Just off phone with Stacy and Dr. Heinz. They have completed their evaluation and I will receive a written report soon.
Isis is overly dog aggressive. They determined this by taking her outside into the exercise area. A greyhound was brought out in reasonable proximity and Isis was ready to attack were she released from her leash. They recommend that Isis be adopted into a home without other dogs. Not to mention the risk of any aggression towards small chldren. According to Dr. Heinz Isis would be great in a home with a single person or couple without any other animals in the house. Stacy said she loves to lie out in the sun and love on people by sitting in their laps.
I questioned them at length about any possibility of behavior modification (grasping at straws more or less). His answer was yes her behavior could be modified with training...with one caveat. Her health. Although she appears quite healthy, she still has two more lesions to be removed this Thursday. Dr. Heinz would only begin such training after her health has improved and stabilized.
So...to say I am heart broken would be an understatement. Not so much for me and my girls....but for Isis. I haven't broken the news to my family as of yet. I have to come up with the right words to do that.
In the end, Steve was right about the aggressive tendencies of the majority of shelter rescues. And that was the reason I wanted the professional evaluation.
Going forward? I will be in contact with the Bull Terrier Rescue of Florida. @Leslie....please contact Kim and see if she can get the ball rolling on getting her out of the shelter and into rescue/foster.
Not a good day for me.....just not a good day. I will continue to provide for her the grain free diet, grizzly oil, and vitamins for as long as it takes. And pray that wherever she ends up she will receive the love and home she so richly deserves (screen getting blurry now).
My sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you for your support, advice and kind words of encouragement. It meant a lot as we neared this day of reckoning. We love our bullie kids and our hearts break when we see one that is in such need and so deserving. Bless you all and bless little Isis.
It takes a lot or me to tear up, but this did it. I'm sorry, for your family as much as for Isis. I pray that a loving person will find her soon and provide the love she deserves. Such a hard life for such a beauty!
Xtracho, in tears over here. Wish there was something to do to make it easier and less heartbreaking. You, and everyone helping to find this precious Isis a loving home, are kind and lovely. The news isn't what anyone was hoping for, but you did the right thing in getting an honest and true assessment by an expert. Wish there was a way to give you and your entire family a huge hug.
A bit of good news though...through all the tough news I've received today....Bailey, the little girl that Phil posted, has apparently found a home! >:D<
@Xtracho - I'm truly sorry to hear things didn't work out. This is not something I wished to be correct on in regard to aggression because I know you would have provided her the perfect home for her. Unfortunately this scenario is all too common with rescue BT's. I wish it weren't but a good tempered BT isn't difficult to find a home for either by the original owner or a rescue agency. Any pure bred that's been at a shelter for a prolonged period of time has underlining issues and I can assure you her temperament towards other dogs was well known by those working at the facility who witnessed other interested personnel that failed to adopt due to her aggressive nature towards other animals. In a sense I'm a glad that her aggressiveness was powerful and clear as many aren't. Meaning that most will some what tolerate another dog if the other dog shows absolutely no dominance or aggressiveness. However, let another dog stand their ground and challenge alpha position and a serious fight breaks out. My fear was that the behavior specialist would have provided an evaluation saying she was tolerable with other dogs after seeing her mingle with a very calm and submissive dog and provide you with confidence in having no problems between her and Maya. In the event that Maya was ever attacked it could change her tolerance and temperament with future dogs especially dogs that don't except dominance from others. Leslie experienced this situation with her Bullie she took in and realized after a couple days the friendship between the rescue and her other Bullie was over quickly and the pursuit for finding out who was alpha wasn't going to be pretty. I'm still wondering if this girl is hearing impaired as well. As mentioned, most deaf bullies are solid white to begin with. A deaf Bullie that's untrained will be a lot more at risk for wandering off and getting lost. The fact that she was wandering around an interstate isn't the most attractive sounds that would entice a normal Bull Terriers attention. Actually most would run the opposite direction other that heading straight for a busy interstate like I-95. In the event you find another BT in the same situation looking for adoption from a shelter or rescue group simply ask them to take a photo of the dog off leash with another dog or dogs. It isn't an unusual request or one that would take any efforts other than clicking a button on their cell phone camera. If they can't provide you the photo it should trigger some concerns because factually all shelters will go out of their way to place their dogs in loving and perfect homes and if it means taking a photo they can surely oblige. When you (or phil) asked if she is aggressive with other dogs and they replied "Well she's a Bull Terrier so she probably is" they already tested her and knew she was but tried their best not to exploit it.
I wish, I wish, I wish this girl could have been trained and well socialized with other dogs by her original owner but one look of her teeth I knew marginal attention was provided for her.
