For those that seem to think that people are choosing animals over hungry/homeless children, please be aware that many, many people contribute to (or otherwise support) a variety of charities and causes. Not just animals. Not just homeless. Not just hunger. Etc. Some people distribute their discretionary funds to multiple things that they believe in. Myself included. They're not mutually exclusive.

And if anyone says "I have no discretionary funds", well, if you only have $1 to give, that would be a very generous gift.

OT - just a couple of quick remarks

Where I live, food banks have started to ask for, to buy and to give out pet food if needed. But it sounds like some may think that this is a waste of resources and that families who fall on hard times should have to give up their pets. I disagree.

Also some homeless people have their own dogs and I suspect that for them that is the only steady part of their lives, the one part where unconditional love and companionship exists. Some shelters have now become pet friendly and in at least one nearby community vets volunteer their services once a year to give a free check up to those pets owned by the homeless.

i don't think that the value of having a pet can ever be undervalued and research is bearing that out. It's also why more and more senior facilities (including the ones where my mom and MIL live) have dogs that live in the residence.

DH and I have had pet dogs most of our married life (50+ years). I'm just very aware of how big an industry pets have become in the US. (I don't know about other countries.) I was pretty surprised when I totaled up what we spent on our last Westie from puppy rescue to age 15 . He required special food and had ailments that resulted in constant vet bills all of his life. It made me think how much difference that money would have made in a person's life.

Animal charities must be awash in funding, given the expensive TV ads we see. Thousands of shelters employ people to feed an *endless* supply of dogs and cats. It's a huge industry, and you can see in this thread the rancor one receives to question it.

I'm not anti-pet. I do question how far overboard our society seems to have gone in this direction. All of our personal charities serve basic human needs. One of my favorites is called Mother's Trust -- helping with 'beyond basic' needs of children for small things like new glasses, uniforms, a party dress, bus fare, etc. *I* would rather fund these things. Others may not, but whatever a person decides, there's only just so much in that discretionary 'pot'.

That's all. I'm sorry to have distracted from the issue at hand with Texas_Gem's daughter's dog.

Chisue - I agree with you that the pet industry is big business. Any time an industry gets as big as this one is, it can create interesting behavior to ensure/sustain their continued growth. We agree on this point.

However, the "rancor" you feel is not based on questioning what that industry may be promoting - but rather the way you specifically question the "priorities" (your own words) of actual individual posters here.

This is not the first time you've made very pointed (and in my opinion mean spirited) comments toward people here who are choosing to live their life in a way you don't approve. It is 100% your right to hold whatever opinion you want, all I would say is that you may (or may not?) wish to consider how you share your thoughts on the issue in the future.

It's one thing to talk about how big business may be driving or creating weird behavior at a societal level - however it's another thing all together to call someone stupid and inhumane (from a prior thread). The pet industry obviously bothers you and again, that's fine - but please don't take it out on individual people with name-calling and by casting aspersions.

Texas Gem, good luck finding her a new home. I had to comment because when we adopted Nigel about 10 years ago, he was also listed as an Aussie heeler at the shelter. He was about a year old at the time. I knew he wasn’t that, but it took my vet to tell me he is mostly Catahoula. He is submissive to my female dog (about 15 pounds lighter than he is). He can ignore really small dogs, but does act aggressive toward big dogs. Does Tina have the same colors as Nigel? My vet said they often put the heeler tag on dogs with that color.

Raee- oh my goodness, that is horrible. I know many can be rehabbed that have shown territorial behaviors and/or aggression to humans but, at least for me, I could never have a dog that has shown aggression to humans in my home. I just wouldn't want to risk it with my children.

Here is Tina, she has the characteristic heterochromia that Catahoulas have but the real tell tell, according to the trainer, was her spots. You can't tell from these pictures but she has overlapping different colored spots (like a leopard??), dark brown on top of reddish brown, which is apparently a very unusual coloring that very few breeds have.

what a sweetie! Look at those eyes. Awwww

Texas_Gem, Tina is just beautiful ... complete with one blue eye.

