Hugs to you Linda ....it's so wonderful to hear the good news!

SharonCb

Oh what wonderful news! You've been on my mind constantly! Take care of yourself...

Thrilled to hear the news. Don't worry about the forgiveness right now, you just need to both heal.

Great news!

Yes, I meant to say, get yourselves healed on the outside first, then work on the insides.

It's hard right now to feel like forgiving when everything is so uncertain.

When all the stitches and drains are removed and your husband is home safe and sound and you're both feeling good; THEN work on forgiveness.

Right now all your energy needs to be on you and your husband.

You're a good person.

Wonderful news! I'm another one that has had you on my mind all week and it is great to know your DH is better!

What great, great news! I am so happy for you and your husband. I am not religious, but I don't think you can order yourself to forgive. As you are saying, it has to come from the heart. Give yourself time. As for legal recourse, be sure your actions won't set off an angry chain of events from that gang. I hate to bow down to scare tactics, but I would be scared to take on a gang member, even if, like you, I was so clearly in the right. Right now, just focus on taking care of you and your husband.
Jo

At last! Good news! I am so happy to hear DH is doing better.

Oh, that is the BEST mews! I have been waiting to hear how he is doing and so happy the news is good!

If forgiveness is important to you, it will come in time. Don't rush it, take care of your immediate needs first.

Linda

I so happy to hear the news about Tom.

"owners are affiliated with a gang known to be very violent." This is all just the pits, I hope there is some recourse for you.

So very glad to hear this. Continuing good thoughts for Tom's complete recovery.

What wonderful news, it's been a terrible week for you and your family, I'm so glad your husband is improving.

Take good care of yourself, too

Linda, great to hear that Tom is doing so well and that you are on the mend.

Ann

Wonderful news!!! I am so happy for you Linda - you and your DH have been in my thoughts every day - wishing him continuing good health and to you as well -- sigh of relief, (((hugs)))

I'm not sure if the law is the same on this everywhere (maybe Annie can chime in here), but some friends of mine were attacked by a dog while out walking with their children and their 14 year old New Foundland. The Newfie was killed trying to protect it's family. When we asked if they were planning to press charges, they said that it was completely out of their hands. The DA's office was handling it all. It was the State vs. the owners of the attacking dog, just as in a murder case involving only humans. They could file civil charges if they chose to, but all of the criminal charges were brought by the State, not by the owners of the deceased dog. I was surprised to hear this.

Glad your husband is doing better. Hope things continue to go well for both of you.

Great news!

I am so glad to hear that he is awake. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Alexa

Linda, I just read all your threads about this tragedy. I am so sorry for you, your husband, your pups, and the unwitting dog victims of those irresponsible people. As I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes, I am so inspired by your desire to forgive in what is a time of need for me. Praise be that your DH is doing better. I will keep both of you in my prayers, as well as your little pups who have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Peace~
Nancy

I am so happy to hear your good news. You and your DH have been in my thoughts and prayers everyday.

Wonderful news! I'm glad your husband is awake and hope he is back home soon.

Joanne

Warm healing thoughts being sent to you Linda, and your DH. May you both continue to a complete recovery of body and soul. Take your time and just live moment to moment, you need only worry about DH and yourself getting better. You do need an attorney, and let him/her handle any further contact with these horrid people. Hugs to you and your husband. (((Linda and DH))))
DONNA

Wooo-hooooo! I'm so happy to hear this good news. I didn't get a chance to get to my computer last night, but the first thing I wanted to do when I got to my computer this morning was check on how your DH was doing. Yeah!

What Shaun and Donna and several others have said has been so eloquent, I'm dittoing their words to you.

I can give no legal advise, and don't feel it's my place to do so. I do wonder why the violence of the gang would inhibit the media. I'd think the media would find that even more enticing. Are they actually being thoughtful enough to protect you, or are they afraid of the gang themselves?

I'm still keeping you all in my prayers.

Sally

Such wonderful news Linda! Keeping you both in my thougths and prayers! Gina

I posted on the Pets forum but in case you miss it I want to say how happy I am that your DH is doing better. I hope they do press charges against the gang and you don't have to have anything more to do with it.
Clare

You and your DH have been in my thoughts a lot this week. I'm so happy that you have great news to report. Keeping you and your DH in my thoughts and hoping for his speedy recovery. I do hope you have some recourse for all that you have gone through.

Wishing DH a speedy recovery.

: )
lyra

Dlynn, you are correct. A criminal matter is completely different from a civil matter and charges may be pressed no matter how the victims feel. Often cases are pursued by the state even if the victim doesn't want to go forward (especially so in domestic assault cases where the victim is afraid of her/his abuser).

A person being sued in a civil matter will not have a public defender. They must hire their own attorney or be "pro se" (represent themselves) unless they can find an attorney to do the work pro bono (without a fee) which I doubt would happen in this case.

Linda, sorry to go a little off course. I hope your husband is feeling better today!

This is awesome news! I have been very worried about your DH. Hope he continues to heal.

God Bless!!!

WWWWWWWWWWWHHHhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww. I've been thinking about you two loads. Good to breathe a little easier. Keep us updated on him, you, and the case against them as it progresses.

Hi Linda, thanks for keeping us posted. I am so thankful for Tom's recovery news. God bless you both--you will continue to be in my prayers as you both try to heal from this terrible ordeal. I can't even see a dog these days without thinking of your two angels. Thinking of you with love and healing thoughts.
Lpink in MI

Great News! Prayers & Good Thought's going to both of you :~)

I'm sorry I'm so behind on posting. I'm so glad that the tide has turned and things are looking up. I can't imagine all that you've been through and I hope the recovery is quick.

