Steph M Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549112/Owner-needed-emergency-surgery-dog-attacks-insists-fault.html A dog owner is refusing to have her pet put down – even after it savaged her three times. One of the bullmastiff’s attacks left Angela Fielder needing emergency surgery to save her hand. Another mauling caused wounds to her face, ear and arm that required more than 60 stitches. Despite her injuries, the 39-year-old insists she will not get rid of her 10st dog Boris and will not even make him wear a muzzle. Angela Fielder with Boris+9 One of the scars on Angela Fielder's hand+9 Mauling: Boris the bullmastiff, left with his owner, mauled Angela Fielder three times but she insists she will not put him down - or even make him wear a muzzle. Right, a scar on Mrs Fielder's hand after one of the attacks A dog's life: Boris lives in Wallsend, North Tyneside, with Mrs Fielder and her gas fitter husband Rob, 39 ‘The bites were my fault,’ said Mrs Fielder, who describes six-year-old Boris as her baby. ‘He lashed out because I was telling off our other dog, Wallis. She is his daughter and he was simply being protective. After the attacks he showed genuine signs of regret, cuddling up to me.’ Mrs Fielder added: ‘Many people might have had Boris put to sleep. You wouldn’t put a child down just because it lashed out in temper. So why do people think differently about a dog?’ She and her gas fitter husband Rob, 39, who have no children, bought Boris as a puppy. He was no trouble until last February when Wallis – Boris’s pup by a friend’s bullmastiff – came to live at their house in Wallsend, North Tyneside. As Mrs Fielder told Wallis off for chewing the vinyl floor in the kitchen, Boris lunged at her and sank his teeth into her forearm. She was treated at hospital but left to be with her dog. 'Doctors wanted to keep me in,' she said. 'But I went home because I knew Boris would be like a frightened child worrying where mummy had gone – and he was full of remorse. Angela Fielder with Boris+9 Angela Fielder with Boris+9 Man's best friend? Though he looks placid, Boris flipped out when he was told off for chewing the kitchen floor Relaxed: Mrs Fielder raised Boris from when he was a puppy, and said she had no problems until recently+9 Relaxed: Mrs Fielder raised Boris from when he was a puppy, and said she had no problems until recently ‘Back home Boris was sorry. I could see from his eyes he was upset.’ But two weeks later Boris attacked again. Mrs Fielder believes Boris thought she was about to tell Wallis off again. Angela Fielder: 'The left side of my face was also slashed open'+9 Angela Fielder: 'The left side of my face was also slashed open' ‘I turned round to see him flying through the air at me. I raised my left arm to defend myself. It was only when I saw blood pouring from my arm I realised I’d been bitten and my left earlobe had almost been severed. 'The left side of my face was also slashed open.’ She had 24 stitches to her face and more than 40 to her arm. The couple discussed having Boris put down but Mr Fielder said: ‘Although I was so upset about what Boris did to Angela, neither of us could do it.’ In September, Boris attacked Mrs Fielder again and she needed surgery to save the movement in her left hand. But she claimed: ‘Boris isn’t aggressive – he was just overprotective. We’ve now solved this by ensuring he’s always behind a gate if I have to tell Wallis off.’ She added: '‘As soon as I saw Boris I fell in love with him. ‘Just a glance at me with those big soulful eyes he has always makes me melt. He’s like a child to me – my baby, especially as despite trying for ten years, Rob and I have been unable to conceive.' Mrs Fielder insists Boris is no danger to the public. ‘I don’t muzzle him because he’s never gone for anyone else. One woman who asked about my scars said she couldn’t understand why Boris was still alive. But most people say what a lovely, soppy dog he is.’ Just wow. When is enough enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I personally wouldn't tolerate that behaviour but it's her dog and she's well within her rights to keep him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertDobes Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 The dog might have a health problem, but yeah some people are nut bags and want to pretend dogs are mini humans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I wonder if she was telling the dog off or hitting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 It sounds crazy, but I can understand where they're coming from. I wouldn't tolerate that, but I do understand how hard it would be to put down a dog you love. Pretty extreme though :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) To not acknowledge the seriousness of the problem is irresponsible and dangerous. While having the dog put down or not is her choice, the dog should absolutely be muzzled in public given his history AND the owners total lack of concern and understanding of her dogs behaviour. Edited February 1, 2014 by Cosmolo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 10 stone dog that she can't control Maybe her not being able to have children has sent her crazy ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'm sorry... even if it were my heart dog... if it freaking attacked me for any reason, it wouldn't be alive. What about the time she'll be out in public and the dog decides that someone else should be a target for it's aggressive tendencies? We'll hear the "he's never done that before" bullshit story... *slaps forehead at the stupidity of some people* T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJaq Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 This dog needs to be seen by a decent behaviorist. All sorts of things can make a dog turn on their handler and it is not as uncommon as some people seem to think (probably some breeds are more prone to it than others). I don't think you can tell whether the dog is "vicious" just from the article, most people are completely ignorant of the signals their dogs give them and feel that attacks happen "out of the blue" or whatever. However, continuing to have it in public and without a muzzle on is just deliberately putting others in danger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Just wow. When is enough enough? When it accidentally nicks a major blood vessel and there's no one around to help her in time. What an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Is it just me or does it look like Boris has cataracts in some of those photos? I'm wondering whether the addition of a new dog at a time when he coincidentally was also losing his vision is causing him to lash out in fear when she raised her voice at the other dog. Just a theory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 That is just crazy! I mean life gives you hints people, ignore them at your peril! It also makes me cringe hearing the way she talks about him as a substitute baby/child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Not putting dog down? Okaaaay Not getting help to deal with the problem? Crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_PL_ Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 And she bred from him. I get that she loves her dog but she doesn't need to be stupid about it. The woman is just one bite away from being dead and does a happy smiley newspaper story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korbin13 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'm more worried about the human race after going on that website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph M Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 I can see how it would be a hard call to make, but for someone to be so happily ignorant and not get him vet checked or seen by a behaviourist is just madness. Frankly maybe PTS is the best option if she can't pull her finger out and do something. Once she might have a free pass, twice not so much but three tines and a bunch of surgeries? That's a lotta unpredictable dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 tdierx I'm sorry... even if it were my heart dog... if it freaking attacked me for any reason, it wouldn't be alive. Mmm. If it attacked me, I'd bash it stupid before I even thought about it. Her dog, her choice. Dog is now running the household. One day it will, as Nehkbet suggests, bite her, and that will do for her. Her choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 If that woman really wants to own a dog it should be a toothless one. Clearly she's got no idea how to raise a healthy well balanced dog, really she'd be safer with a goldfish or a bunny rabbit. She gives dogs a bad name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 My neighbour's bunny attacks her - and she still can't see the sense in desexing him... he's fine with me though, so I am the lucky soul that feeds him when they go away... *sigh* Maybe I'll get him done next time they are away... *evil grin*... dirty little bugger sprays on everything and everyone that comes near. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 She's solved the problem by putting Boris behind a gate when she "has" to tell Wallis off? So Wallis does something he shouldn't, she goes and gets Boris, puts him behind a gate then goes back and tells Wallis off, when he's probably long forgotten whatever it was he did In the meantime, Boris is behind the gate getting increasingly frustrated because he's "overprotective" but can't get to what he wants to "protect", so if he manages to get through the gate the attack will be even worse!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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