[RobsShow]

I wasn't sure were to post this....

I got an email three days ago from a 10 year friend of mine in Georgia. There were two pictures attached of an arm that had been ripped open. I was horrified and immediately sent her a reply back asking WHAT HAPPENED??
Friday she was letting her APBT Reno outside and he started wanting to play with her shirt sleeve, which is something her now EX-husband taught him as a puppy by getting old shirts and clothing and playing tug with him. She said she kept telling him, NO! and pushing him away but he grabbed and ripped her shirt sleeve. He kept pulling and tugging her sleeve, then he released and grabbed again, but this time he grabbed her arm. She said he wasn't growling or barking or anything, he wasn't attacking her but wanting to play. The thing is my friend is a small woman [ maybe 90 lbs.] and Reno weighs close to 90 lbs also (mostly needs to be on a diet lol). PLEASE no that's not an APBT blah blah blah...
My friend has had this dog since he was 8 HOURS old and saved him from death. When he was born his dam had him outside on a potty break and the owner didn't realize until he went outside and found him barely alive. She loves this dog but she knows she can't handle him. She is looking for a rescue or someone that knows the breed to take Reno. He has been neutered, he was neutered very young and is a good dog (I've met him) but needs an authoritative owner and something strong enough to control him.
She is in Hephzibah, GA and if anyone can help she it would be great. She doesn't want him to be put to sleep because he isn't aggressive...
If you can help please private message me...I was going to post her email but I know how judgmental and harsh some can be on here so I'd like to filter through those really wanting to help and those just looking to pass judgment on her. She's been through SO much that having people tell her what a bad pet owner she is, etc is not going to help at ALL.

[22CreessGah]

So wait.. was her arm literally "ripped open", as you said, or what?

Because a dog that is just trying to play isn't going to rip someones arm open. Sure, sometimes when I play rough with my dogs, they occasionally put their mouths on my arm, but they NEVER bite down.

She's going to have a hard time finding a reputable rescue that'll take him with that story unfortunately.

[ClaudeMarkus]

Can you post the pictures of her arm here so we can see the damage? I know some may not want to help if the damage was really severe.

[RobsShow]

Maybe "ripped" was the wrong description?
Here's one of the pictures.


Here's a picture of Reno...

[22CreessGah]

Wow. Uh.. that dog would be PTS if it were mine. That is not a "play with me!" kind of bite. And it looks like numerous bites, not just one, which means he continued to bite.. I could MAYBE see one "oops, sorry, didn't mean to do that" little puncture, but something like that? No way.

[lrUyiva1]

I'm sorry to say but this looks really severe. If she has not gone to the ER she needs to go. I was very shocked it was this severe. If that were my dog it would have been PTS period. No ifs and's or buts. That is totally unacceptable regardless of breed.

This dog "may" not be aggressive but if he has done this kind of damage I don't care from rough playing he poses a danger not only to your friend but to anyone who adopts him. That is my opinion, harsh I know but it's what I feel and I'm not going to sugar coat anything, I never do.

the dog does need to lose weight LOL wow.

[smazibummigue]

I have to agree that with damage like that, it might just be best to put the dog to sleep. I seriously doubt a rescue will take him on.

[HilaryNidierer]

After seeing that picture, that dog need to be PTS.

[mvjvz]

Definitely needs to be PTS, no excuse for that one. Is it just me or does that dog look really strange?

[RobsShow]

Bold emphasis mine.

I'm sorry to say but this looks really severe. If she has not gone to the ER she needs to go. I was very shocked it was this severe. If that were my dog it would have been PTS period. No ifs and's or buts. That is totally unacceptable regardless of breed.

This dog "may" not be aggressive but if he has done this kind of damage I don't care from rough playing he poses a danger not only to your friend but to anyone who adopts him. That is my opinion, harsh I know but it's what I feel and I'm not going to sugar coat anything, I never do.

the dog does need to lose weight LOL wow.

Yes she did go to the ER. She has to go Friday to have skin grafts and some reconstructive surgery. No apologizes needed and it wasn't harsh really

I have to agree that with damage like that, it might just be best to put the dog to sleep. I seriously doubt a rescue will take him on.