Can I get some feedback/opinion on this flyer? This is a rough first draft.

I'm not much of a story teller but it looks OK to me other than the left out word in the sentence "look like toys TO me". You left the word "to" out. You could say somewhere that she is fine with dogs that are about her same size.

She is very adorable and you know, a lot of dogs will attack small animals. We had an incident here where my neighbor has his little dog outside on a tie out just for a few minutes to go potty. Just so happened, the other neighbor's two large dogs got out and were roaming and one of the large dogs attacked the little one but luckily the man was home and got out there FAST or the little one would have been killed. The two big dogs aren't bad dogs, they just cannot be around little ones.

My friend has a husky that will kill any small animal that gets into his yard, not other dogs though, but a cat or a rabbit, coon etc. They will be toast!

Can you work her breed into the flyer? "Mom says I'm a Catahoula, but I'm sure there is no cat in me!" Also, would it be possible to get a happier picture? She looks a little grumpy and fearsome in those.

That’s the only thing I noticed. The word “to” left out.

Good luck. I hope it works out somehow. She’s a beautiful dog. She could be a great help to someone with a job for her to do.

I think she looks adorable in the pictures. Both capture her sweetness.

Love aok's "cat" joke! Maybe you haven't shown us the whole flyer, but do you actually state somewhere that this dog needs to be re-homed? Free to good home, I presume? (Oh and can she live with cats, do you know, or do they fit in as small animals she can't live with)

Very good write up; Tina looks very smart and appealing. When you first posted I was so afraid this story would end up badly for the dog ... but now it looks so hopeful.

I hope Tina finds a good home. I think your flyer is great, it accurately describes what is going on with her and the fact that whoever adopts her will need to exercise her and keep her away from small dogs. I hope she finds her forever home!

I love the photos of Tina! The flyer looks good! I have high hopes she finds an active new home.

.I agree with adding her breed and maybe a sentence about them so that people understand why she needs the exercise etc.

Tina looks very alert and lovable in those pictures, I think. And maybe just a bit wistful, like she's yearning for some love. Makes me want to hug her!

I love the way you've worded the flyer! I didn't even notice the missing 'to', but I have a tendency to read things as my mind thinks they should be rather than how they are.

I do agree that you should add that Tina needs a new home, rather than just a dog-sitter or play date, as current wording could be interpreted. Also maybe include size (weight)? And definitely include breed!

Your flyer is well done and attractive, I'm hoping just the right person will see it and give Tina the home she deserves.

Rusty

I love the picture on the flyer! She looks sweet. I'd definitely include her breed, some people may be looking for that specifically.

Please don't give her away for free! You need to charge a re-homing fee. Too many bad people are out there wanting free dogs to use either as bait dogs or to sell to laboratories. We had someone around here years ago who would send his sweet (acting) wife to get dogs for him. Ugh. I hate people sometimes.

I find this misleading. Tina wasn't playing with your other dogs. From what you said, she would have killed them if you had not intervened. Did I read that wrong?

I apologize if I have hurt anyone's feelings. I only wanted to challenge a sentiment that appears to equate animals with people. This is not saying animals don't have value, or that some people find *people* more difficult than animals! lol

I agree to add her breed and that she is being re-homed. Also instead of saying "I don't go potty in the house anymore", I would just say that she is housebroken.

Also I would just say that "I am really great with kids. Seriously not a fan of small animals of any kind. I would love a home where I'm the only star or maybe share with another dog my size."

Yes, you should add her weight since it's hard to judge her size from her beautiful pictures. I think Tina will be able to find the right home for her. I'm sure it's hard for you but you know you are doing the right thing for all concerned.

