When Your Pet Attacks

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When Your Pet Attacks

Monday, September 29, 2008

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States seeks medical attention for a dog bite. Dog bites cause an average of 18 deaths a year -- with severe injuries occurring almost exclusively to children under the age of 10.

Like most families with a pet, the Pankowskis love Gordie, their English Bulldog. For seven years, Gordie has been a part of their family. When their son Julian, now one year old, was born, Eric and Mandy were delighted to think that he would grow up having Gordie as a companion. But when Gordie snapped and bit their nanny, leaving her with stitches in six places in and outside of her mouth, their comfort level changed -- drastically. Terrified that one day Gordie might snap and attack Julian, Mandy wasn't sure if they could ever trust Gordie again -- and wondered if life without Gordie was their only answer. Desperate to keep their dog, Eric contacted expert and celebrity dog coach Tamar Geller to help.

Here is the Pankowski's frightening story. Has this ever happened to you? What would you do if faced with the same choice?

Will Tamar be able to help save Gordie? Check in tomorrow for Part Two of "When Your Pet Attacks" to see what happens.

8 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I can’t imagine they can get that dog to a point where they can trust him. Sadly, my dogs barely interact with my kids because I just don’t know what they could do. I hope they are at peace with whatever they decide.

- J

Posted 09/29/08 09:13 AM

I had a mixed dog that I adopted from a shelter named “Baby”. She was a wonderful dog and adored me but was a little to protective of me. She started nipping at my husband to “protect” me and I was worried about the children that lived downstairs at our complex (mostly because they were bratty and would probably instigate a problem). I was lucky and could return her to the nokill shelter I adopted her from but it still broke my heart because I know they probably did not continue the medication she needed for her heart worms.

- birdsfly

Posted 09/29/08 09:18 AM

Our dog, a German shepard/chow chow loved our baby from the moment she was born. The baby would climb on her back, she took it. The baby chased her and she played. She was a wonderful, sweet dog who never gave us a moments doubt…until our daughter turned 4. I bent down to pick a piece of dropped food on the floor and the dog “fought” me for it. When I was pulling it away, she bit my hand. It didn’t result in anything more than a graze, so in denial I let it go. She nipped my daughter a few days later. We made the painful decision and brought her in to be put down. Her leg had been swelling for weeks and the doctor informed us that not only had we given her one more chance than he would have, he could tell us then and there she had a tumor on her leg and it would have been a matter of time until we were in there in any case. It broke our hearts to put down, no matter the case. We grieved for a very long time and always questioned out decision but we always come back to the fact that she bit, two times. And if she could bite two times, to family she loved and protected for 10 years, then there was no telling what she could ever be capable of. I tell myself that she bit because she was sick, but I’ll never know the true answer. But in ten years, she gave us not one doubt as to having her around our baby. And now, 3 years after we’ve lost her we’re starting to finally heal and look for another dog to add to our family.

- Tammy

Posted 09/29/08 09:46 AM

i don’t undestand the debate. Your child, your family, your nanny any PERSON comes before a dog. No matter how much you love that pet. its a animal! short of wiring its jaw shut how can you ever be sure it won’t bite - or worse again? Wake up people! You’ll never forgive yourself when something more horrific happens.

- me

Posted 09/29/08 09:58 AM

I am heavily involved in Bully Breed rescue and personally own 3 wonderful pit bulls. I am also the mother of a 1 year old son and have a second on the way. My husband and i are advocates of correct and consistent training with our animals and lots of supervised interaction between humans and animals. So far, i have not seen even the smallest indication of aggression, guarding, or trouble. If one of my dogs ever did become aggressive, i would go to every length possible before having the animal destroyed. Just like i planned to have a family, i also planned to rescue each one of my three dogs and regard them as highly as any family member. I would not give up on anyone in my family very easily. Remember: There are no bad dogs … only bad owners!

- J

Posted 09/29/08 09:55 PM

My parents had a dog that started biting strangers, then started biting other family members, with 4 young grandchildern, they had to make the painful desion to put her down before she bit one of the kids. Better safe than sorry, though, family comes first.

- M.L.

Posted 09/30/08 12:06 AM

This guy is crazy - he’s keeping a dog that bite his nanny. No way….no way. I was bite by my neighbor’s dog and it was a quick lesson, what if it had been one of my young kids…dogs and babies don’t mix.

- foxymama

Posted 10/02/08 03:51 PM

I disagree with the “no bad dogs, only bad owners” comment. That’s a bunch of bull!! I had two Great Danes and loved them dearly but one day, unexpectedly, the female attacked my 15-year-old niece! Dogs are animals! No matter how “sweet” they may seem, it’s still a possibility they can bite.

- four_kid_mom

Posted 10/07/08 11:38 AM

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