Untold story of the Dog that deserved better. 

We had just moved into our new place about 2 weeks prior to this event. It's really one of those moments where my wife and I looked at each other after and said "You can't make this shit up!" 

It was a random afternoon, I was relaxing on the couch while my wife was up in her office working. My wife heard screaming for help from the back green space behind our home, which she alerts me to check out what's going on. I go out back and all I hear is "DOG ATTACK!!" "OUT FRONT!!" I see a very large white dog with no leash or collar, biting and jumping onto a man in what looks like attempts to get at his little dog which is up in his arms. (I found out after a few locals had jumped in to try and stop the dog but with all attempts, this dog didn't stop.) I immediately bolted out the front of my house and grabbed the dog around the neck, and used all my weight to just hold him. I then yelled to my wife to help get the man and his dog into the house for safety and further help. While my wife was attending to the victims, I tried to get further control of this, what appeared to be an "aggressive" dog. So I yelled to a few locals standing by for anything that can be used as a leash to gain more control, a shoe lace, a belt, rope, anything! One man began to approach with a belt, which I asked him to toss it and not come any further to avoid any issues that I'm not aware of yet. After I got the belt on the dog I started to walk with him, asking him to sit and focus on me and not the multiple other dogs now barking in the neighbourhood. I walked around in front of my house until people cleared away and I could get him safely into my back yard. 

By this time my wife and the victims have help on the way, as well as animal control to figure out if or who this big dog belongs to. After doing some assessments in the backyard, I came to the realisation that this big guy was most likely a dog aggressive, but not necessarily aggressive towards humans. Unfortunately due to the man trying to protect his little dog (which anyone would) he ended up with most of the injuries.

So fast forward some time. I've been in the back yard with this dog, the man has left for the hospital, his small dog has been taken to the vet and my wife has been talking with police and animal control. We have scanned the dog to find out he is chipped and has an owner. Police and animal control contacted the owner and we are now just waiting for them to arrive. 

This whole time, I was falling for this giant. As he layed in the grass, he just had this look in his eyes. Almost like he knew. He made a big mistake. He was covered in blood, swollen from taking hits in an attempt to get him to stop, he was hot and tired, but he wasn't the dog everyone else just saw him as. He was gentle, he was obedient when I asked something of him, his tail wagged as my wife spoke to him. He just lacked leadership. Deep down, he was a good dog.

When the owner showed up, I told him how much he failed this beautiful dog. He failed as a pet parent. Because of his lack of experience with a breed such as this one, a strong dog such as this one, and never led this boy a day in his life, he set him up for failure. 

This story doesn't end well for some. The man and small dog did end up ok after some medical care! I will put that out there first. But the aggressor, this big, white, on the loose, aggressive dog doesn't get the same ending.

This dog was put in quarantine at animal control for a minimum of 14 days. Within these 14 days the dog was assessed, deemed aggressive and put to sleep. This dog did have a family, children at home that loved him. This dog was a dog that lacked boundaries, structure and was never taught to make the right choices. After this day, he never got to go home. He didn't get any second chances. 

To me that is unfair. This is why there needs to be change. This dog could have had a second chance at life if someone took the time. But no one seems to have the time anymore. 

I will never forget this day. Or this dog. It's moments like this that have kept me going in the industry in some way. I will always strive for more. For better. For the ones who don't have a voice. 

To some, I became a neighbourhood hero that day. But to me, I did what felt natural. I was just in the right place, right time. To the big guy that didn't get another chance, he too was doing what was natural to him, yet he had to suffer for it. May he forever rest in peace knowing there's people still out here trying to make it right.