I agree with chisue on the point about small animals. Saying she hurts small animals because she wants to play makes it sound like she's just a big ol' clumsy goof who tripped over a little dog one time. I'd be very clear that she does not get along with small dogs and/or cats, otherwise you could end up with more trouble on your hands. It's not at all unusual for dogs to be like this and I see shelters ads for dogs all the time that say the animal doesn't get along with little dogs and cats. I don't think that will hurt her chances, but being honest about it will go a long ways towards making sure she finds the right kind of home. None of us want to see Tina back to square one because she ends up back in the same sort of situation she's in now.

I also don't see anything about her breed or size on the flyer. I think that she's a catahoula/pitt mix along with her weight should be included as well. She's a very cute dog, but I can definitely see the pitt in her head shape and facial features. That's another thing potential adopters should know. Lots of people love pitts, but others won't have one in their house.

You're off to a good start, but I'd definitely mention those very important details. You can be honest about her and her issues and still take a positive and upbeat tone in your flyer.

Good luck to you and Tina!

Yes, PLEASE do not give her away for free! This is bad. Share_oh said it correctly.

And I agree that you shouldn't say that she thinks of smaller animals as toys. To server Tina best, please be completely honest about that behavior. Otherwise, someone else may think it's minor and that they can correct it, and end up with a dead pet and/or come to know that Tina is dangerous and then rehome her again .... and again ....

She certainly is a beautiful dog! I think she will definitely find a home, and I am glad you are taking this route to find a home for her, rather than sending her back to the pound. Even the humane society and SPCA puts down dogs. Some shelters here will automatically put down pit bulls and pit crosses. Texas needs stringent laws concerning having dogs and cats spayed. Most rescues send their dogs to the east or west coast to be homed there.

TG, I think your flyer is misleading because of how you've essentially whitewashed and avoided mentioning the problem by using cute words. "I guess that I was too rough with them". Really? She nearly killed your dog and has attacked other dogs on several occasions when given the opportunity.

I know your intentions are good but I don't know how you think it fair to avoid calling a spade a spade. You're trying to rid yourself of the problem by passing it on to someone else. The dog has shown dangerous attack behavior and can't be trusted. You haven't clearly said that. How would you feel in a home with a small baby and this dog, and you need to walk out of the room to do something? You didn't mention anything about that.

If you were on the receiving end, you'd want to know the truth and upon learning it, you'd probably decline taking this dog. Trying to pass the problem on to someone else by withholding significant facts could make you liable for any damages or injury this dog causes at a future date.

Return the dog to the shelter it came from and make sure they know why. You're not responsible for this dog's unfortunate personality but you would be responsible for the consequences of any unfortunate future incidents if you're not careful about it.

I'm sorry for the tough love but honestly, it's not worth the risk. Good luck.

Good point ya'll about avoiding "Free to good home", I hadn't thought about creeps with bad intentions. Good catch.

edited to add: Especially with this dog, I think the flyer is only the starting point of a conversation. I'm sure you want to ensure any potential new owner understands fully what they are getting into, and are prepared to deal with it.

Ok, so the woman who has worked in insurance with legal issues her entire professional career has to once again agree with Elmer's advice above.

My opinion is that dog needs to go back to the shelter from whence it came, and it needs to go yesterday.

Your intentions are so admirable and I adore your tender heart - but you are potentially creating an extremely dangerous situation which could boomerang back onto you in many bad ways.

Tina is a beautiful girl!

Did you contact rescue groups?

Regarding the flyer. I would change the sentence about Tina not being able to live with small animals. The way it is currently worded glosses over the issue. Maybe word it "I can not live with small animals, I'll let my mom tell you more about that".

What is the age of the youngest child this animal has been around? please don’t say it loves kids if it can’t be trusted around a crawling baby or infant.

Also agree about rephrasing your flier. Don't try to be minimizing her behavior; you might not be really trying to do that but the cute language seems to.

Describe her breed (include what catahoulas are bred for), her size, her training so far, and describe her needs bluntly. It was smart to include that she needs a "job" - emphasize that. Also that you have found her to be affectionate but that she wasn't right for your home environment and she needs to be the only pet.

