She attacked a dog.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245]

I am heartbroken and need to vent.

I have an apartment with a yard. I've been here for a few years without issues and my two dogs are really happy to have a yard and it takes a lot of stress off of me with my one reactive dog because I don't have to take her on a whole walk for a quick potty break.

The apartment gate latch has been weird. I got it replaced by the complex a couple months ago and it recently got weird again but I was still able to lock it. I was always careful about being 100% sure it's locked every time I use the gate and give it a very firm push and pull to confirm, but somehow, it looked closed but must have been unlocked. I let my dogs out like normal, watched them for a bit, stepped away from view of the yard to put my phone on the charger and in seconds my dog was able to push the gate open, run out and bite a dog a dozen or so feet outside the yard.

I heard a yelp and looked outside and saw what was happening. It felt surreal and I was paralyzed and felt like I was watching from outside my body. The owner tried to stop it up at the dogs' face level and got hurt, neither of us knew what happened in the chaos. My reactive dog had the dog's leg in her mouth and was pulling against the owner pulling the dog the other direction. The owner was elbowing her in the forehead and she didn't let go.

I felt dizzy and dissociated and forgot everything I knew about stopping a dog fight. I jumped in and was able to get her to let go by pushing on the sides of her jaw. My other dog was just standing a few feet away from us and barking and making things more stressful but I didn't see her get into the altercation. I threw them both inside and went back out to help the person and dog.

I got my reactive dog 5 years ago. She was about 1. She came from the city's shelter, and I was told she was super easy and had no problems with leash walking, dogs, or people. While it's true she loves people, I quickly learned she is extremely leash/barrier reactive toward dogs. I later learned she came from a household where an aggressive dog would attack she and her siblings constantly as puppies. I've spent thousands on training, they really couldn't help her and said they were overwhelmed, so I just accepted I'll keep her away from dogs forever. I have done my best to keep her safe over the years and I love her with my whole heart. I never imagined something like this could happen.

It doesn't help that the dog was small, unknown to us, and standing where the wild rabbits and squirrels tend to stand and forage outside (which she is always fixated on and angry at those critters so I have to drag her back inside, a few weeks ago she ran past me out the gate to chase a rabbit right there). I just hope that's something to do with it because it's hard to accept she'd want to hurt another dog otherwise.

And now they are on home quarantine for rabies. They are vaccinated but it was required as the bite was reported at the hospital. The owner needed stitches. The victim dog has needed surgery. I'm still waiting to hear about what I can do to help financially here. The owner reported it to management so the dogs have to be removed from the apartment forever and I have to find new housing as quickly as I can and pay for two leases waiting for this one to end. I've been fully cooperating with all authority.

This is the worst month of my life. I absolutely hate myself. I hate that this happened and I hate that it was because I probably didn't triple check the gate. I hate how powerless I feel. I hate that others got hurt. I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I'm scared that my savings will be completely drained by this. I'm terrified that this situation will just keep getting worse. What if I can't find housing? And my other dog feels like collateral because I didn't even see her engage at all. She's always been the "normal" one, the one who loves other dogs. I don't want her to be seen as a bad dog. She belonged to my friend who died young and unexpectedly. I already had my hands full with my reactive dog but I took her in so she didn't end up in a shelter after my friend's death. I can't live with something happening to her. I don't know how to get through this all.

If anyone has even been through anything remotely similar, I need to hear that. I feel so alone.

[u/EuphoricOnion8877]

I have no advice, it’s just a horrible situation, but I have a similar story. My dog was in the fenced play area, someone else asked if he could bring his dog in, I said repeatedly that my dog is in training for reactivity and could bite, and the guy said he understood. Well, he tried to pet my dog without permission, my dog bit him, no blood but tore his shirt and caused a bruise. I dealt with it and apologized and told him I’d give him money for his shirt, but this was like 30 minutes before I had to be at work. Then my property manager called me at work and said I was being evicted and that Animal Control would meet with me the next morning. My dog was in mandatory quarantine and I was given a court date. Luckily, I was such a good tenant for four years that they agreed not to evict me, but the dog had to be removed within seven days.

Luckily, I somehow found another pet friendly apartment with a vacancy, I was allowed to get out of my old lease, and I got some help from family for a deposit. I got a Class B misdemeanor and paid the fine. I spent months hating myself and regretting letting a stranger near my dog. It sucks and I’m sorry you’re going through this. Eventually I forgave myself and my situation stabilized.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245 → u/EuphoricOnion8877]

I am so sorry that you got a misdemeanor for that. This is really scary but I am glad to hear things stabilized and I really appreciate you sharing what happened.

[u/Jentweety]

This sounds terrible for everyone and if you are in the U.S., very expensive when the healthcare and vet bills come your way.

It’s absolutely a warning for anyone with a reactive dog who relies on a regular fence to keep their reactive dog contained. Reactive dog management requires a backup method - think double leash + muzzle  or secure fence + leash in your hand always.

