“When we were first approached by Reid’s owner, we were going to place by direct to adoption to a potential adopter approved within our organization. While we felt that from the behavior assessment done by another APRH volunteer he would be a good fit for this adopter, the timeline would just not work out for when the adopter would be able to take him. Reid’s original owner was giving us reason to believe he was in an unsafe and negligent environment - allowing him to roam unattended into traffic (causing him to “maybe get hit by a car”), and most pressingly into their neighbors property - which was causing the most strife for the family (Reid, the Australian Shepherd liked to herd the neighbors cattle). This behavior resulted in injury to his eye, the owner remarked “I think he was shot”, but we speculate a kick from cattle to be more likely.
As we would not be able to place Reid immediately with the potential adopter, our Rep. made the decision to pull Reid from his home (the owner also gave her an ultimatum either bring him into our organization, or she would drop him off at a shelter).
From the behavior assessment and the owners own testimony, his issues were with his feet being touched, and being groomed (Okay - lots of dogs have anxiety around their feet being touched). A trainer who had Reid for a few days noted to us that his nails had been trimmed way beyond the quick, and were probably very painful - the owners brought him to a vet to be sedated and have his nails trimmed and coat shaved (to feel a shock collar).
Reid was placed into a Foster home Saturday August 1 He was placed with a Foster #1. Immediately upon drop off, our rep was concerned with the initial impression of Reid in the home. She was very concerned with Reid’s ability to acclimate in the Foster home. The Reid initially tried to dominate the Foster’s dog, who then snapped at Reid. Reid was tense from his travels and stressed in the new environment. Our Rep. repeatedly cautioned to give Reid time to decompress and keep the dogs separated. On SundayAugust 2nd, Foster #1 was petting Reid in the family room (or tv room) when the home dog approached, Reid snapped and bit the fosters finger (Bite report 1).
On Monday August 3rd, our Rep. reported the incident to the ARPH bite committee, Montgomery County Animal Control(per our organization’s Rules and Procedures) and began searching for a reputable board and train facility where Reid could spend the 10 day quarantine mandated by the state of Maryland.
A board and train facility agreed to take Reid that night for his quarantine. A volunteer drove Reid from Foster #1 to the board and train.
He was eager to leave, easily jumped in the car and was calm on our 40 minute ride. He even happily took some French fries. Although they were cautious, they never felt threatened while putting him in my car, during the ride, or taking him out of the car.
Upon arriving at board and train number one, the volunteer stood and spoke with the trainer, while Reid wandered and he quietly observed his new surroundings. Although very out of it (likely due to the “calming” treats #1 had given him) he was drawn to the volunteers husband, nuzzling his hand for pets. Reid did well at the board and train. He relaxed in his surrounding and learned to enjoy a bully stick. Montgomery County closed the case and ARPH allowed him to stay in the program.
Due to space, the initial board and train was only able to hold him for the span of his quarantine, our Rep didn’t immediately have a foster for him, so made the decision to move him to a second board and train facility (with considerable outdoor space) and continue his work.
The first board and train said he was still decompressing, and didn’t appreciate dogs approaching his crate, but nothing more of note. The new board and train only had him for a few days, as our board of directors decided he could live - but needed to be placed with a foster immediately. While we didn’t like that decision (since he needed training that a foster could not give), we felt as though the alternative was him being euthanized - so onAugust 22nd his final foster traveled to pick him up. Reid was pleasant in the home, was working on getting used to his crate, loved to play ball, was pretty decent on a leash, and showed a HUGE interest in getting love from his fosters. The fosters saw no signs of his being wary of his feet, but continued to provide him with space as he had only been in the home a few days. Reid did show some signs of stress in the first few days (shown in humping/pawing) which our trainer thought could be Reid trying to control the situation (as he had at that point been moved to 4 homes inside of a couple of weeks). They were being very patient with him, and were happy to see that he showed interest in her fiance. On the evening of August25/or26th Reid was quietly chewing a toy at the fosters feet before bed. The resident dog approached Reid, which Reid interpreted as a move to take his toy, Reid growled and showed his teeth. Without thinking, the foster scolded Reid, pushing him away from his dog, which in turn caused Reid to growl/bare teeth at the foster. Instead of heeding the warning the foster pushed Reid back to avoid further confrontation, which Reid took as a threat. It was at this moment that Reid reacted in fear and bit the fosters hand (bite report 2). Immediately following the interaction Reid returned to the foster's side wanting love and pets. While the foster family insisted on keeping Reid in their home, and felt terrible and took full responsibility for the bite, our board insisted he spend his quarantine in a vet boarding facility, where he currently resides. We then received the result of their investigation which was that Reid would be euthanized at the end of his 10d quarantine at this vet facility. The facility will not let any of the volunteers involved with his case visit or remove him from the facility, and he will spend his last days in a kennel.
ASF, who has more specialized foster/trainers who deal with dogs with behavior problems - they agreed to take him and rehabilitate him (something we tried to do by placing him in a board and train facility),however our board said it would be “irresponsible” to place him in another rescue. We have also offered to pay for behaviorist evaluations, offered to cover his training costs, and we have even had volunteers offer to adopt him in order to get the help he needs, which was also met with a firm no.
Both counties that did bite investigations ruled the bites provoked and does not pose a threat.
#savereid #getreidtoASF