My sister's dog killed her other dog today :-( :-(
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My sister's dog killed her other dog today :-( :-(
My sister has rescued dogs for years. She has had a female basenji mix (Nutmeg) for over 6 years, and about 6 years ago she adopted a female chow mix (Ginger) that she helped rescue from an extremely abusive situation. They've lived together happily for years - they have always been called The Spice Girls. LOL A few months ago she adopted a male basenji/JRT mix (Coco), and about that time she started having trouble with Ginger being very aggressive.
Ginger was very abused in her former situation - beaten, left chained up, starved. When she got Gigi (as we call her), she was skin and bones, infections, starving, terrified of humans. My sister nursed her to health, pampered her, loved her, and the dog healed and gained weight and lost that haunted, terrified, wounded look in her eyes.
Now, I know, 2 females, different breed mixes, both at some point wanting to be alpha - not a good combination. But as she said, Nutmeg, her first dog, is sort of *off* - always assumed the role of *puppy*, and Ginger accepted that. When Coco came along, Nutmeg mothered him, so then there were 2 *adult* female dogs in the house. That's when the trouble started.
They have had 3 or 4 bloody battles in the last few months. Both have been injured, each has had a turn at being the aggressor. She has tried for several months to rehome Ginger, but has gotten no offers. She's had to keep them separated in their own home, and if they are in the same room, they have to be leashed and kept away from each other. A far cry from how it used to be.
Sadly, today, they had their final fight, as my sister wrote below:
Earlier I was working in my office with Nutmeg while Ginger & Coco enjoyed the freedom of the rest of the house. Suddenly there was a commotion outside and all three dogs began barking.
It sounded like someone was at my dining room door, which is totally NOT OK. Since I cannot see that door from the office, I left the office to see what was happening, Nutmeg, faster than greased lightening, slipped out between my legs.
For the first time in over a month, the Girls were loose together and they were "on" each other before I even had a chance to react. I grabbed a blanket and followed the whirling mass of fur and blood, waiting for the slightest break.
The fighting dogs rolled back into the office and on into the foyer. Nutmeg had Ginger down and was biting at her chest. Ginger was holding fast to Nutmeg's muzzle but making a horrible noise. I knew I had to act quickly to save her life. For a second, Ginger let go and I was able to get the blanket around Nutmeg and pull her away into another room. When Ginger stood, I knew she was badly hurt. Blood was pouring from her chest and soaking the carpet in big puddles. She staggered into the office where she fell.
I tried and tried to get her up to get her to the car. She could not stand and was going into shock. I called my vet and asked her to come. She was here in 10 minutes.
Ginger's breathing was labored. It was clear to the vet that she had a punctured lung as well as other injuries. With absolutely no leads for another home, even if Ginger survived, the risk of another such battle would continue. I made the decision right there to end it. None of us could go on living like this. I have always said I would rather have Ginger die in my arms than go on to a fate unknown. It was time to live up to that statement.
Nutmeg has numerous punctures on her face, neck & legs. The vet looked her over and she will heal. Coco is totally traumatized. A friend showed up and helped me clean up the blood. I am in shock.
I had 6 beautiful years with my Ginger and I loved her so much, but she is safe now at the Bridge. I will have her ashes by the end of the week.
I had tried to help her get information, and she had tried everything she could to help their situation, and finally to rehome Ginger. Now Ginger is gone, and my sister is heartbroken. I spoke with her and she really sounds like she's in shock.
Very sad day..........
:-( :-( :-( :-(
OMG how horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your poor sister and her poor dogs 
I don't even know what else to say. I'm so sorry your sister had to go thru this.
Oh Karen, I am so sorry to hear this.. Your poor sister, such a trauma. POOR puppies.. Poor Ginger..
How awful!! I am so sorry for your sister and those poor dogs. How heartbreaking...
That is so awful!! I'm sorry for you sister's loss.
I'm so sorry, Karen. How heartbreaking!
I'm so sorry. What a horrible thing to go through.
Oh Karen, I am so sorry.. I have tears in my eyes from reading all of that.
Oh I am so sorry! That is awful.
Oh Karen, I'm so sorry!! What an awful trauma for all involved. However, your sister sounds like a wonderful person (like you); a true angel on earth. She should take comfort in the fact that Ginger had six wonderful years and grew to know that not ALL people are mean and horrible. She knew what it was to be loved and wanted. Chows are a different breed and do have their "hunter" instincts. I have a friend who also has a chow mix. She was one of a litter born to a wild stray. She is a sweet dog, but has killed a neighbour's cat. Also, many times, with dogs, three truly is a crowd.
Sincere condolences to your poor sister. It is awful that she had to witness such horror, but she did all she could. Poor little Coco, too, for witnessing it.
