Andrea Rosebrock 
Usually when I read stories on scenarios like this, a new baby coming, gotta get rid of the dog, I am about ready to go rabid myself! In this case, the further along I read, I can’t tell you who I am more heartbroken for, the dog or the owners.
The story goes like this, guy sees the dog’s profile on a rescue site and basically falls in love. The dog is everything he wanted and the picture was the clincher. As he says, “The Grinch’s heart would swell another three sizes if he stared at Haley’s beautiful face too long.”
But when he actually met Haley, she hardly resembled the picture in her profile. She was scared, shaky and frail. He couldn’t leave her.
So Haley became a part of the family but problems were evident almost from the start. There were dominance issues with the wife and Haley chewed everything in sight. Doesn’t sound too excessive so far. These are actually common problems that one can face with a rescue dog.
But it didn’t stop there, Haley didn’t like strangers, I mean, she really didn’t like strangers.
Time passed, and slowly Haley’s shyness took a turn. She started growling at random strangers. This little dog could sound awful mean when she wanted.
We called in a dog behaviorist to deal with the shyness, pushing aside the feeling that we were climbing the first rung on the yuppie ladder. The expert suggested drug therapy, and said Haley could be dangerous if untreated. My wife and I wrote the drug information down and clucked our tongues at the warning.
The drugs didn’t work. Neither did our enhanced training sessions. We exhausted every doggie training tip the Web could offer. In fact, she was growing more remote with strangers — and lunging at them on occasion.
She struck one of our friends recently, a glancing blow that only broke the woman’s skin. It was the wake-up call we needed.
Desperate for help, we tried some final methods to contain her aggression. We bought a muzzle and a bark collar. No help. We put her on a different type of drug our vet said could ease her fear-aggressive state. No luck.
She recently cut my hand when she tried to lunge at one of our friends during a casual get-together. I had her on her leash, but she’s strong when her aggression mode kicks in. We’re always there to stop her should the aggression flare up, but that won’t be the case once our baby arrives.
So here we are, scrambling to find a shelter that accepts aggressive dogs, but knowing the odds are stacked precipitously high against us. And Haley. (Washington Times)
Now they are in a totally untenable position. They have a baby due in December and even I, a dog lover to the extreme, can see that there is no way that Haley and a new baby could be compatible. Most shelters and rescues will not even consider taking a dog that is aggressive.
They’ve tried everything, every suggestion anyone gave them and there is no doubt they love Haley but would any sane person take a chance with an aggressive dog when it comes to a new baby??
His finishes his column with a heart touching story that shows that even as aggressive as Haley is, she has formed and attachment and love for him, and it makes the decision even harder…
I keep thinking back to an incident two years ago. I was pitching for my softball team, and my wife and Haley were in the crowd to show their support.
A screaming line drive came back at me and struck me flush on the temple. Down I went, and I stayed down, motionless. Haley, who hates strangers on her best day, raced through the crowd forming around me, my wife trying to keep up. Our dog squeezed through my teammates to my prone body, and then started licking my face.
She never does that.
She tried her best to help me that day, and I’m afraid I’ll be unable to do the same when she needs me most.
So what does a person do? Are there any options or answers other than having to put Haley down? My heart breaks for both, the dog and the owner. It is not a position I can even imagine having to be in. There is no doubt he loves Haley or he would never have invested 4 years in caring for her and trying to find a solution.
Do you have a solution… a answer… anything that could save this dog’s life?
WHY DON’T U CALL THE DOG WHISPERER? They had NO patience to train this dog!
CALL THE DAMN DOG WHISPERER! THIS SHOULD BE DONE ASAP!
I know this is a generic answer – but what about contacting Cesar Milan – The Dog Whisperer?? This sounds like an extreme case to me – maybe he would be interested in helping. Or maybe even Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah – they take “last resort” type cases. I feel for their situation – I can’t imagine what I would do if I was faced with a decision like that. I hope something will work out for their family and for Haley.
I have contacted Haley’s owner and he has tried to contact Cesar Milan, but they are not “doing” his area (only Southern California) Perhaps if everyone were to email Cesar Millan for Haley, he would make an exception and help. Cesar Millan can be contacted through his website at http://www.cesarmillaninc.com If enough people write, maybe we can make a difference.
Cesear Milan – some people don’t agree with his methods but it’s worth a try.
@marcy becker – Generally I tend to agree with you but I really do think they tried everything they could. I cannot bash them or take anything away from them. Most people would have taken the dog back pretty quickly once faced with problems, they tried and tried.
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I’m not sure if Millan’s methods would work for a dog that is terrified of almost everything. His methods may be too ‘forceful’ for an already frightened dog.
