Lugeanjaam Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 A dear friend of mine experienced an awful trauma 2 days ago. My friends mother has 2 indoor cats, and a Malamute who is only allowed inside under close supervision due to the cats. He has never shown any aggression towards them, in fact when he is inside at night he has been very playful with one of them in particular. Unfortunately my friends 91 year old grandmother who is suffering from the early stages of dementia left the back door open and the dog entered the house, killed one of the cats and also bit the grandmother when she put her hand in to try and save the cat. It is such a horrible situation for everyone involved. The grandmother is now terrified of the dog to the point that she is having severe anxiety. The family are at a loss to know what to do. Does this boy (he is 8 years old) have any chance of being rehomed through a rescue with this history? I think I already know the answer but I have been wracking my brain trying to think of an outcome that would help this very traumatised family, they are so heartbroken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bears Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Why would PTS'ing him or giving him away be the only solution? Frankly, although there are exceptions to the rule, arctics have a high prey drive and should never be trusted with cats or pocket pets. Even when raised with them. Biting grandma would have been redirection. As tragic as this is there are ways to manage this - I assume they don't wish to even try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugeanjaam Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Assuming is the right term. This is the exact reason for my post, to get some other ideas on how to manage this. Do you have any? No one is blaming the dog, it was a tragic accident. And they were fully aware that he should not be trusted which is why I explained that he was always closely supervised. I agree that biting grandma may have been redirection, he has never shown human aggression before. It is her trauma and anxiety after the event that is the issue now. She is 91 and not of fully sound mind so she is not able to reason through this like we can. This family are loving owners and they very much want to do the right thing for everyone involved, human and animal, they are just not sure what that is yet. Edited September 27, 2013 by sujo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) I can't see why he couldn't be rehomed to a household without cats The grandmother was most likely bitten because she stuck her hand in the way, not because the dog was trying to hurt her. I wouldn't PTS without investigating rehoming first. Maybe contact a breed resuce? Edited September 27, 2013 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugeanjaam Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 Aussie if it came to rehoming do you think a rescue would accept him, taking into account it was must likely redirection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I'd seek help from a breed rescue. Poor grandma, it would be very traumatic for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Aussie if it came to rehoming do you think a rescue would accept him, taking into account it was must likely redirection? I'm not sure to be honest as I am not involved anymore, but I would have thought that as long as he can pass a temp test, he could be rehomed to an appropriate situation? I would do some ringing around and maybe get a feel for rescues reaction to the incident and go from there. I hope he can be rehomed, very sad situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melzawelza Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Most breed rescues fully understand high prey drive and wouldn't be shocked or surprised at all by the situation, I don't think it would deter many if he's a nice dog otherwise. Contact Barb at Alaskan Malamute Rehomind Aid Australia - she is in Sydney but I'm sure has contacts up your way. I can fully understand that with the 91 year old Grandmother being so stressed and anxious around the dog it may be better for all for him to be found a cat-free home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rescue List Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Sorry, wrong log in! Edited September 27, 2013 by Rescue List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bears Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Assuming is the right term. This is the exact reason for my post, to get some other ideas on how to manage this. Do you have any? No one is blaming the dog, it was a tragic accident. And they were fully aware that he should not be trusted which is why I explained that he was always closely supervised. I agree that biting grandma may have been redirection, he has never shown human aggression before. It is her trauma and anxiety after the event that is the issue now. She is 91 and not of fully sound mind so she is not able to reason through this like we can. This family are loving owners and they very much want to do the right thing for everyone involved, human and animal, they are just not sure what that is yet. Honestly, I have no idea how to handle grandma's anxiety The dementia doesn't help. Someone experienced may be able to offer some insight here? Do they want to keep him, if they can find a way to handle grandma's anxieties? They have to honestly answer that question first. Then they have to factor in that he's older and rehoming him may take a while as well. If he's not doggie social that will make it even harder. In terms of whether breed rescue would rehome a dog with this history - the answer is, frankly, yes. There is always full disclosure to potential adopters, and arctic lovers understand the cat situation in the first place and don't run a mile from it. Arctic Breed Rescue operates out of QLD and NSW. Assisted rehoming may be an option as the numbers in care is staggering at present. Perhaps ask the legal owner to contact [email protected] and explain their circumstances. Even if it's for a general chat to discuss management options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bears Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Aussie if it came to rehoming do you think a rescue would accept him, taking into account it was must likely redirection? Ethical breed rescue - such as AMRAA and ABR - will not rehome human aggressive dogs, and in fact have put them down when they've presented that way. Perhaps I'm making assumptions, but it's not reading as though he went for her on purpose. He was in a highly aroused state, someone was getting in between him and his prey... and unfortunately grandma was bitten. Heck, me who knows better is still recovering from breaking up a dog and cat a few weeks ago! (No, not one of our rescues!) Edited September 27, 2013 by The Bears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugeanjaam Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) The Bears I think you hit the nail on the head with his behavior. He is a love bug towards humans, I don't think he loves other dogs though. My friend is considering renting a house for her and the dog and leaving her mum and grandmother in the current house with the remaining cat if grandma isn't coping. It's all so sad. Was the cat ok after the fight you broke up Bears? And are you ok? Edited September 27, 2013 by sujo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralPug Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Obviously either the grandmother or the Malamute will need to be rehomed, and I think seeking rehoming for the dog is the likelier scenario. Extensive advertising, with the assistance of breed clubs and breed-specific rescue is likely to secure a home for this senior boy if he is otherwise well-socialised. I would never label a dog human aggressive for biting a portion of human anatomy that was inserted between it and a prey that it was attacking. A simple temperament test should confirm that he is not human aggressive, and then there should be no barrier to rehoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rescue List Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) . Edited September 27, 2013 by Rescue List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bears Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 The Bears I think you hit the nail on the head with his behavior. He is a love bug towards humans, I don't think he loves other dogs though. My friend is considering renting a house for her and the dog and leaving her mum and grandmother in the current house with the remaining cat if grandma isn't coping. It's all so sad. Was the cat ok after the fight you broke up Bears? And are you ok? The cat lived to tell the tale, with nothing more than a bit of hair missing and some bruising. And a very valuable lesson learned about not being too cocky around strange dogs. LOL I'm fine - the deepest wound healed first, the rest have reached that annoying "heal fully already!" stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garnali Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Is there a possibility of making a containment area in current yard? That way dog would still have his family but no access to house.. Dementia is horrible and debilitating at the best of times.. Even without this incident I think the dementia would be hard to deal with and the family would still have to put coping strategies in place. I guess it comes down to the family's commitment to both the dog and lady.. Should a person with dementia be home alone ?? Without knowing her I would say most dementia patients bevome very vunerable to household accidents and is a primary reason aged care facilities are overflowing. Pts for this dog would be a last resort with so many options available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lugeanjaam Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 (edited) Thanks Garnali, a dog run is actually a viable option in their case I think. I don't know that the grandmother was on her own, I think that it all happened so quickly there wasn't a chance for her daughter to intervene. Edited September 27, 2013 by sujo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Why don't they lock the cat up in a run when there is no one to supervise? That way the dog cannot access the cat, put locks on the cat run so grandma can't open it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Why don't they lock the cat up in a run when there is no one to supervise? That way the dog cannot access the cat, put locks on the cat run so grandma can't open it. Given that it's mate was just killed I find this suggestion a tad superficial. The remaining cat is probably stressed at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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