Trying to rehome a dog that has bitten me- could we be liable if we are upfront about it
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Anonymous
| We have a 2.5 year old purebred English Bulldog who has become very aggressive with me in the past 6 months. We have tried everything- multiple trainers, medical work ups, Prozac, etc. He fights with our other dog nonstop and I think she is causing his anxiety which then manifests as aggression towards myself and our two kids. However, he is devoted to my husband and I *think would thrive in a home with a single, dog- experienced male with no other pets. No rescue will take him because of the bite history so we are making a last ditch effort to find a suitable home for him. We will of course be explicitly upfront about his history. My question is- if he does find someone willing to take him on, and then ends up being bitten- would we be liable? I am fairly sure his aggression is related to our specific home dynamic but I’m not 100 percent certain. It’s possible he just has a screw loose. Can we be sued even if we have given full disclosure? Ugh this is the most heartbreaking situation- I am sick about all of it. Thanks for any advice. |
Anonymous
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He must be put down, OP. For the sake of exactitude, though, please describe one of his violent episodes. |
Anonymous
| If you can find someone to take him, (and that sounds like a big if), then I would put it all in writing. Like one of those disclaimers you need to sign before doing anything risky anywhere. I would also make sure I disclosed everything in writing, so if the new owner does get bitten, they cannot claim the waiver invalid due to non-disclosure. |
Anonymous
| OP here- he has lunged at me multiple times but only actually bitten me once- when I was reaching down to pet him. His episodes are out of the blue, usually at night when he’s tired. We have learned never to approach him when he’s sleeping. He doesn’t react the same way with my husband but has lunged (growling, snarling) at my kids when they are sitting on “his” couch ( he is no longer allowed on any furniture). Writing it all out it does seem crazy that we are trying to rehome him- it’s just that he is so different with my husband than he is with myself and the kids and our other dog. I was hoping that maybe in a calm home with no kids or dogs or other stimuli he would behave differently, but I certainly am not sure that will be the case. I have tried to be an alpha too but for so,e reason he only recognizes my husband. |
Anonymous
|
I would contact your vet and/or some of the trainers you have used to see what their suggestion would be about the dog. If one of the trainers really liked him they might take the dog to get to train and revoke
Themselves/ or keep as a pet. Just a thought. |
Anonymous
Revoke should have said rehome |
Anonymous
| No OP this dog should not go to another home, he needs to go to the VET and be put to sleep ASAP before you or your children are seriously hurt. |
Anonymous
Not at all. Lunging in an aggressive manner and biting are grounds for rehoming to a knowledgeable professional. And possibly grounds for putting to sleep. So how does he lunge? Any warning signs before that, ears thrown back, white of eyes, growls? How was that bite? Where? |
Anonymous
| OP here- no warning signs when I was bitten, I was petting him and he was fine and I did it one last time and he turned around and went after me. Not seriously- on my hand, and it stung, but not deep. And it’s one bite and he slinks off, he’s not trying to come at me over and over again. However, I do feel like I could have gotten more bites if not for the fact that he has a tremendous underbite and can’t really get purchase. He does growl if he is sleeping and we get too close so we really just try to leave him alone. It’s terrible, bc for his first two years with us he was the nicest, sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Right when he turned two was when the change started. And yes, he was neutered at 8 months of age. Our vet suggested a rescue but none of them will take him with his bite history and I don’t want to lie about that. |
Anonymous
| Contact an English bulldog rescue. Explain the situation and what you experienced. I bet a breed-specific rescue will take your dog if you would relinquish him with all rights revoked. There are breed-specific trainers and aficionados who will likely overlook his temperament and work with him. |
Anonymous
| Contact an English bulldog rescue. Explain the situation and what you experienced. I bet a breed-specific rescue will take your dog if you would relinquish him with all rights revoked. There are breed-specific trainers and aficionados who will likely overlook his temperament and work with him. |
Anonymous
| You can’t send him to another home. Even if you do find a single male with the right kind of personality needed for the dog, what happens when he brings a woman home or his nieces/nephews come to visit? This dog needs to be put down. Sorry. |
Anonymous
| OP here- I did contact several Breed specific rescues and they all refused to take him because of his bite history and that they would be liable if he bit the new owner. They are the ones who suggested that I look for a single male on my own. But if they would be liable, I’m assuming we would, as well? That’s my question. As well as if he’s rehomeable at all. The one bulldog rescue said that I could try to find a single guy on my own, but to know that single guys get married and have kids and then they’d be in the same boat as we are. Ugh |
Anonymous
| Get the dog out of your house ASAP for the safety of your kids. |
Anonymous
|
Sorry you are going through this. I wish I had an answer, but I don't.
I don't know if you would be liable. And I'm not sure you can really rely on this forum. That sounds like a question for a lawyer. Is it possible he has a health issue? If there was a sudden change, maybe something happened. How did you get him? Did you get him from a pet store, a breeder, a rescue? |