I told her I would ask on here since I know there are several GA members. It was just a thought....

Definitely needs to be PTS, no excuse for that one. Is it just me or does that dog look really strange?

He is quite overweight.

---------- Post added at 09:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 PM ----------

She is adamant (I think that's how its spelled) that he wasn't being aggressive during this. He wasn't growling or anything and he hasn't did it again or acted aggressive ever before.
If there was a behaviorist or trainer that could go see him and evaluate him would that help with rescue?

[HilaryNidierer]

If it is that serious she has to get skin grafts and reconstructive surgery, he still should be PTS.

[22CreessGah]

Dogs don't have to be growling to be aggressive. Just like you see dogs wagging their tails during a dog fight, it doesn't always = happy.

Any good, reputable rescue, will tell her the same thing we're all saying, put the dog down. Sure, some "save them all" rescue might come along and take him, but how would she feel if the dog did that to a child, or heck, even another person?

And I can tell you that if my trainer saw that, he would say PTS as well.

[toreesi]

Like someone else said, that's not just a one-bite-and-hold injury... I'd put him down. I hope your friend recovers okay though, those bites look nasty bad!

[BodeOmissemia]

Ouch! That arm looks NASTY. I am not a person to freely suggest putting a dog to sleep, but I am afraid that's one thing I would 'consider' with him. I say ''consider'' ONLY because I am not 100% the bite was intentional. (didn't see it occur) So my advise would be to seek advice of a behaviourist and move on from there.If he/she feels it was aggression or the dog is a threat,then PTS.If not,see if the dog has a rescue willing to take him since he was evaluated as non aggressive-but be honest about his behaviours,if no where will accept him-then PTS.This is not a dog I would privatly rehome.

[RobsShow]

Okay thanks guys.
I told her I'd post and ask but I know she's not gonna like the advise. sighs
I've known her for going on 10 years and I know she cares for her dogs better then most care for their kids. It's going to kill her the thought of having to have him put down, but HE could kill her if this happens again....
I was talking to some other friends in chat the other night and it's like someone said their it's impossible for someone to get a dog that weighs the same weight THEY DO off of them without a weapon if the dog is determined to do something, be it play, attack, whatever if the dog has not been trained and has those boundaries.
I don't think he did this maliciously or that it was even an attack, but he did get "carried away". My Nala when she was a puppy would jump and grab my shirt and one day she did so and ripped my shirt and in doing that grabbed my left boob and left a nice bite on it. That behavior was nipped in the bud THAT day and she hasn't done it since.
Thanks again guys for the opinions and y'alls take on this!

[georgshult]

Sadly I have to agree with the rest of the forum. That dog should be put to sleep, rather he was being aggressive or not that is a bad injury and should not be excused as him playing too rough. If my dog had done that he/she would be put to sleep.

Most rescues would not take a dog that had done that much damage...

[espabamar]

She is adamant (I think that's how its spelled) that he wasn't being aggressive during this. He wasn't growling or anything and he hasn't did it again or acted aggressive ever before.
[/FONT]

Doesn't matter whether he was aggressive, lost control of himself, gets real excited, doesn't matter...put that dog down.

Who on earth would take him if they knew what the dog had done?

Carla

[bmwservis]

There's a difference between playing rough and laying someone's arm open like that. That was 100% worse than I expected to see. I'll throw another vote in on that dog needs to be PTS. Imagine what it could look like if he'd been "playing rough" with a child?

[VogsHoock]

That dog needs to be put to sleep, that is not a play injury. Any rescue that would consider taking in that dog would incredibly irresponsible.

[golozhopik]

When I first started reading the story it took me back to when I was a kid. My dad would put thick heavy socks over his arms and play rough with our dalmation (Something I would NEVER do!). Even as rough as the playing got my dad never came away with anything more than a tooth scratch.
Those pictures of your friends arm, wow. All I could think about was the dog tossing her around the yard like a rag doll. I hate to say it but I agree with the other members, put the dog to sleep!