Given the fact that she couldn't find a suitable home for Ginger, the outcome was the only viable one. If she had gone to another home, after getting "blood lust", it could have been even worse. She could have injured or killed a child. She really wasn't placable, even if she had survived. Your sister did the only thing that she could.
It will take a good long while for everyone to recover from the shock, grief and loss. However, your sister is a special person. ((HUGS))) to her and to Nutmeg and Coco.
I can't imagine how horrifying it must have been to watch that happen. I hope your sister is able to find some peace with the loss of Ginger and find some solace in the love she showed Gigi in the time she had with her. {{{Hugs}}} to your sister.
How awful. I will say a prayer for your sister and her family. I can't imagine having to witness that.
I'm surprised at the peace she *seems* to have about it.....she is pretty much resigned to the fact that this was practically inevitable, being that she couldn't find someone to take Ginger. This started in November, and the few dog fights that occurred before yesterday were nasty enough. I know she misses her, and will continue to miss her, but as she said, if she couldn't rehome her, she would never send her to a shelter, and she felt that with the severity of her injuries, it was just best to let her go.
:-(
*My* dog is a chow mix, and Jules originally got her when she was 6 weeks old. There have been no aggression issues with her. However, a year or two ago, we briefly considered bringing another dog into the house, and were very concerned, because Kali, a female, is the alpha dog, and wasn't taking kindly to the other dog even being in her yard. As it turned out, the owner of the other dog eventually showed up, and now I believe it worked out for the best. Kali is 9 y/o now, and seems to be getting a bit *touchy* about certain things, but she's never fought or bitten anyone or any other dog.
Wow, how sad!
How horrible for your sister. Thank goodness she wasn't hurt trying to break up the fight.
Please tell her we are thinking about her 
I feel for your sister. Hugs to her. I cried when I read her email. You can tell she really loves her animals.
:-(
The last communication from my sister:
Thank you everyone who responded and thank you ****** for stopping by to check on us. Your support means the world to me. One need only look at our photo albums to understand how shocking the events of the last few months have been.
The Spice Girls and I traveled the country together putting over 80,000 miles on my SUV. They have lived in New Orleans, Orlando, Chicago and Pensacola. We visited Boston, Provincetown (Cape Cod), and Washington DC. The Girls and I stood in front of the white house on September 11, 2004, and watched the President take off in Marine One. They were best friends until this past November and I cherish every memory.
Being that neither had been crate trained, it was difficult to keep them apart. I knew eventually I would make a mistake--it's simply impossible to lived focused on that every second. And I also knew that if they fought again, it would result in a death. That said, I am relieved it is over. Sorry as hell about HOW it ended, but relieved nevertheless.
Ginger was a survivor of horrible circumstances and were it not for me, she may well have spent her life in a shelter. I gave her an amazing six years and she in return gave me a sweetness and loyalty that no other dog ever has. I admit, my feelings run deeper for Nutmeg, but I had her first and raised her from a tiny pup. And I believe there is an intensity in Basenjis and B mixes that creates a deeper (even scary) bond. Ginger was simpler--she wanted only to be GOOD DOG. And she WAS.
Our lives have been in chaos since the burglary last July. They say things come in 3s, so I hope we'll get a break after this. The last three Mardi Gras seasons have brought death to my door. I hope that cycle is over as well.
It's going to take me a long time to get over what happened here yesterday but we will be fine. Sweet Ginger is horribly missed.
My heart aches for her. Any of us who are animal lovers knows how devastating it is to lose a pet - they are family members. I imagine she feels like one member of her family murdered the other one. Sickening to think about.
When it's time for me to get another dog, I'm going to do some research before I do. When we spoke yesterday, she mentioned something about learning so much about breeds from the basenji group she belongs to, since they first started fighting. She also said that she now believes one should really research any breed - even if it's a mixed breed - of dog they plan to own - she is feeling a little down on herself, as though she put them in a situation where this would happen. Who ever thinks about that when they are trying to rescue and home a dog??
Oh I am so sad for your sister!!! I am so very sorry for your sister, I too am glad that she wasn't injured. Hugs and prayers for her, and her animals...
This is indeed very tragic. And I have a great deal of sympathy for your sister, Karen. But if I understand the scenario correctly, Nutmeg attacked and killed Ginger. With lots of sympathy, I will say that if I owned a dog that had attacked and killed another dog, the attacking dog would be put down. If your sister cannot control Nutmeg - and it is clear she can't - Nutmeg will be a risk to any other dog in the house, and potentially to humans.
Yes, it is very important to research dog breeds, whether pure-bred or mixed. Chows are very aggressive dogs, and are, according to Scott, essentially fighting dogs. As much as he loves dogs, he says he would never own a Chow. And this is a person who continually rails against what he considers to be the "bad name" dogs of the breed(s) called "pit bulls" have gotten.