Since she does display aggression I also would be concerned about who adopts her. A small fee might not be enough to deter someone who wants her for fighting. If you can't find a rescue organization to take her and re-home her, at least deliver the dog yourself and insist on seeing the circumstances the best you can. No guarantees with that but better than nothing, I think.

I disagree, I think this behavior is very common in larger dogs! I hear this from people all the time, I'm a regular dog park member. There are also a lot of dogs that end up not being able to come to the dog park because they cannot interact with even dogs their own size. This is nothing new! It happens all the time. I do agree that she needs to be straight forward about what happened and the danger she would pose to a small animal; dog, cat etc etc. Please do not sugar coat it! It really isn't that big of a deal as far as I'm concerned. I do not think this would stop me from adopting a dog, I would just know that I would not be able to own a small dog or cat. Not a big deal to me! There is no reason that Tina cannot find a good loving home with some big dogs to play with or in an only dog home with active owners.

"I think this behavior is very common in larger dogs! "

I couldn't disagree more, after a lifetime of having only large dogs in my home.

Little yappy dogs seem much more likely to bite and pick fights. But I wouldn't generalize.

Elmer, how much time do you spend at the dog park every day? I go every day and encounter lots of people and dogs in the years that I have been going. We talk about our dogs and dog issues. I couldn't disagree with YOU MORE! You also just said that you have ONLY LARGE DOGS in your home...so just exactly how do you know that if you brought a little dog into your house that one of your large dogs would not go after it? There are several people that are members of our dog park group that go daily that their dog will kill any small animal that would be in front of it! They wouldn't just get rid of their dogs because of this behavior! They just know that they have to keep them separated from small animals!

It takes a serious person to have a dog like this.

Your flyer is not a good idea. I agree with Elmer. The wording is misleading. Only someone experienced and dedicated can handle this type of dog.

How would you feel if you passed her on and she did much worse?

And I agree with someone using her for dog fighting or as bait.

She needs to be returned to the shelter unless someone you know who knows what happened is up for the task.

ETA without reading your post it was obvious to me she is a pit/ mix

Add that to another aggressive breed, why would you want to have this in a home with kids.

Very well said Eld and thank you for having the conviction to say it.

Texas, how will you feel if you place that dog and she hurts a baby? You said you've had dogs your whole life. So you have to understand some dogs can't handle their own prey drive. This dog has established herself as a dangerous dog. What if a toddler starts running and screaming, and this dog grabs it?

I don't understand why you're fooling around with this. Give her back to the shelter and tell them why.

arkansas girl, I guess I'm mistaken and am ignorant concerning decades of dog experiences because I haven't been to your dog park. Yes, it's another face palm moment.

I am getting a bit confused. Is Tina dog aggressive or is it prey drive? How does she behave around bigger dogs? My Nigel is aggressive towards dogs that are at least almost his size, can ignore small ones. He loves cats and leaves squirrels alone. It can be at times stressful if I walk them and a big dog on the loose runs towards us. But we managed now for almost 11 years without an incident. Knock on wood. He was an owner surrender, wonder sometimes if that was the reason. The shelter said they didn’t know.

Elmer, you mean how my actual experience rehabilitating fighting dogs does not apply because your "experts" don't think it can be done? *smack*

Have a good day, amy.

That's what I thought.

You misunderstood my comment. Have a nice day.

Texas, your very first post above says, "given that she has attacked, and seems triggered to attack small animals, she can't really be rehomed."

Yet now you're trying to rehome her yourself. I don't understand what's changed.

I don't understand why she would not be able to be rehomed? I see many dogs up for adoption at our local rescues that have some issues that are addressed such as dog aggression. That doesn't mean that they cannot be rehomed. Now if they are people aggressive, that is a different issue. But why can't Tina be adopted by someone that doesn't have small dogs or cats in their house? Why are y'all making this dog out like she's just going to tear everyone apart? Ridiculous! She has said nothing about her being aggressive toward people!

Nickel- yes this flyer is only a starting off point, I will explain her full history in detail to anyone that is interested.