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I think if Best Friends would be willing to sanctuary Haley, that might be the best shot at saving her life. If we could all try to contact them and share the story, it may help. I know they can save every dog, how I wish they could, but maybe…
JMHO
THIS IS SUCH A SAD STORY. I DO AGREE THAT HALEY MIGHT BE BEST SUITED TO GO TO BEST FRIENDS IN UTAH, I HAPPEN TO HAVE THEM ON MY FRIENDS LIST ON MYSPACE TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP.
Wow, how sad and it is very evident that they love Haley. What a horrible situation and unthinkable decision to have to make. My heart goes out to them. But I agree, Best Friends is probably their only hope. I too am a member of Best Friends and will certainly make a plea on Haley’s behalf. I pray this works out for everyone involved.
My heart goes out to these people. I went through a situation a bit like this a couple of years ago with a dominant aggressive pitbull, and the ending was not happy. In spite of my best efforts, Sophie became so dangerous that I ended up having to put her down. People need to be aware of the fact that only about half of these dogs can be saved with drug therapy and behavior modification training. A complicating factor is the arrival of the baby. Even if they were able to get someone like Cesar Milan and he was able to successfully treat the dog, they would never be able to trust it around the baby. Babies and small children have a tendency to stare wide-eyed at everything, which a dominant aggressive dog would interpret as a challenge. The results could be tragic. They need to get that dog out of the home before the baby arrives. this is an awful, awful decision with which to be faced, but it has to be made. The safety of the child should come first.
IF BEST FRIENDS CAN NOT TAKE HALEY IT MIGHT BE BEST TO HAVE HER PUT DOWN. I REALLY FEEL FOR THIS COUPLE ALSO THIS IS SUCH A VERY VERY TOUGH SITUATION. I KNOW THEY LOVE HALEY BUT I DO AGREE THAT THE BABY MUST COME FIRST. THE ONLY WAY CESAR COULD HELP IS TO ALSO TAKE & KEEP THIS DOG AS THIS COUPLE COULD NEVER EVER TRUST IT AROUND THE BABY. I’M SO SORRY YOU ARE FACED WITH THIS SITUATION.
There must be someone, someplace that could take the dog as their own (a one dog house for now) and be experienced enough training dogs that would love her enough to put their whole heart into working with her. It is obvious that she will bond with someone she knows loves her. It would be great if Best Friends would take her but do not count on it. She needs a quiet home preferably with one person (her new owner) that has the time and patience to show her that she does not have to be afraid of everything and everyone else that she encounters. There is hope for this dog with the right person. She needs a home as soon as possible or the baby will be a threat to her and that could lead to tragedy hat does not need to happen. My heart goes out to the man who loves her very much and has spent four years attempting to “change”her. She can become a wonderful dog without drugs…only with a committed person with the extra time to work with her. I do know this from experience. God Bless You.
I can’t see who wrote message #10 but I agree, the dog needs to go to a knowledgeable owner who is savvy enough to keep her safe from herself. A muzzle is a must for Hayly when visitors come by since she is anxious enough to actually attack, one she can still pant and drink when wearing. She might even prefer to go to her room where she is safely away and can relax.
It can take a long time to get a dog through such fearfulness – one of mine took three years before she normalised and recognised none of my visitors were going to hurt her. She ended up being the nicest and most gentle dog who was adored by her vet staff for going to hell and back on chemo and never complaining or resisting, even though they were hurting her and making her very sick.
My present dog is fearful and dog aggressive having been abused by her breeder and inadequately socialised. I have to keep all gates padlocked to ensure that no-one lets her out, and educate visitors to ignore her and sit down quietly, not looking at her until she settles.
This is no hardship to me. I have to keep my dogs contained on my property anyway by law, and visitors learn a lot about dogs at my place which they in turn benefit from with their dogs or neighbours dogs. Sharing is what it’s all about so hopefully someone will see Deeanna’s story on this special needs puppy and take her into their home and heart. They will find the joy that is a loyal dog, even if she is a bit uptight.
What about Cesar Milan or Best Friends in Utah?
Please consider contacting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah for Haley. They may be able to take her and work with her to find a suitable home. Please don’t let a shelter put her down!!
Wow – what a sad story. These owners have done everything possible for this dog so I am not bashing them. But a new baby – that is definately gonna take his intrest off the dog – which will further upset & aggravate this poor dog. If best friends can take him – that would be my vote or like others have said – someone with a huge yard and knowledge.
As a last ditch effort (Please don’t hate me for this) I would rather see the owner take her in, hold her and wait for her to fall asleep peacefully. At leeast this way – the dog would be with the man he loved and not a member of a massive PTS day.