ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS > FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE
My Friend Tuff
Ben Framed:
Once I received a phone call form a family of two small children, This family had raised a Australian Blue Heeler. Beautiful dog. This type dog makes a great stock dog and good friend! The family children were young and small for this breed of dog. Constantly, these children would pick him up by his head, his ear, leg or what ever, causing pain for this puppy. As he grew older, he slowly became defensive, until one day, he had, had enough of humans. He hated humans! All of his life, all he had known was abuse. The family had taken him to the pound, (SHELTER), but the dog was classified as an aggressive vicious dog and the Animal Shelter, after evaluating him, said he would not be put up for adoption, but euthanized. The Mom and Dad did not want to see the dog put to sleep. I was called. I took the dog and could not touch him or pet him. He meant business! The dad put my collar on him and slowly gingerly put him into he carrying kennel. All the while the dog was growling at the dad, lips quivering, teeth flashing!! I knew I had my hands full! This animal was so beautiful!! Yet he was sentenced to death row! I was the only hope left for him. I desperately wanted to save him, to become friends with him. Each day before going to work I would go the him, talk to him, offer to him kind affection. Feed him from my hand, all the while he would growl at me and show his teeth even while eating from my hand. Nothing kind to him seemed to work. No matter how kind, how concerned for him I was, he hated me! After two weeks, of doing all possible to gain his trust, his friendship their was no change for the good. I would sit down just out of his reach and talk to him, no good came of it. His mind was made up, all mankind was his enemy. One day I came home form work and a big tree limb had fallen form a tree into his gracious yard, he had a really nice dog house. plenty of room plenty of shade etc. Anyway one day I came home and a limb had fallen form the tree and was tangled up in his chain! I said boy you need help. Now I am your friend. I am going to reach down and slowly untangle you. Do not bite me boy. I realize a dog can't not understand complete sentences but they CAN understand kindness but nothing says they have to accept it . Just as people... I reached down slowly, easily touched his head to pet. As every other time he growled, showing his teeth, with lips quivering. I could feel the tenseness in his feel. He was ready and willing to bite me, this I knew. I also knew he needed help so I said , boy I am your friend. I am here to help you. I am trying to save your life from death row. Now don't bite me boy. I reached to untangle the chain and he attacked me.. He had my hand and meant business. I still have the scars! My patience had ran out. Kindness or goodness didn't work with him and was either save him or let them kill him. So what did I do?
This is what I did, I didn't have a muzzle and if I had, had one I wouldn't have known how to put it on him under these circumstance. I KNEW if I called the animal control people and they saw where he had attacked me, I was pretty sure what his fate would be, remember he had already been condemned to death by these folks. I wasn't happy but wasn't surprised at his reaction. Again I was trying to help him is the most humane, kindest, way, up to this point. All the kind treatment, feeding from the hand, soft easy voice and time spent by his side was not accepted by him, nor was it appreciated. He saw me as just another mean human and the hatred for me had been made known and demonstrated. The way I saw it I had at least three choices. Call the animal people, (sure death for him). Just go ahead and give up on him and put him to sleep myself, as I couldn't just leave him with only a few feet of freedom, with the tangled chain. (Which would have been inhuman), or try another approach. I chose the latter and final solution and if plan C, the final solution didn't work, then I would have to call the Animal people. I already had my good thick western boots on, I knew this would protect my feet and lower legs to some extent. I went to my truck, put on my, (Wells Lamont White Mule) gloves. And for self defense, I picked up my horse quirt, Mexican style that was not hard or something that would cause damage to him, only sting him, if, this became necessary to protect my self. ( To give those of you and idea the style, was used on the movie Lonesome Dove, by Gus and Call) So I went back to him, with my equipment and a blood soaked glove, again I tried a kind voice, made my way to him, again he lunged at me but I was ready for this action from him. I jerked my hand back, just in time . Stepped on the free part of the chain. He grabbed my foot and started slinging, shaking, most violently and vigorously. As a dog shakes a deadly snake or another dog in a dog fight! Let me tell you, he meant business! All the kindness from me towards him was useless and beyond approach. So, in defense of myself I lit back into him. He was clamped down on my foot as a pit bulldog, seeming to have the hope removing it from my body steady slinging! I was striking back at the same time. But let me tell you, He was growling, marking sounds of a dogs in a dog fight, and at this point so was I. We had it out! After a few seconds of this, he decided that he had had enough of this and turned loose of my foot and stood there. I immediately stopped my returned aggression toward him. Letting him think about it for a few seconds. Changed my tone, and talked to him kindly and telling him "this wasn't necessary, your choice not mine" I know that he couldn't understand the words but he could understand the kindness and lack of aggression toward him as he had shown toward me. I slowly eased my hand down to rub his head. When I touched it he growled once again, but for the first time, he did not, show his teeth or quiver his lips. He was making sure that I was not as one of the previous humans he had felt with. Letting me know do not pull my ears or legs. I easily rubbed his head, talked to him consoling him. He then licked his lips licked my hand!! I was shocked at the sudden change of his attitude! I didn't push the issue. However, I gently talked to him, rewarded him for his kindness toward me, letting him know that I was not his enemy all the while reassuring him "I am your friend" through actions as well as words. I worked with him for several days making steady progress keeping him Isolated from other humans. He easily learned the meaning of the words No, Sit, Stay, Come and other basic things that a behaved dog should know. Finally releasing him. He was my pal and best friend and I was his. Where I went, he went. When I left to go to the horse barn, in the back of the truck he would go! He stood behind the cab, head to the outside. Wind blowing through his hair and a stance as saying " I am the king of the world" If a Snake cross my path or was lurking in the barn area he protected me. If a cow were to charge me if got to close to a calf he had my back. He was a trusted "wing man" handling the threat. He was so well behaved and so dependable. Such a good friend as could be found. Immediacy after the incident I told him you are a tough one boy, you name is "Tuff" Tuff and I were best friends for years!! And may I add I never had to use the quirt ever again. He learned, that day, the difference in abuse toward him in his previous circumstances and defense from me in our circumstances. What a great, loyal, proud, happy beautiful dog 🐶, My Friend Tuff !!
Ben Framed:
I finished this as I am sitting in ICU with my dad. He is showing a signs of improvement.
BeeMaster2:
That is a great story Phillip. Glad it worked out.
I hope everything works out for your dad.
Jim
BeeMaster2:
Maybe now Iddee will let you off the hook. :cheesy:
Jim
Ben Framed:
--- Quote from: sawdstmakr on January 27, 2019, 01:13:23 pm ---That is a great story Phillip. Glad it worked out.
I hope everything works out for your dad.
Jim
--- End quote ---
Thanks Jim, Seems to be a some better. White blood has went down some, which is a good thing! Now giving him 75 oxygen down from 85 yesterday, before that was 100 which is a good thing too! keep praying!! Thanks my friend.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version