A proper rescue for you and your family will come from an owner caught in a situation where he or she is forced to find a new home for their beloved dog for legitimate reason. They will be screening you with caution and the pain, guilt, and sorrow will be evident when they render their dog.
We just had one rendered to us like this about 2 months ago. She lives happily now with her new family which includes another dog and a small child. Again - A very rare occurrence in regard to rescue and adoption.
I will keep my eyes out for a Bull Terrier that's in need of a home that has the characteristics appropriate for a family with another Bull Terrier because there's no question I already know of the PERFECT family for that Bullie.
- Steve Gogulski "It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!" www.bulliesofnc.com
I just spoke with a friend of Kims and were on it. Working on finding a foster for Isis that will give her time to chill a bit and see if she can slwly intregrate her with another dog after s he's had time to settle down out of a shelter. Steve, do you think its possile after she is given a chance to relax out of a shelter situation she may exept another dog or is this a lost cause??? On another note their is another dog that is great with all walkes of life but I need some time to dig a bit and will post latter.......
Your actions speak so loudly I cannot hear your words.
It's so hard to tell just how receptive she will be to retraining her aggressive behavior when none of us know her past history. I also hate to be asked questions that I'm forced to provide negative responses to because I don't want to be the bad guy. What I will say is that Isis is at least 5 years of age and probably well set in your ways. Training a young Bull Terrier is one thing but Isis is an older mature Bullie who most likely engaged in a scrap or two with another dog some time in her life causing her to have immediate and unprovoked aggression issues, not a dominance issue that could lead into a fight. Regardless how many countless hours of training was provided for Isis I would not trust her with other dogs. This type of aggression puts a certain liability factor in the minds of any potential owner and serious caution should be provided by the rescue agencies that conduct temperament tests on all the dogs they receive and offer adoption on. Isis is of no difference and it's a little sad knowing they could have been straight forward from the beginning by stating that Isis WAS evaluated by their staff and found to be aggressive with other animals causing adoption to be available to homes with no other pets. However, due to her extended stay, age, 3 legs, and overall health I'm confident the staff is making little efforts distracting potential owners with added negative traits especially aggressive behavior. Isis would need to go to an owner that resides with no other animals and hopefully lives in an area where other dogs aren't living in the close proximity for a potential threat. She will be very difficult to rehome due to the array of things batting against her when other dogs are looking for homes that don't present high liability factors and are in better health. It's a sad case and one we all put our hearts into in hopes things would work out for Mark, Marks family, and Isis.
- Steve Gogulski "It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!" www.bulliesofnc.com
Thankyou for your honesty Steve. I hate putting you in those situations as well vut I value your opinion and I want to be completely upfront and honest with Kim in letting her know what I'm asking of her. So thankyou and you will never be a bad guy here but certainly one I trust for honest advice.
Your actions speak so loudly I cannot hear your words.
Just checked my email. There was a reply from the medical director at Humane Society of Miami.
Isis has been adopted!!!! And will be going to her forever home on Friday. And....the food n stuff we sent down is going with her! And the new owner intends to keep her on that diet!
Behind every cloud...as they say. I am so happy for her! God bless her sweet soul and may her remaining years be filled with love, tenderness, lots of laying in the sun and just being happy like she should be!!
Your shittin!!!!! Wow!!! Well I will call off my dogs and happy to do it!!! I am still hunting that bullie I spoke of earlier give me some time on that but just.....WOW I am sooooo happy for her. I am sad gor you and your family but everything happens for a reason. :x
Your actions speak so loudly I cannot hear your words.
Rex 2yrs. Good with and pictured with another BT he's beig fostered with a female. More info on rcbtr.org. doesn't say anything about kids still working on it. Also I want Bob!!!! But he's an only pet ki da guy:(
Well sometimes, although infrequently, there is an advantage to leaving home for a job site in Orlando at 5:30am and getting home from work at 7:00pm. You miss dwelling on all the unhappy part of the story, and get to hear the fabulous ending. Well obviously I had to read through the depressing part first, and moved to double the size of my evening T&T..... I am so relieved and happy that she has found a loving home. Please Mark, if there is anything you can do to implore the Center to get the new family to join this site... Or give us an email so we can implore them... We have to find out how Isis does and of course offer any assistance we can to help in any way... I wonder if they know Bullies? I pray they are a great family... They must be to do what they are. Mark thank you and your family so much for being so gracious... I am sure that it is because of your emotion and devotion that God delivered the other family at exactly the right time to heal your realization that you couldn't manage it.... It is going to be hard for us here to personally accommodate any similar dogs in future as, obviously, we wouldn't be part of a Bullie Forum if we didn't have dogs of our own.