She has been around crawling babies, toddlers, preschoolers and up.

She has shown NO aggression towards humans, as I said, I wouldn't have an animal in my house that shows aggression towards people.

Seems like some of you may not be aware that showing aggression towards humans and showing aggression towards others dogs are two separate issues.

She's never been around cats so I don't know how she would be but I wouldn't want to risk it which is why I said no small animals.

She plays just fine with our other dog who is the same size. I took her for a walk yesterday. One of my neighbors breeds greyhounds and lets them run loose around the neighborhood (don't even get me started on THAT), well one of the greyhounds came charging towards us and she hid behind me.

That's been her only experience around a dog much larger than she is.

Yes, the top of the flyer has her breed and weight.

Thanks for the tips

When we were recently looking for a new dog to adopt I came across many posts from rescues of dogs who either had to be the only dog or the dog didn't like cats, no small children, etc. It might take a while, but hopefully there will be someone out there that will be a good fit for her.

Texas Gem stated she came from a kill shelter. If she takes her back there, she will be killed, I can almost 100% guarantee that. I used to volunteer for our local humane society for about 10 years. They called themselves a no-kill shelter - because they didn't euthanize for time or space. BUT if an owner brought back for any type of biting reason - they were immediately put down. Once a shelter knows a history they can then be held liable if anything should happen in the future. Plus most shelters are so full, they have to save the more adoptable dogs than the troubled ones.

There are so many really good dogs looking for homes. Kind, soft, gentle dogs are euthanized every day because they have no home.

I know what follows will sound mean, but my personal opinion (yes I know it's worth what you paid for it), is that aggressive dogs like this should be humanely put down. I'm sorry if that sounds upsetting. This is where Chisue and I may agree - we can't be prioritizing the "rights" (if that's the right word) of an aggressive dog over the rights of humans and other animals to live in peace.

I will admit I have had 2 very disturbing unprovoked attacks from pit mixes in the past and so I believe those experiences are now coloring my feelings on this. Both times my dog and I were attacked while walking and my dog was (is) always on a leash - and both times the owners swore it was just an "accident" that the dog got loose.

Aggressive dogs are a massive liability and I don't understand why some people will go to great lengths to keep them alive. Again, I'm honestly not trying to be hurtful with this, but I think we as a society are indeed starting to go a little dog-crazy over issues like this.

I agree with Patriceny to an extent, to me dogs who have attacked humans (not guard dogs, or self defense if someone is beating or torturing the dog, but unprovoked attacks) and caused injury should never be around children, and the owner should be (and in many places is) financially liable for damages if there is a second attack

. The burden should be onerous enough so that most shelters and many people will choose euthanasia for a dog which has physically attacked a person and caused injury. I think penalties if there was no disclosure and a second injury occurred should be extremely substantial.

But many times border collies nip at sheep while rounding them up. Some of them even try to herd their humans.

If one euthanized for nipping, it might be that the entire breed would have to be killed off, border collie genocide. So where is the line between nipping associated with prey drive and aggression? Is there one? I think there is, and I am personally very fond of border collies.

Some people just aren't dog lovers. I suppose they have a right to an opinion too....even if I don't agree with it.

But other people may love dogs, but also realize that people, all people but particularly children, are entitled to protection from dogs with histories of injuring humans.

I think for dogs that have injured other dogs and the incident appears to be prey drive, perhaps what should be required if a new home is sought is full written disclosure to potential new owners. I think at this point financial responsibility for a second injury should rest squarely and fully on the new owner who takes the dog with full knowledge of its propensities.

Out of an abundance of caution, I would not rehome a large powerful dog who had injured a tiny dog into a family with tiny children. I would not permit the dog who is the subject of this thread around babies or small children while any rehoming efforts are pending.

When I adopted my mini-poodle, I got her from a family that didn't want her any more. They had a doberman that would attack her...guess what, they kept the doberman and got rid of the miniature poodle...go figyah!