Our latest foray into dog ownership, which was going so well, has suddenly gone completely astray.
For any of you who missed the first instalment, in early January we rescued a dog we found on an internet rescue site in Birch Bay, an hour’s drive south of us. We paid for Luna’s spaying and brought her home. She seemed the perfect dog for us, and after three weeks she was starting to loosen up, show her sense of fun, and basically fit in.
Until we had visitors.
Last Wednesday she nipped two people’s pantlegs and bit the next-door neighbor hard enough on the calf to break the skin. It turns out she was highly overprotective of her territory. Up until that day we had hardly heard her bark.
After lying awake half the night, I came to the bottom line; grandchildren and a biting dog don’t go together. I got up and emailed the foster home in Birch Bay and told them we had to bring her back.
By Thursday evening it was all over. Luna is back in the foster home, already lined up with another possible family who are experienced with nipping dogs, so all will hopefully turn out fine.
The lady next door is recovering fine, but it was traumatic for her, dog lover though she may be.
The $700 (vet bills) lesson we learned, though, was that we really like having a dog. January can be the dreariest month, and this year it just flew by.
So, once we get back from our next trip, we’ll be on the search again, heartbroken but undeterred.
Still looking for a middle aged, small-to-medium sized female who loves walking and cuddling and is good with kids. Let us know if you have a possible candidate.