In the beginning God created English Bull Terriers, in the image of EBT's, God created all other breeds.
That is just awesome news!!! I bet others seen her and their heart went out to her as well. If she's going to a no pet home with an owner that just wishes to love her than the whole Isis saga ended up on a very happy note. Let's face it, everybody wanted to see this poor Bullie get a great home where she'd be respected and cherished. It would truly amazing if we could find out who adopted her and at least provide them the knowledge that so many others had their eye on her well being and truly cared about her adoption.
- Steve Gogulski "It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!" www.bulliesofnc.com
I'm so happy to hear that Isis has been adopted! Absolutely wrecked that she didn't end up with Xtracho and family.
It sounds as if the folks that adopted her care enough to continue the proper diet and supplements. I'm sure they also have the love and compassion Isis deserves.
If they join the forum, that would just be icing on the cake!
@Philsergeant....excellent suggestion Phil! I sent an email to the medical director along with a link to the forum, telling her that Isis has a bunch of people that are so happy to see her adopted and to please implore her new humans to come join us and allow us all to enjoy watching and reading about Isis as she moves on to a happier future in her life. If you want to email Ms. Jones with the same plea....her email is danijones(at)humanesocietymiami (dot com). You all know how to write that email addy and I didn't want the Spam bots to get a hold of it.
Comments
In a sense I'm a glad that her aggressiveness was powerful and clear as many aren't. Meaning that most will some what tolerate another dog if the other dog shows absolutely no dominance or aggressiveness. However, let another dog stand their ground and challenge alpha position and a serious fight breaks out. My fear was that the behavior specialist would have provided an evaluation saying she was tolerable with other dogs after seeing her mingle with a very calm and submissive dog and provide you with confidence in having no problems between her and Maya. In the event that Maya was ever attacked it could change her tolerance and temperament with future dogs especially dogs that don't except dominance from others. Leslie experienced this situation with her Bullie she took in and realized after a couple days the friendship between the rescue and her other Bullie was over quickly and the pursuit for finding out who was alpha wasn't going to be pretty.
I'm still wondering if this girl is hearing impaired as well. As mentioned, most deaf bullies are solid white to begin with. A deaf Bullie that's untrained will be a lot more at risk for wandering off and getting lost. The fact that she was wandering around an interstate isn't the most attractive sounds that would entice a normal Bull Terriers attention. Actually most would run the opposite direction other that heading straight for a busy interstate like I-95.
In the event you find another BT in the same situation looking for adoption from a shelter or rescue group simply ask them to take a photo of the dog off leash with another dog or dogs. It isn't an unusual request or one that would take any efforts other than clicking a button on their cell phone camera. If they can't provide you the photo it should trigger some concerns because factually all shelters will go out of their way to place their dogs in loving and perfect homes and if it means taking a photo they can surely oblige. When you (or phil) asked if she is aggressive with other dogs and they replied "Well she's a Bull Terrier so she probably is" they already tested her and knew she was but tried their best not to exploit it.
I wish, I wish, I wish this girl could have been trained and well socialized with other dogs by her original owner but one look of her teeth I knew marginal attention was provided for her.
A proper rescue for you and your family will come from an owner caught in a situation where he or she is forced to find a new home for their beloved dog for legitimate reason. They will be screening you with caution and the pain, guilt, and sorrow will be evident when they render their dog.
We just had one rendered to us like this about 2 months ago. She lives happily now with her new family which includes another dog and a small child. Again - A very rare occurrence in regard to rescue and adoption.
I will keep my eyes out for a Bull Terrier that's in need of a home that has the characteristics appropriate for a family with another Bull Terrier because there's no question I already know of the PERFECT family for that Bullie.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Isis would need to go to an owner that resides with no other animals and hopefully lives in an area where other dogs aren't living in the close proximity for a potential threat. She will be very difficult to rehome due to the array of things batting against her when other dogs are looking for homes that don't present high liability factors and are in better health. It's a sad case and one we all put our hearts into in hopes things would work out for Mark, Marks family, and Isis.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Mark thank you and your family so much for being so gracious... I am sure that it is because of your emotion and devotion that God delivered the other family at exactly the right time to heal your realization that you couldn't manage it.... It is going to be hard for us here to personally accommodate any similar dogs in future as, obviously, we wouldn't be part of a Bullie Forum if we didn't have dogs of our own.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
I'm so happy to hear that Isis has been adopted! Absolutely wrecked that she didn't end up with Xtracho and family.
It sounds as if the folks that adopted her care enough to continue the proper diet and supplements. I'm sure they also have the love and compassion Isis deserves.
If they join the forum, that would just be icing on the cake!