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We were enjoying a lovely holiday in the New Forest.Myself my husband and our 2 dogs Bill and Millie. The weather had been really very hot for weeks ,the dogs seemed to cope better with it than us humans!.The dogs were fine,the had loads of extra walks and outings.
It was the Wednesday evening,all set for bed just had to settle the dogs down.Millie liked to sleep under the 'made up ' bed in the caravan..Bill always slept on his blanket nearer the door.My husband called Millie and Bill off the bed to go under it...Millie jumped down, Bill then jumped down and knocked into Millie (he always was a clumsy oaf).She grr'd at him which she would occassionally (she was the boss),Millie then turned round to go under the bed and Bill just flew at her ! It all happened so fast ,before we knew it they were all out fighting,my husband was holding Millie to pull her off.I was pulling and hitting Bill to get him off (anyone who knows a staff,knows that they have a VERY high pain threshold which is why they were bred for fighting years ago,their skulls are like iron),anyway before i knew it,Bill had released his grip on Millies face and had grip on my hand.
All i remember is the agonising pain and shouting,'get him off, he's got my hand'.He clamped onto my hand and wouldnt let go for about 20 seconds,by which time i could feel nothing,so i knew my hand was badly hurt.After he'd let go i instantly put my hand behind my back so i couldnt see it,all the time it hurt,i couldnt look.Husband put Bill outside Millie was hiding under the bed. My husband took a look at my hand whilst running it under the tap and said 'hospital'.
I had x-rays,Bill had chewed my index finger down to the bone on both joints and left a deep puncture wound in my hand.I had seven stitches on my finger which was torn from top to bottom,and one stitch in the puncture wound.Lots of injections.Nearly passed out twice.I still couldnt look at it.I still cant,5 days later.I have no feeling in that finger so i dont know if there's been nerve damage-highly likely,we'll see.
We came home the next day,Bill's behaviour left us with little choice.It wasn't the fact that he attacked Millie,It was the fact that he turned on me,the person he spent most of his time with,one who feeds/walks him every day.Played silly sods with him.
I suppose the signs had been there.For about the last 18 months in fact. Once i was walking him up the road and a small child about 4 yrs old was coming the other way a good 60 yards from us.His hackles went up and he started growling.That really worried me.A small child running past the car he went into protect/attack mode.Luckily the windows were closed.He would go for any other dog for now reason.He snarled at me a couple of times when i made him go to his bed. Once a lady was talking and fussing him,he was fine one second,the next he stared growling,hackles went up and he went for her.No reason at all.
We dont know what happened to Bill in the first ten months of his life,thats how old he was when we got him from the rescue centre.We didnt realise he was that particular breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier.When we found out ,it didnt really bother us. All dogs are individuals just like us humans.He was affectionate - a big bulldozer!He chose us.He was the only dog that came up to us in his cage,wagging like mad saying please take me home!!!He was the dog for us.
He would eat anything,he used to sit on the sofa like a human would! On a Sunday morning he would get in our bed for a fuss,we loved it.At times he could be nervous and we never knew why........ he hated tea towels,maybe he's been slapped with one once.....whenever i took him out he'd pull like a good un on the lead (extendable one) until we got to a patch of grass,then he'd go loopy !!! He always went to the loo in our back garden...what a good dog.He absoloutly doted on my husband-he was his hero....he couldn't lick him enough!!!
He was my baby.Whenever i was upset he'd cuddle me and just be there.I took him everywhere ,with his special seat belt he'd sit in the passenger seat and watch the world go by.I only had to put the rubbish out and you'ld think i'd been gone a month!!
The moment he turned on me-the decision was made.He became a dangerous dog-that wasn't our Bill. Its the worst thing to have to do,but we couldnt let it happen again,if my husband hadnt been there i wouldve lost my finger or worse and Millie would've been killed- no doubt.He went from being the best dog i had ever known to being a wild animal.I looked at him the morning we came home and he didnt wag at me,he just looked at me- the Bill i knew wasn't there anymore.
I didnt even have the guts to go into the vets with him.I went to reception and started blubbering etc,i knew it was the right thing to do but i still loved him to bits.My husband muzzled him before taking him in.Apparently it was very quick ,he didnt whimper or flinch-he still liked going to the vets... I have never seen my husband so upset before.Our fantastic holiday turned into a complete nightmare.The nurses at the vets were very nice..we were in right states what with me and my bandaged hand...we asked the vets to have him cremated ....
The whole 'thing' has really shaken us up.Bill was such a loving dog- he had his faults but to turn in an instant as he did.I'm afraid i will never trust a staff again yet i know they are such loving silly soppy dogs, i dont think i'll be so affectionate towards ANY other dog now .Bill would have killed to protect me and my husband,i know he doted on us.....what a shock....you dont know...you just dont know...
