching dog tales!
I’m so sorry your babies got hurt and glad they will be okay.
Oh, honey I am so sorry that not only did you have to give up your dog, but that your children had to go through that. You were just trying to be a good pet foster parent.
Sometimes the right decision is the really tough one. It’s sad – but I truly do think you made the right decision for you and your family.
Oooh, I’m so sorry :-( I’m an ER nurse and for some reason have seen a lot of little kids with dog bites to the face over the last 3 weeks. Most of them were family dogs, too! It’s a hard decision to make, but with a daycare and little ones, it’s risky. I’m sorry that this happened to you and to your little babies!
I’ve been lurking for a really long time, reading faithfully, but for some reason never could post comments. So, Hi! I’m so sorry, for everybody you, the kids, and the Victor E. Dogs are so loveable, but risky no matter what.
We used to watch our little one like a hawk and our slow, gentile, loving, old family dog still managed to snap at our son twice. Luckily teeth never connected with skin, or my husband would have done something irreversible.
Sadly and luckily our dog passed away before we had to make a tough decision. I don’t envy the choice you had to make, but ultimately Victore E was not the right fit for your family.
Omigosh! K, I LOVE doggies. I mean, I don’t even eat animals. Period. I love them all but that’s so scary and I totally don’t blame you for being pissed. And if Pat would have been in da boonies and did that… I can’t say I’d blame him either. Not that I wouldn’t have cried if I was Victor E.’s momma. But anyways, in my state, if a dog bites more than once he is required by law to be put down.
Anyways… happy new year!
Your poor babies…that is just awful! I hope they are all healed up and better soon :) I have wanted to get my kids a dog for quite a while now. My girls, 16 and 10, could handle it. But I have a 5yo son with Autism, and I am so afraid that he may unintentionally hurt the dog. And possibly get bit. And it wouldn’t be fair to my son…or the dog. He LOVES dogs, but he also likes to “get in the dogs face” and say hi. I think we may wait a few more years.
Awsome blog you have…I’ve been sitting here laughing at some of your stories!!
~Shelley
Kat that is just horrible and I am glad you made the decision to give the dog up. If you really want a dog, get a puppy. Even though no dog is safe from potentially biting someone, a puppy will be more used to around small children.
I hope they heal quickly.
It is the lucky family that finds a dog who is patient with kids. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I love how you handled the time in the hospital, keeping Maile amused. You’re a fabulous mother, and I love Pat’s tough talk. I think your kids are gonna be all right with the two of you around.
OMG!! So glad the kids are okay!
I knew there was a reason I dont like little dogs…my mom had one, a cocker, and it bit me when I was 14, put a hole through my lip…effin dog! She adopted it, and when she tried to take it back they said “What are we going to do with a biting dog?” She said I don’t know but you gave it to me! Needless to say she kept the dog, and it lived to be 15 but had to be isolated when people came over….never did bite my mom….go figure!
I am so sorry this happened to you all. I had to give back a dog for biting my youngest daughter. Barely a scratch, but he’d bitten adults before. Still, it ripped my heart out and I still cry thinking about him. I LOVED that dog, so, so much.
I am soooo sorry that your kids had to go through this. The innocence of a child is amazing. I know that this was a hard decision but it was the best. Now you need to get those animated gerbil things for the kids. They can’t to anything wrong, until they were put in long hair!!!
What a sweetheart! I agree with you. There’s something so special about a child’s forgiveness. It could be their lack of understanding the entire situation, but it’s so innocent. I wish I could be more like that…
Oh man how stressful! I’m glad none of the kids were hurt worse. It’s sad to have to get rid of the dog but you can’t have him eating your children.
I follow you on Twitter (sugarplum swank) and pretty much just came here to see the hate comment. Now that I’ve read your post, and the hate, I will say this: you did the right thing. We had a dog we adopted, and she and our other dog were fine for a year. Then suddenly, they started fighting – like death choke hold fighting with enormous vet bills. We had to find a home for her. A wise friend told me, when I was explaining my guilt, that I wasn’t a bad dog mom. My time with Lucy had come to an end, and I was supposed to find her the family that we found her (she literally lives on a farm, no kids, and loves the other dog). So your time with Victor E had come to an end, and you were supposed to find him a home with no children where he would be safe (and the kids would be safe).
