Third Time is the Charm

Three days, three vet visits.

We seem to be on a roll. I really should have bought pet insurance.

Abby and Beth had a knock down, dirty, drag out b*tch fight today. We were all in the back yard. I turned on the hose to fill up the water bowls. The hose excites Beth and she thinks she is going to be able to chase the water. Abby took offense at Beth's excitement...

One minute everyone is getting along, happy happy joy joy....

The next thing I know they are rolling around the yard like a couple of screaming hyena's.

Since I was holding the water hose, I quickly changed the setting on the sprayer to FULL JET and began to soak them. It had absolutely NO EFFECT! I kept spraying...nothing.

Abby kept attacking Beth, even when she tried to get away and jumped on her back from behind. Then Bonnie was coming in behind Abby and nailing her on the rear legs as Abby was chewing on Beth's neck.

I dropped the hose and started grabbing dogs. When I got hold of Abby's collar (after being bit once in the leg - entirely my fault) I lifted her off of Beth. She didn't want to let go of Beth's neck. I jerked her once hard and she loosened her grip. I used my foot to push Bonnie off of Abby. Then I managed to grab Beth by the scruff of her neck. So there I stand with one dog in one hand and the other dangling from the other. I stumbled over to the back door, somehow got it open and threw Beth inside. Bonnie followed quickly behind her.

Poor Daisy and Ranger were standing about 15 feet away looking stunned - but safe.

Sitting down on the back porch I looked Abby over from nose to tail. She was bleeding from a laceration inside her mouth, but no signs of anything else serious. When Ranger and Daisy came over to sniff Abby growled and lunged at Ranger.

I left her outside, brought Ranger and Daisy in the house with me to check Beth & Bonnie. Bonnie was fine. Beth's wounds were another story and were going to need vet care.

After a trip to the vet Beth has sutures on two deep wounds, one right next to her eye and the other inside her ear. She has a severe puncture wound on her neck that has a pocket and may need further care if it gets infected. The rest of her wounds on her neck, back, hindquarters and legs are superficial.

All of Abby's wounds are superficial, except for a laceration inside her mouth in her gum line. The vet said it will heal itself without sutures.

Abby and Beth have been at odds since she arrived. I have watched my lovely stable pack go off the deep end in two weeks. Ranger also has bite wounds that were found on his neck Monday.

Abby is leaving. Her constant anxiety, unpredictable aggression & neurotic behavior is sending all the dogs over the edge. I believe that Abby was never properly socialized as a puppy and this will not get any better over time. It will only get worse. Abby needs to be placed in a home without other dogs. She needs to be in a foster home where they have the capability to keep the dogs separated. I do not have the ability to do that.

Abby is in her crate. John will be taking her to her new foster home first thing in the morning.

Say a couple prayers for the dogs - lets hope this begins the journey back to a calm and stable atmosphere for our pack. If things keep going like they have been - I am going to have a heart attack.