My Dog Attacked Me Tonight

**Jskell911** · 04-18-2009, 11:06 PM

Rusty literally attacked me outside. I was removing flagstones from where our garden will be, bend over to pick up the stone and he bit my wrist about 6 times before I could get it out of his mouth. He drew blood and broke the bracelet my mom gave me. I am so glad for 2 things:

Jaycen was not home
And
Rusty has had his rabies vaccination.

But I am a little afraid and in a lot of pain right now. He did break skin and go pretty deep on a couple of the bites. I put on an antibiotic ointment and covered the wounds, but there is heavy bruising forming. Medically is there anything else I should do?

Rusty is a Pit/ Jack Russell mix. He is a shelter dog and we have had him for a month. Earlier this week he bit my son's foot (not hard enough to break skin), but today was way more vicious! He literally would not let go!

Nothing we do gets through to him. We are consistant in our training, but he (as a JR) is VERY relentless. I am so bruised from him jumping all over me. No matter how many times we instruct him down or off, he continually does this to me. I cannot take it much more. I spent an hour in tears tonight.

I love the dog, but I just cannot believe he attacked me so viciously.:Crying:

Not really looking for advise, just more of a vent.

Thanks for reading this.

**Debbie-cat** · 04-18-2009, 11:49 PM

I hope you are okay and that is so scary! Since you just got him and especially from a shelter makes me wonder if he did this to the previous owners. I would be very careful with him. What a horrible experience!

**ilovechocolate** · 04-19-2009, 07:48 AM

You may need a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in a while.

**Rosebush3** · 04-19-2009, 07:57 AM

He is JUST as likely to attack your child as you. It's a disaster waiting to happen so long as you keep him.

**Darlene** · 04-19-2009, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Rosebush3

He is JUST as likely to attack your child as you. It's a disaster waiting to happen so long as you keep him.

I'm sorry but you need to put your lives ahead of the fate of this dog. Yes it is a shame but you need to get yourself to the doc and he needs to go back to the shelter and they need to know exactly what happened. Again, I'm sorry.

**Michelle** · 04-19-2009, 08:32 AM

No advice, just hugs

**nancycg56** · 04-19-2009, 08:33 AM

If you decide to keep him, I would recommend you get him to a good trainer ASAP before he bites again ~ and he WILL bite again until he gets some training.

JRTs are notorious for their stubborness (I know, I have one) and Pits are so strong that it can be a REALLY hard to handle mixture without some professional help.

We also have a JRT/Boxer mix and it has taken LOADS of work to get her where we want her ~ and the training doesn't stop. We call her marshmallow now but it wasn't easy to get her to this stage. We were somewhat lucky in that she always loved people but it was other dogs that put her in the red zone. She was abused as a puppy ~ maybe yours was the victim of the same sort of thing.

I'm sorry this happened to you and your family!

**Ceashels** · 04-19-2009, 08:39 AM

Dog bites are a cocktail of germs. Have your wrist seen too. My single puncture bite from a dog put me at risk for surgery for wound debridement within 2 days. You should get some antibiotics so nothing springs up from that injury.

As for the dogs, I don't have any advice, just hugs.

**celina** · 04-19-2009, 08:43 AM

just as a legal note...you should really consider what to do,...if he bites a stranger or guest...and it is knows you knew he was a bitter you will be held liable...with no mercy in most cases.....

i KNOW it sucks....the whole situation does...i would be calling the shelter...they should know and see a dr..its not worth getting a massive infection...

**Dancing Lotus** · 04-19-2009, 09:08 AM

I'm sorry , I know you didn't really want advice but DO NOT KEEP THIS DOG.
Next time it could be a child and it could be much worse. If you keep the dog and it harms your child you will never be able to forgive yourself for ignoring the warning signs.

**onencgirl** · 04-19-2009, 09:09 AM

Sorry this happened to you. He will most likely bite again. .

**Nada.Leona** · 04-19-2009, 09:23 AM

I'm sorry to hear that, and even more sorry to say this, but it might be in your family's best interest to have him returned to the pound, or even put down. A dog is dangerous when they are vicious and don't understand. Please consider your family's safety.

**cissylu** · 04-19-2009, 10:25 AM

I`m so sorry to hear this. I would be scared to keep this dog. I hope your pain stops quick.

**NewLeaf** · 04-19-2009, 10:26 AM

I am so sorry. You must be devastated. Any dog can bite at any time. But if you have a biter and know it you need to think really hard about what to do. My dog of 12 years was grieving for her mate who had died a month previous and she bit my 2 yr old so badly (just out of the blue w/no warning) that he almost lost his eye. We could never have predicted that. But had I known she could even possibly turn on us I would have had her put down. My son, now 13 has a scar for life and the scar on my heart will never go away.
Please call the shelter and find out why your dog was sent there in the first place. Talk it over w/your family, ask the vet if THEY can find him a better home.
My dh is a health inspector and he has to go interview people who have a dog that has bitten. He says there are some breeds that are better w/children and families than others.
If your dog bites a non family member you could be sued. This is really hard but I know you will make the right decision for your family. In the meantime tell your kids NOT to get in the dogs face.

**frugalwarrior** · 04-19-2009, 10:44 AM

I have worked for several rescues. If a dog bites he must be put down. This dog thinks he is your boss. He will bite you again. More importantly he will bite undeserving others. We were a no kill rescue but at least a dozen per year had to be returned. Once a st. bernard was adopted out and caused over 100 stitches and the boy will be disfigured for life. There was no previous aggression. Your dog already gave you a heads up.
As far as the wound goes you could lose your life. You should be on I.V. antibiotics especially if he nicked the bone. Sorry I'm sure you didn't want to hear all this but if I would feel terrible if I didn't say anything and something worse happened. Please realize I have 15 animals and love them all like my children. But there not.