Anyone who's ever fed a puppy by hand knows it comes with risks. Jane Curley knew this when she offered her 11-week-old German Shepherd puppy, Greta, a bit of bacon. Not surprisingly, the puppy overshot and ended up biting Curley's finger -- an injury that required three stitches, reports FOX Charlotte.
Curley also wasn't surprised to see animal control show up at her door after her hospital visit, but when the officer said he'd have to take the puppy with him, Curley told FOX Charlotte, "[O]ur jaws dropped to the floor and we just panicked."
Greta is currently being quarantined for 10 days under state law 130A-196, which states that any dog without a rabies vaccine who bites must be quarantined, but here's the kicker -- Greta isn't old enough for the vaccine, reports FOX Charlotte.
Now, here's the part that really, uh, bites -- FOX Charlotte reports that the same statute says "after reviewing the circumstances of the particular case, the local health director may allow the owner to confine the animal on the owner's property." Curley is concerned about the effect this quarantine could have on the young pup's temperament and wonders why that option isn't being offered, since Greta's is obviously the type of case that the provision was designed for.
While, as FOX Charlotte reports, the Mecklenburg County Health Department and CMPD Animal Care & Control are at odds over whether this case was handled properly or not, little Greta remains quarantined at the vet's office, and her owner is barking mad. But, perhaps some good will come from this controversy and the law will be revisited.
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While i think this law is completely bogus, I am quite certain that a 10-day quarentine will not have any lasting effects on their puppy's psyche. Dogs are often boarded for longer than 10 days with no real negative effect. I'd say the moral of this story, feel your dog in his bowl even if it's just a treat.
My neighbor (a frail lady in her late 70's) had a 100 pound Yellow Lab. Daisy was always a good girl, very gentle, but so big, she often was scary. I'm 4'10", so when she jumped on me, she was taller than me. Daisy got old and had tumors. Her owner was giving her medication and Daisy retaliated poorly, something she would never do. She hurt her owner badly. They didn't know what to do. After a trip to the E.R., the Animal Control showed up. Their veterinarian is the one the town uses for emergencies. The vet and AC agreed and made them keep Daisy confined to her own house for 10 days, with the plan to exterminate her at the end of the confinement. Poor Daisy's owner didn't want her in the house for the 10 days, she was afraid Daisy would hurt her again. Since she was going to be killed, she didn't understand why the vet didn't just take her then. I think that was terribly cruel to Daisy's family, and for them to drag out the next 10 days knowing tat Daisy was to die. I am not sure how I feel about this law now. How about any of you, what would you have done?
Actually, it could have an effect. Puppies require socialization and if they are not socialized can become fearful aggressive towards people they don't know. It's something they don't get over. Your moral is stupid. When you give a dog a treat it's a reward and should come directly from you, not dumped in a bowl. Why post if you don't know anything about dogs?
But these people will have to pay boarding fees which run into a lot of money. I know because the same thing happened with me and a dog that I have. By the time I paid the medical bills and fees by animal control I was out more than $500.00
Not true
Hello? You didn't read the the whole story.It's not the 10 quarantine that they are worried about, it's the confinement in their home for much longer after that.These animal control people are idiots.It's a puppy for crying out loud.
sounds like the simpletons in animal control should be in the cage
Um, why not feed your dog by hand? If the dog is taught not to nip when being fed at an early age their should be no issue. My dogs eat from my hand all the time - yes, even my 53 lb dog.
Comparing it with boarding is just asinine. There's a huge difference between boarding an animal that's a bit older and more secure than a baby. Most boarding centers wouldn't even take a puppy too young to have their shots (as this puppy was/is). Locking a puppy this young up in a cage for 10 days very well could have a lasting effect on the animal. To go from a puppy that has been loved and cuddled and talked to, to being stuck in a cage with no human contact could result in lasting trust issues with the animal. It may not, but you never know.
Also, I take it you've never had to train a dog? Most training's include feeding the dog from hand when it does what you've asked it too. It's common practice. It's kinda obvious that this woman wasn't being to smart about it though. The best way to feed an animal by hand is to make a fist around the food object, with it sticking out by your index finger and thumb, and tuck all of your fingers in and under.
As a child I was raised in a home that always had dogs. We we're always rescuing one stray or another. I've had over a couple hundred dogs in my life easy and I've only been bitten one time. I was 11 and stupidly reached into the middle of a puppy fight (they were right about this age too) to save the underdog (forgive the pun).
While living at the vet clinic this puppy could actually get sick since it's immune system is still weak and god knows what kind of disease could come in. Besides, it will have to live in a cage for most of it's time with about 20 other barking dogs all the time and not get the exercise it properly need. If you think it won't be traumatic think again.
this is insane! the poor pup I am sure meant no harm! This falls under training....one the owners never should have given the pup bacon...table food is an absolute NO. Having had a dog who had a litter of 9, there is no reason why this little pup shoud be punished when she is not old enough to have the vaccine. I think they should give the pup back and follow up with the owner to ensure that the pup gets her vaccine.
no reason for this little pup to be put down should it come to that, which I am not does not. This is crazy!!!!!!
Good Luck....
Why is table food an absolute no?
It's not so much that food from the table should not be given to the dog, you just shouldn't do it while at the table because then they will think it's ok to get food off of the table by themselves. Of course, certain foods should not be given to dogs but a small bite of bacon is not going to kill your dog.
Give that puppy back to it's owner!!! You dognappers!! You can't hold a dog hostage because it hasn't got shots, when it's not even OLD ENOUGH to GET SHOTS!! What a bunch of MORONS you must be!!
sorry meant to say which I am hoping does not come to being put down!!!!
Actually, this can cause seperation anxiety when a pup is away from it's owner. Even when we left our 4 month old pup at home with our other dogs and the pet sitter, we had some reversion in potty training, because we were gone for 5 days. It took another two weeks to get her back on track with it.
The quarantine is for the protection of the person who was bit. There are cases of very young puppies and kittens having rabies and biting someone. The quarantine allows the health department to find out if the puppy was infected or not. That way the person doesn't have to get (painful and expensive) rabies shots if the puppy is fine.
That being said -- a 10 day quarantine COULD be harmful to this puppy. The critical socialization period ends in puppies at about 12 to 16 weeks of age. This is a German Shepherd -- they are a breed that really needs a lot of exposure to their environment, people and other dogs during this critical period or they can become fear aggressive. The 10 days at this time is HUGE and could impact the temperament of this dog as she matures. I don't see why the puppy couldn't be quarantined at home.
allison, it is very common that puppies are hand fed.
Dude, it's just a puppy! It didn't mean to bite the finger. Sheesh.
THis is obsurd.. I can understand if a. it was a dog (not a puppy) b. it was a stranger (not the owner) or c. it was in anger or agression.. It was none of the above.. Also this so called option to quarentine at home.. Is offered in alot of states the "requirements" to do it are normally obserd and unreachable for the average pet owner. I own several dogs and treat my dogs as family members not well dogs.... Bacon is a meat and will not hurt your dogs... Actually meats are a good source of varity for your dogs diet if given in moderation.