I think this should definitely still be an option for him (and you).
My husband won't even consider it. Either we're all in, or we say goodbye to him as a loved member of the family.
When he was at his worst, and we didn't feel that he had a chance at quality of life.....when he was "not all there" and afraid of the puppy, and not recognising us all the time....we made the decision to say goodbye to him as a family member. locked in the living room, afraid of family members, and muzzled when he leaves his safe space is no way to spend a life.
But the last couple of days, he's showing interest, interacting with the puppy, playing, eating, and asking to go outside. When the vet came over and said he wouldn't do it...I wasn't upset. I mean it was hard, because we'd prepared...but the closer we got, the more we wanted to back out. We poured so much into Shamas. He's not a dog I'd suggest for any first time owner. He should have gone to an experienced dog person. But you guys helped me SO MUCH with him. And the result was he went from falling apart if he SAW a dog...to crossing the street and passing by. He was doing SO well!
but after the attack, he regressed so badly, I didn't think I'd be able to recover him. He was even afraid of his own backyard. he had to be taken out by hubby to pee. on a 4foot leash. Then he'd run in. When I took him to the vet, a truck rolled by, and he jumped back in the cab and cowered...I had to get them to drive 1/2 block down the street before I could coax him out. Then he cowered behind the vet building. That's the vet that told me medication is an option, but it takes a long time to get in the system....and looking at him in that state, I didn't think it was fair to keep him like that.......his breathing was laboured, and he was terrified of EVERYTHING.
The bite investigator says we can keep him, he trusts us to do the right thing. He's not going to lay charges right now...but if the owner of the other dog comes complaining later, he'll have to. I'm to muzzle Shamas to leave the house. Which I'm doing anyway. Less because of me, or because he's mean...and more because with his fear issues, if I were to trip and fall he might react to protect me and then they'd have to step in and act.
The fact that I reported my own dog for attacking...that I paid the other dogs vet bills as well as the owner's day's wage so she could take her in...that I had the fence fixed before the weekend was over...that I already have him and the puppy arranged to start with a behaviorist.....the bite investigator's not concerned with this dog. This dog's obviously cared for.
And a big karma karate chop to the teeth of the i&/@ts who broke down your fence.
