I'm just saying that sometimes it is the dog that goes bat crazy. If its the story the owner told, that he fence fought and got but through the fence, I wouldn't hold the kennel responsible. It really wouldn't be anyone's fault.

 Quote: Sonya Anderson

I am going to bring him here tomorrow, setting up a 700 size kennel in a spare bedroom and will have a chain link run. I can keep him separated from all the males for now and take my time with socializing.

Are you still going to try to rehome him? From my rescue experience; I'd suggest to work on his basic house manners and obedience as well as perfect walking on a leash to make him more adoptable. It is also a good idea to get him out on walks and car rides with a goal of his being neutral around other dogs and people and comfortable in different surroundings. This will require one on one time with him everyday but the results are so worth it.

With all that being said, I think keeping him seperate and not rushing to socialize him with your dogs is a very wise choice.

And I have one question about his run; will that be seperated from the other dogs being able to approach him unsupervised? I'm not sure if the other dogs have runs too or if they are in an open area and I just want to stress how important it is that the new guy feels safe and being approached by free dogs won't help towards that end.

Goodluck Sonya.

Sounds like they are trying to cover up their mistakes. I worked at a kennel for years with pets and working dogs. I've had a dog get past me before, shit does happen but be honest I say. I never had a dog get into a fight with another thankfully.

This is not unheard of, I had the same thing happen to me, they took my people-aggressive dutchie bitch outside of the perimeter fence on a slip lead! She "got away" and was killed on the hwy. And they acted like it was HER fault. She was also in heat. The girl that walked her was a complete wreck, crying more upset than me even. She was just doing what she was told and had to witness it. The others were complete jerks and I had to fight for them to give me my money back!!!

When I did Animal Control, I'm not sure from what you're writing if your dog got bitten or the pit got bitten. Just from my experience, the kennel has a reasonable responsibility to keep the boarding dogs safe, if your dog was ok with other dogs, showed no aggression and played fine with other dogs for 5 weeks it sounds suspicious. Because of the inherent risk of dog aggression with what they termed an "alpha male pitbull" they should have used precautions in having this dog around other dogs, ie-around gates/entrances/exits that other dogs could have been travelling through, they also should have used reasonable care to prevent ANY dog from pushing through (such as a double gate system) that being said, if you declined to pay the vet bills assuming your dog attacked the other dog-they'd have to sue you, if the other dog attacked your dog the owner or person in control of it is liable for damages but again if they refuse to pay they have to sue you. Have the dogs been placed under mandatory quarantine following an animal bite-even if they are current on rabies they go on a mandatory 10 day quarantine, longer if one was unvaccinated or status unknown. The kennel could be cited if they are not and the animals were allowed to meet other animals. If I were investigating this under my states laws there would be no citations to issue based on what I read, other than to ensure the rabies and quarantine issues are upheld. Hope this helps.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

Are you still going to try to rehome him?

And I have one question about his run; will that be seperated from the other dogs being able to approach him unsupervised?

He is still listed on petfinder and the big coonhound rescue site. I have had him listed for 4 weeks or so and have only received ONE call. I will definitely work on his house manners and get him walking decently on a leash (once his throat heals).

I live in a rural area and currently have a half acre yard fenced around the house (used by all the my dogs), his chain link pen will be set up right outside of the yard fence, they will be able to see each other but only on one side, he won't feel surrounded and trapped. Even when I start letting them see him in the pen it will be one at a time, when one dog chills the next one can go out by themselves, he won't be barked at or intimidated by all of them, no worries.

 Quote: Tresa Hendrix

Sounds like they are trying to cover up their mistakes. I worked at a kennel for years with pets and working dogs. I've had a dog get past me before, shit does happen but be honest I say. I never had a dog get into a fight with another thankfully.

So sorry to hear you lost a dog that way! I guess I should be glad I learned my lesson during this incident, it could have been much much worse.

I hope he looks okay when I pick him up this afternoon. I will be glad to get him here, poor dog needs some nurturing.

Yeah they sound very irresponsible by turning a bunch of dogs loose to be put up and then opening other kennel gates....wouldn't you wait until all them were up first before you open another gate? That way if a dog gets by you (and it happens) no other dogs will get hurt....simple common sense.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

When I did Animal Control, I'm not sure from what you're writing if your dog got bitten or the pit got bitten.

Both dogs got bit up, at first they only told me about my dog, 2 days later the owner said BOTH dogs had to go to the e-vet. The pit was supposedly taken 24 hours after the fight. As far as paying for it, I didn't have a choice, the told me his throat was torn up and they wouldn't take him UNTIL I paid for it. I wonder if they are telling the pits owner that it was her dog's fault in order to make her feel obligated to pay the pits bill.

He was with multiple dogs for 5 weeks, males and females. He didn't get along with this dog and one other (out of dozens of males). If he hated all male dogs there would have been a lot more disputes.

The kennel is strict about vaccine requirements, both were up to date. In Georgia if the dogs are up to date on rabies, quarantine isn't an issue (maybe a home quarantine, not sure).

Well I picked him up. Glad I did too, he was looking pretty pathetic. Not the same vibrant dog I dropped off a few weeks ago, lost about 5 lbs and wasn't smiling at all.

So far things have gone better than expected. Coonhound was good in the house, is hollering some but fairly quiet in his crate. My dogs took it surprisingly well too, I thought the Anatolian might go berserk when he realized some foreign dog was in HIS house! Guess as long as I follow the rules and he doesn't have to *see* the other male he is cool with it.

Gotta give credit to the pit though! He managed to latch onto the throat and deliver several bites with precision, pretty darn amazing he didn't hit those huge floppy years! That dog was on his throat for a while, I am sure of it, glad he didn't hit the artery. That pit was supposedly a young dog, but his instincts kicked in well. Oh and the kennel charged me extra for having to drive him to the vet....lol.

Pics of bite wounds (one side of the neck, a LOT of hard swelling on both sides that doesn't show):

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/Sonya610/bitepic-1.jpg

Its pretty much SOP in the US that the 10 day quarantine be done for dogs not suspected of having rabies, your situation probably wasn't reported.
Thats pretty nasty that they wouldn't pay for the bites, but they have you in a tight spot. If your dog was fine with other dogs it does seem suspect, I've had stray dogs suddenly become aggressive but thats usually within days not several weeks later. Hope your boy heals well, and the pit too.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

Its pretty much SOP in the US that the 10 day quarantine be done for dogs not suspected of having rabies, your situation probably wasn't reported.
Thats pretty nasty that they wouldn't pay for the bites, but they have you in a tight spot. If your dog was fine with other dogs it does seem suspect, I've had stray dogs suddenly become aggressive but thats usually within days not several weeks later. Hope your boy heals well, and the pit too.

I filed a detailed complaint with the GA Ag Department (most everyone that has to get licensed by them is afraid of those folks).

I also called that County's Animal Control, they told me that on several occasions they picked up dogs that had escaped from t he kennel OR received calls from the kennel inquiring about lost dogs. I made sure to include that in the Ag Dept complaint along with the phone # for Animal Control so they can verify. I stressed the fact that they board aggressive breeds, having dogs escape from the kennel could pose a danger to the public etc...

The Ag Dept assured me they would send an inspector out to research the complaint. At least that will cause the kennel some grief, and honestly i do worry about the safety of the other dogs.