Need to vent. Don’t need solutions - I know what needs to be done, but I can’t make anyone do what they need to be do.
My niece has brand-new facial scars. Their family dog, a huskey, launched into her face and gave her four parallel gashes running from below her jawline up towards her ear. All four canine teeth engaged and left significant wounds, requiring stitches. This is a Level 4 bite; i.e. one to four wounds from a single bite, with at least one wound exceeding half the length of the dog’s canines in depth. i.e. NOT a ‘nip.’ Not an accident. This is a bite with intent. 
This has been building. The dog has issues. There are relationship issues between the dog, and various family members. The dog REALLY doesn’t like the niece he bit, and dislikes my sister, too. Even though she cares for it (walks, feeds, etc.) The dog is hyper-attatched to my BiL, is somewhat resource-defensive, and is easily excited. NOT a good combination, but one that can be worked with, and ameliorated. I have the skills.***** I have OFFERED the skills - without judgement or blame. My BiL is offended that anyone should offer him help with his “perfect” dog, and is scathing to my sister that she might even consider asking for my assistance.******
My BiL has been actively posioning his son’s mind against my sister, and my neices. He has been heard telling his son that the women in the house have obviously done something to the dog (entirely unneccessary, for a dog such as described, to become unstable to multiple family members, without what a human would consider provocation - Dog’s react differently than humans. I’ve seen it. I’ve dealt with it!). It’s to the point now that it’s full-on gender wars in their household. My nephew, loyal to hs father, was bullying his newly-scarred sister, trying to determine what she “did to the dog?” The dog has become more important to them than their bloody-faced sister and daughter.
What was her crime? To squeal and flinch when her mother tickled her.
That’s it.
Everything.
To a dog that already does not trust you, and is excitable AND defensive, a sudden motion, especially accompanied by a strange and loud sound, is more than enough to trigger an instant - and unfortunate - reaction. He may not have WANTED to hurt her. He may have been trying to scare this untrustworthy, flailing, noisy menace away. But he was there, and she was there, and BAM! She was hit, and bleeding. Does it sound like I blame the dog? I do not. Dogs are highly programmable. This one has been set up to fail. :mad:
I could’ve helped them prevent this. I could’ve helped make my BiL a skilled handler. I could, even now, help reprogram the dog to reduce the likelihood of a repeat (unfortunately, the ‘bite’ option will always be there for the dog - but I can help push it down the priority response list) But only if allowed. And NO ONE will tell him that he needs expert help. :smack: :mad:
Above, in the title, I listed mental illness. I haven’t really discussed the reasoning for that, yet. My sister finally revealed to me that he’s become increasingly defensive and paranoid. That he has become increasingly suspicious and disdainful towards her, and her (his!) daughters. She thinks he’s tipping into schizophrenia. I don’t know the symptoms she’s seeing, but adult-onset schizophrenia is a thing.
Yes, she’s tried to get him help, but without a driving incident, or a proper diagnosis, there’s little that can be done to force him to get help. And he doesn’t want any.
Or maybe it’s adult-onset asshole that’s happening. I can’t say - I live 30 miutes away, and only occasionally see them. I’m going to assert that whatever else he may or may not be suffering, he’s definately dislayed the attributes of World Class FUCKSTICK.
His daughter is emotionally and physically wounded, His son is, in loyalty to his father, mirroring my BiL’s shitheaded behavior, making the wounds deeper. And teh dog those two pinheads think they’re protecting? Its life is hanging by a thread, because they’re doing the exact wrong things!
Where I sit, the dog needs to go to a different home - one without children. Immediately. One WITH an experienced handler (I can’t - I’m already full-up with special cases). Without help, there will be more blood, and my BiL is already blaming my niece. Any guesses what will happen if she gets bit again, and animal services destroy the dog? (Yes, the police have the details - ER Staffers called, and they did in interview and took pictures before teh wonds were closed). But my BiL is doubling down, and is adamant that the dog is going nowhere. He’s bunkering up, mentally. He’s digging in on top of this hill, where he’s planted his flag, and he’s ready to die there.
I REALLY want him to be sick in the head. REALLY. Because if he’s not, then I have to think that my sister is sleeping next to an uncaring, calous, malicious, festering shithook - one who is turning my nephew into his Mini-Me.
:mad: :mad: :mad:
***** Ask me about my current project - a 110# shepherd-type with hyper-attachment, resource guarding, fearfulness, fear aggression, and noise reactivity - and whom has triggers involving small, slender women (go figure). If I can bring THAT dog down off the ledge (and I am), I can certainly help my BiL learn how to help his dog!
****** An additional fucked-up thing is that we share many of the same interests. We could easily enough have been friends. All he ever needed to do is be open to the possiblity; I’d have gladly bridged the gap.