Tracey

Hooray, I'm so happy to hear that your DH is awake and on his way home in a couple of days.

As has been mentioned, in a criminal action the victims don't choose to press charges, the prosecution decides whether to press charges. Sometimes the request of a victim to not proceed is taken into consideration when charging decisions are made, but not in a matter like this, at least not in my jurisdiction. In addition, when proceeding we'd ask for restitution for the victim. Michigan has victim's rights spelled out in our Constitution.

Civil suits are something else and you must hire your own lawyer to sue civilly for damages. If they are known gang members, I don't know what the possibility of ever collecting fromthem are in a civil matter. Some cases can be won but the defendant's are "judgment proof", meaning they have no wages to take, no property to seize and they're never going to have anything of any value.

Annie

Linda, I'm just getting caught up a little. I'm so sorry to hear about this vicious attack. I hope they lock up the people responsible and throw away the key.

Hope you DH is home by now!

Nancy

Thanks again for all of the support. DH gets to come home today. He is doing great,although I am beginning to think that he does have some sort of deficit. He actually said that some of the hospital food was good. LOL.

Sorry that I muddied the waters about the prosecution. Sleep deprivation will do that. The State is prosecuting them. For that case, the attacking dog owners are using a public defender. We first hired our attorney in case they came after us in a civil case. You never know how some people will try to place the blame on others. There will be no civil case from our side for many reasons. These people have nothing and have gang affiliations.

As for the media, law enforcement recommended that we not use the media for our own safety because of the gangs. We have a great relationship with our local law enforcement so we followed their advice. Since one of the anchors of our local news station is my best friend and one of the editors of our local paper is our neighbor they cooperated completely with us. We just want this nightmare to be over.

I have been overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of our friends and neighbors. We had just moved back into our home a few days before the attack. We had some major storm damage from an early June storm. There was still a lot of painting and such that I had intended to do over the next few weeks. When I came home Sat. evening after having spent the day at the hospital, all of the priming and painting had been done. When I came home from the hospital Sun. evening, the house looked like nothing had ever been disturbed. All the pictures were hung, draperies were hung, and everything was back in its place. There are only two people that have keys to our home and I am sure that they arranged all of this and did most of the work. They must of had an army in here to get all of this done.

We are going to concentrate our efforts on healing our wounds and hearts now.

Thanks,
Linda

I'm glad your DH is coming home and I wish you continued good news.

What amazing and kind friends you have. I think in situations like this friends feel so helpless that anything they can do to help you in some small way makes them feel like they are showing they care. I know many people here probably also wish they could help more than just a post on a website.

All the best to you, Linda.

AM

There's no place like home, is there. Your neighbors are just amazing. How great. I'm so happy that things are on the mend.

all the best of luck in your recovery.

Good friends are the best, aren't they?! What a nice surprise for you after all you've been through - thanks so much for posting an update - continuing to send you and your DH healing wishes --

What great friends you have! Continuing with healing thoughts and prayers to you and your DH.

How heartwarming to hear that your friends care so much! I'm glad DH is home and on his way to recovery!

Wow! Some good came of this - your neighbors helping to get your house finished - incredible! They will help you heal emotionally & spiritually, and this in turn will speed healing of your physical wounds. I think of your situation every day. Thanks for letting us know how you are doing.
Keeping a low profile regarding the media, seems like the best thing. Hopefully, the State will do everything in its power to punish and prevent this from happening to someone else.
Keeping you in my prayers!

Whew. One less thing to worry about. Heal, heal heal.

Linda, I have never posted at this forum, but someone told us at Kitchen Table about the terror you, Tom and your little darlings went through. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved pets and for the harm done to you and Tom. It's just so hard to believe that thugs like those who owned the attacking dogs are allowed to walk around freely. You have been in my thoughts and prayers ever since I heard about this and will continue to be.

You and your dh must be amazing people to have friends who want to help you like they did.

God bless you and yours.

Linda

Wow! Wow! Wow! What wonderful friends/neighbors you have. I'm so glad your husband is recovering so nicely. You too. And I hope one day you can give a loving home to another little pupster.

What great news you have today. Your neighbors and friends are indeed wonderful and having that work done will allow you and your DH to concentrate on the most important thing - completing your recovery.

Sending you more good thoughts,

lee

How wonderful he's getting to come home, and to come home to a newly painted house. Your neighbors are amazing! Thanks for the update, and I'm praying for continued healing for both of you.

Sally

Great news for sure! I hope the both of you continue to heal and feel better physically. Very cool of your friends to get together and do all of that for you. Hopefully the thugs will get what they deserve.

David

Linda, I am glad your DH is well enough to come home. I hope healing continues for you both, both physically and emotionally, as that has to be extremely tough to deal with an attack of that nature.

I think you probably got some really good advice about suing the losers, probably not much to gain and alot of nightmares to revisit.

How wonderful that your friends helped you out so much. That has to be a very nice feeling after what you and your DH has been through.

Brenda

I'm just reading that your husband is awake and coming home. That is excellent news. I know you're so relieved, and I hope you can both rest now and feel safe. The story of your neighbors/friends brought a tear to my eye. I'm so glad to hear you've crossed over the hump of this ordeal, and you can take time to heal. (((HUGS to you!)))