Thoughts On The Bull Terrier Case (from A Reader)

Ref: http://myanimalcare.org/2012/05/10/the-case-of-the-bull-terrier-and-the-unfortunate-death-of-an-elderly-jogger/

A reader shares her thoughts on the bull terrier case:

Wishing you a very Happy Mothers Day. Your work in helping animals through AnimalCare is akin Mother Theresa helping the destitute and unwanted in the slums of India. You are the Mother Theresa to abandoned and unwanted animals. Another note; Baggy is your Mothers Day gift. She is truly blessed to be a part of your family. I always pray and wishes that she will be in a good home. Wishes do come true!

Bless you for taking in Yoshee into your safe haven. I was worried too as the shelter manager is right there might be a ‘doghunt’ in view of the bull terrier and the unfortunate elderly jogger incident.

Did you read the ‘The star says today’ – the opinion expressed is very menacing for the well being of the bull terrier in question. I fear for his life after reading it – it was so negative, do not know why paper that carry a great influence are so bias without doing in-depth investigations on what really happened that day. It is like instigating public that the dog in question must be penalised severly.

My hubby while jogging in our neighbourhood had a big dog jumped on him from an open gate several weeks ago. He calmly pat down the dog and the dog did not become aggressive but playful. His owner wanted to hit the dog – he told the owner please do not hit the dog as it is not the way to discipline the dog. The dog got excited when he sees someone running and bolted out its premises; maybe it needs the exercise as dogs need to be taken for walks to work off its excess energies or simply bored. Sticks will not help but your inner calm self and confidence is key when faced situation like this.

Hubby reaction towards the dog decide the outcome of the situation; if starts to panic and aggressive towards the dog the dog may be provoked to be aggressive – dogs not usually attack without being provoked or constantly taunted.

My previous neighbour had a lovely and friendly puppy and many times we caught young boys out of nowhere poking him with a stick from outside his gate. Whilst poking the puppy saying things like ‘it’s dirty and bad’. Hubby reprimanded the boys whom we believed are taught and brought up to behave in such manner toward any dogs. Sad this kind upbringing is widespread.

Yes, the rottweiler case; witnesses do attested that the lady taunted the poor dog often that when the opportunity present itself (open gate) he attacked her. Even human will retaliate if taunted that way. This happened in the neighbourhood where my mum-in-law used to live. Sad case of human ‘failures’ that cost an innocent animal life.� Hope it will not be the case this time.

It is truly a dog’s life. In front of our home there is a stretch of greens with bamboo trees – many dogs’ owner take their dogs for walk there. There is even one young girl who takes her three big dogs at odd hours of the night – sometimes at 3.00 am – maybe trying to avoid running into any humans who disapprove of dogs. We often heard her screaming at her dogs to wait up for her – we usually sit by our bedroom window and to make sure she is safe until she heads home. There should be dog parks for owners to take their dogs for walk safely and freely without any trouble. Every housing areas should have one. Wishful thinking..

From what I’ve learnt, dogs attack for several reasons:

1. When they are provoked.

2. When they sense fear in us. Hence, I always tell people that if they have even the slightest fear, do not approach the animal. Fear is a negative emotion, and when the dog (or any animal) senses it, it might attack the fearful person. My old dog, Bobby, has a tendency to bark fiercely only at certain people. I think these people have a fear of dogs in them. In other people, even first-time visitors, he would jump up and sit right next to the person on the sofa, as though he is an old friend. Why the difference in behaviour? I think it’s the vibrations given out by each individual.

3. Dogs also attack out of jealousy, and a dog handler confirmed this.

I remember the only time I was ever bitten by a petdog was when I was in my friend’s house. She has a very possessive female dog, named Happy. Happy was alright with me until the time we rescued the Chelsea and the football puppies (http://myanimalcare.org/2009/10/18/chelsea-and-her-football-team-day-2/) from Bentong and my friend consented to fostering them. Happy got very jealous as my friend’s attention was now divided as she had to look after Chelsea (a female dog) and her puppies. Happy, as smart as she was, must have “blamed” me for bringing in Chelsea and her puppies because I was the one who brought Chelsea and family to the house and whenever I visited, attention was given to this family. Ever since then, Happy would bark angrily each time I even passed the house. One day, long after that, when I visited, Happy came quietly from behind and bit my calf! Then, she walked away. It was blue-black for many weeks, but no tetanus shot was required!

Apart from this incident, I had never been bitten by any dog so far, not even during the few bigtime rescues we made at the Puchong Pound and Klang Pound where the dogs were frothing at the mouth and ferocious at the pound workers. �We took the dogs out without any problem, barehanded. No gloves, no leash. We carried them out. Truth be told, we went unprepared because both rescues were last minute operations.

All said, I cannot say I fully and completely understand the mentality of any animal. We would just have to learn more, ask the experts and have pure intentions in our hearts when handling any animal. If we have any negative emotion in us, it is best not to approach the animal. Their sixth sense is very strong and accurate.

This article from today’s NST might shed some light on the incident and might be useful for us to learn more about the behaviour of dogs:�http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/sunday-interview-you-can-stare-down-killer-dogs-1.83216

Source: http://myanimalcare.org/2012/05/13/thoughts-on-the-bull-terrier-case-from-a-reader/

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