Hugs. Oh, and Marie obviously does not love herself, which is why she hates so much.
xoxo
What a sad thing for the family, all the way around, but you made the right decision in the end. I do understand you giving the dog a second chance. I think it is mean that others can’t be understanding during your rough time and realize that accidents happen. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could go through life stopping every bad thing before it happened, um, that isn’t life, shit happens even when we do our best to prevent it.
Oh no! I’m sorry that this happened. How scary. I hope everyone is ok now.
What a tough time you’ve had. That couldn’t have been easy to see your children hurt by a dog you love. I’m glad to hear they are recovering and have forgiven him. Kids are amazing, aren’t they?
Oh my goodness. It is so hard when those kinds of things happen. Even good dogs when they get old will turn to snapping. Kids are quite amazing aren’t they. They are the geniune goodness.
Gave me a couple of tears reading your post. When I was 14 and my sister was 4 we were at a family cottage with the rest of our family (another brother and littler sister) and our cousins (Aunt, Uncle too). They had a dog. a fairly big dog, which they brought with them. My little sister was just 3 and was with me, closer to me anyway. My brother (12) and my other sister were playing at the water. The cousins were somewhere, I don’t remember now but they must have been near. The dog snapped and tried to eat my 4 year old sister’s face. She still has scars behind each ear years later. At the time I was in shock. I ran to her and my brother and I tried anything to get that dog off of her, to let go of her head and face. It was not until my Uncle came and started yelling that the dog let go. For a very long time just the sight of a dog I didn’t know made me feel sick. We did have a pet dog and I was ok with him. He was a mutt and had been around all 4 of us for years. He was very easy going and did not come inside the house but for rare occasions. I think if it was not for that dog of ours I would have developed a dog phobia. I’ve never really liked dogs ever since then. It is funny that my sister got over it l and I did not. Maybe seeing it was worse. I hope it will be that way for your children too.
When I saw the pics on Twitter I wondered what on earth had happened. And now you are over here on word press so I am waaaay behind on your blog. I am sooo sorry the kids got bit. But you made the right decision for sure. especially since you run a day care.
Children are amazing. She looks beautiful in the photo – just like her mom and dad. I am glad they are both ok with nothing more than scratches. (You know I had my own dog-bite experience with my son and I know the terror you feel. Go PAT!)
Actually Pat sounds exactly like my husband did after my son got bitten. :-)
(Get well lil Mama Kat kids!)
Holy crap! How awful! How scary! How sad!
I can totally understand Pat’s reaction. Did you find his reaction sexy — he doesn’t want anyone messing with his babies.
Yikes. I’m so sorry you had to experience this.
Wow!! How awful! Poor kids! And I swear I felt really bad for BadAssPat right after I stopped laughing at the picture you put in my head!! lol
Ouchie! And both right in the eye area! That sucks. Hooray for Pat and his hood-skillz.
That’s so sad. Sad and scary that your babies got bit, and sad that you had to lose your dog. My sister went through this with one of her dogs, this past summer. The dog snapped at my little great nephew, and his dad nearly tore her apartment up, trying to chase it down. So needless to say, that dog is gone.
So sorry, that sucks :-( I realize I’m way late to the game here, but if Rudy ever has a reaction like that, if you can stand it, take him to the vet. Immediately. When sweet dogs bite with no provocation, ESPECIALLY when being touched or pet, it’s often a sign that they’re in pain. Dogs are very stoic, they don’t show they’re in pain, until it gets past the point they can bear it. So it might be both kids innocently touched a very sore spot.
So sorry your babies were hurt, glad they are willing to love Rudy!
Oh wow. Here, if a dog bites not once but twice, they won’t put it back in the foster system or in a shelter to be adopted again. They put it down or send it to live on a farm with other angry dogs. And probably Cesar Millan.
This is just so heartbreaking!
I think Victor E. could use the services of, The Dog Whisperer. Meanwhile, I’m glad your kids are okay and that he is going to a childless home. The whole thing is really sad, I agree with Maile. And yes, a child’s forgiveness is a beautiful thing.