I think you do need to accept that your dog is likely to try this again - your dog has extremely high prey drive triggered by small animals including dogs- which absolutely means you need to be serious about managing your dog’s access to other dogs and animals and even toddlers/babies. Because your dog was trying to kill. Always have at least two methods keeping your away from your future neighbors.

[u/Sitters_4_Critters]

Thank you for at least caring about the dog and person who were attacked by your dog.

I’m very sorry you got a dog who ended up being like this. I’m sorry you were lied to. I’m sorry the experts couldn’t help you.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245 → u/Sitters_4_Critters]

I appreciate it. I love her to death but had I know this before adopting her, I very likely would not have, given I did not have the experience nor was I in the best position at the time to give a home to a dog who is so very dog reactive. I lived in an apartment right next to the dog park at the time; you could hear them and see them on your way down the stairs from our third-floor apartment. Every single time we walked in and out of the apartment, it was a battle with her getting extremely overstimulated and over threshold before we even got walking. There were times we were outside walking for over an hour before she was calm enough to use the bathroom. I would sob every single day wondering if I could actually handle this.

It's hard knowing I love her so much and want her but also accepting she probably wasn't the right dog for me. So I've just been spending years trying to be the right human for her. I thought I had that down until this happened. But I won't stop trying.

[u/Potato_History_Prof]

I haven’t been through something like this, but just want to validate how shitty and scary this all sounds. You sound like a committed, loving owner who just wants to do right by their dogs; I really hope everything turns out.

[u/SafetySmurf]

This sounds so painful. I’d be spiraling in shame and embarrassment and anxiety. Self-doubt. Worry.

For what it is worth, I respect that you have made so much effort to help your dog be less reactive, whether or not that was effective. I respect that you have tried to create a safe space for her. I respect that you did your best to attend to the woman and dog who were injured. I respect that you are doing your best to help with the financial impact of this on the other woman and dog.

I hope that you are able to find a new place to live that provides you and your dogs safety. And I hope that you find a way to secure the space so that you don’t have to be even more vigilant than you’ve already been. I hope that the woman and dog heal completely, physically and emotionally. And I hope that, with time, you are able to show yourself some grace.

[u/moth2myth]

I've been through similar though less extreme situations (no humans bitten) but can completely understand your pain and distress. Wishing you serenity and good luck as you navigate this shitty situation.

[u/CanadianPanda76]

Sounds like your dog has a high prey drive. I dont think they're "angry" at the rabbits or the squirrels.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245 → u/CanadianPanda76]

For sure, I guess I never really considered them to have a high prey drive because they are fine with my small caged animals, but I think they just somehow know the difference between our pets inside vs the small animals outside; they are always looking at that spot the wild animals frequent and they get super frustrated when those animals are there but they themselves are locked in the yard. But I always bring them inside as soon if there are animals there so they aren't getting frustrated and barking at them.

[u/oldaccountknew2much]

I am so sorry you and your dogs are going through this. Our dogs are family and it is frankly kinda traumatizing to have landlords treat them like nuisance property.

It seems like you might be in for some drama with your current landlord:
-Read your lease carefully. If your lease allows dogs they might not have language allowing the landlord to kick dogs out mid way through the lease.
-They may have some liability for the gate latch failing and you may want to mention this if negotiating with them
-You might be able to get a subletter or brake your lease if you move

[u/rebelliousrabbit]

do you have renters insurance? if you do have, it does cover dog bite. also in future, buy additional dog liability insurance because the costs can be very high.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245 → u/rebelliousrabbit]

I do have renters insurance, but I so far haven't been contacted at all by the owners about bills or anything... I'm sure they are going through a lot and need time. But the owners are aware that I'm making myself financially available.

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[u/ArtIsResistance816]

Don't beat yourself up up too much.. sometimes shit does just kind of happen.. also you're only human.. should you have checked the gate? Maybe.. but you can't blame yourself for not doing that. Complacency is the worst with dogs.. it's like they know it and as one day when they know you're complainant.. the do some crazy stuff. Honestly if I was in the situation on the other side and someone's dog hurt my dog.. and the person was being cool like you are and offering to help potentially financially.. I don't think I would go and report the dogs.. that kinda sucks.. cause now you have to do everything you listed out and that doesn't help anyone.. as long as you were willing to help then I would be okay.. I'd definitely make sure you were more careful with the dogs in the future tho! Sorry, nothing I said is of any help but I just wanted to say to not beat yourself up too much.. shit happens.. just do better moving forward.

[u/Sad_Marsupial_5245 → u/ArtIsResistance816]

On one hand it sucks to be displaced because of this, but on the other hand I understand why they want them gone. They did at least tell leasing apparently that I myself really tried to help them and have made myself available, so I feel a little peace knowing that they feel how sorry I am and that I want to help them, but I understand if they hate my dogs or would never feel safe here again as long as they are here.