It's possible that bringing the third dog (and a male) into the mix was a significant factor in what happened. But it could also be that Nutmeg has reached a time of life where her temperament has changed and she has become exceedingly territorial. And that makes for a risky dog. At the very least, I would urge your sister to consider muzzling Nutmeg when other people are in the house, and I personally hate muzzles.
Ginger was the initial aggressor. She has owned Nutmeg since she was a puppy and she has never once showed aggression towards any other dog or a person. Nutmeg never went after Ginger until Ginger had gone after her twice.
She knows that bringing the 3rd dog in was the trigger - because until then, Nutmeg had always had the role of *puppy*. Then, when Coco came in as a new puppy, Nutmeg mothered him, so she assumed the role of *adult female*, which then made 2 adult females in the house - even though she owned Nutmeg first, had raised her from a puppy, and brought Ginger in after that.
I don't think Nutmeg is a problem with Ginger gone. When my sister was visiting here last week, she had Nutmeg with her, and I played with her, she was the same way she always was, sweet and affectionate.
Ginger was the dog who was horribly abused in her *other life*, and we believe she saw Nutmeg as competition to be the alpha dog, once Nutmeg starting acting like an adult female dog. Ginger was the aggressor towards Nutmeg several times, then I guess Nutmeg had enough and the last fight before the final one, Nutmeg and Ginger both went for each other.
I appreciate your input Ginny. Neither of us believes that Nutmeg is a threat to anyone or any other dog at this point. She will not bring any other dogs into her home right now.
As for chows - well, *my* dog is a chow mix - she is part husky and part chow. She is totally not aggressive. The worst thing I can say about Kali is that she was never really trained when Jules owned her, and we have had a hard time training her. She's let Madison decorate her with Mardi Gras beads, ride her (when Mads was young), cover her with napkins and towels, etc. all in good humor. She's never bitten or shown any type of aggression towards anyone. She didn't like it when we were considering adopting another dog, and we decided against trying again. Now, that she is 9 y/o, she's a bit touchy if you try to make her move when she's sleeping. But no aggression issues with her.
The nastiest dogs *I've* ever been around were cocker spaniels! I hate them. My friend has one and it bit me a few years ago and I had to go to the ER. That same dog has bitten several people, including the owner (my friend), and she has to lock the dog in her garage when people come to her house. And she won't get rid of it. Apparently when her dog bit the other people, they were minor bites and didn't require medical care, like mine did. But I know *if* that dog ever bites someone again where they have to go to the ER, the dog will be taken from her.
I've owned a rottie and a rottie/pit bull mix before, and never had problems with either of those either.
This story makes me sad. I am not familiar with a basenji breed. I am surprised it hurt a chow so badly. My chow was a big strong dog.
I know my dogs had "tiffs" prior to Chowdo passing away. None were as serious as what happened to your sister's dogs. My vet informed me that it was because we had two female dogs. We now have 1 male (purebred lab) and 1 female (lab mix). They get along great.
Chowdo was a chow/doberman mix. She was not a mean dog. Until she got sick, she never showed any aggresion. I hate to see Chow's getting a bad rap. Chowdo was the best dog I have ever owned. She was so loving to me. There is not one day that goes by that I do not think of her and miss her.
I agree that cocker spaniels can be mean. I have scars to prove it.
ugh..This is a sad story.
You know I have always heard about two female dogs not getting a long. BUT, we have ALWAYS had 2 female dogs, I only adopt female dogs(Sorry I am a dog snob LOL), and we have never had any problem with any of the 2 female dogs we had/have.When one passes away, we always adopt another female..
My uncle had a purebred chow that was the sweetest dog ever and didn't have an aggressive bone in her! We own a cocker spaniel, and I will be the first one to say they can be little snots with an attitude. That's for sure! She's not the type of dog to just play with. When she wants to play, you can, but we don't rough house with her. But she gets along great with our other dog, our cat, and our ferret that runs loose most of the time.
We had a mini doxy before our cocker, and those dogs drive me nuts! My sister has one, too, with the exact same temperment!
Our big dog, who lives outdoors, but now spends most of his time on our enclosed back porch, is a big teddy bear. He gets along with everyone and everything that comes around. Except one of my dogs that is kept in a huge dog lot. When we let him out, we have to put Chancey on the back porch. Those two cannot be together. But any stray dog in the county can come in our yard, and he has never tried to fight. He only tries to fight with Caden. And I truly think they may fight to the death if they were ever allowed together. But I would never consider putting him down, because he just doesn't like that dog. It's a territory thing with him.
Karen, I am very glad your sister is coming to terms with this. Being the mommy of animals is just as trying as being a mommy to kids sometimes!
Karen, I am very sorry for your sister's loss. I can't imagine how your sister must have felt watching the fight and feeling helpless.
I think she is amazing and brave to be handling the loss with such a positive attitude.
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