TriPAWd turns BiPAWd

If you are not familiar with EMT gel (a wound treatment usually found in Tractor Supplies for large animals), let me be the first to tell you:

It is FANTASTIC!!

It’s what healed my “tripawd’s” amputation wound in 2009, and now we desperately need it again to heal his new wound on his only remaining front let!

(Infected toenail = very expensive surgery = very large, gaping hole in the end of his foot.)

 

Background Bite Info

Answer to all the questions about the dog bite:

(This is just a lazy copy/paste of a reply to someone on Facebook regarding why I was around the dog, what was going on, and how/why it happened.)

No one would deal with this dog– ACO said until there was evidence it was a nuisance, they wouldn’t deal with it. Owners of nearby property didn’t see it as a nuisance, it was fine with their dogs, followed them around their yards, didn’t chase/harm their cats— just another dump.

Their concern was how grubby & uncared for it appeared- wanted it loved, actually. They asked what the policy would be at the shelter, I explained 72hrs then euthanasia…she didn’t want that, still didn’t call it a nuisance…it was playing great with the other dogs, showed up every morn/evening for about 7 days to get “treats” in the cooler parts of the day- I happened to be there 1 night when it was around…

I had been in contact with no kill shelter in surrounding Austin/Houston areas— there was no way I could keep it/rehab it/afford it- my home, wallet, & heart are full. But a no kill had offered to cover cost of neuter/shots/finding rehab foster if it was brought in. had been taking treats, sniffing around me, letting me touch it, playing with me & the other puppies– had been close to 45 minutes of this.

Got the leash, put it around his neck, reached my arm around behind his head while prepping to walk away with him—–he looked at my arm, then calmly clamped down…

Did not growl, didn’t show teeth, didn’t shake— honestly, I didn’t even notice— I heard the *crunch* before I felt anything- said “hey” …he unclamped, wiggled out of the noose style leash, & continued sniffing for treats, wagging his tail, playing with the other dogs……….

I saw a bit of blood, didn’t pay attention, then a nearby lady said, “Did he get you?” and I looked down and saw blood dripping from every finger and my fatty tissue hanging from a few open wounds…. at this point- I was immediately and utterly concerned that my fossil watch, which was soaked in red, goopy blood, would be forever ruined.

It wasn’t until I started to remove the watch that I realized my vision was blurring & I was about to pass out. Still didn’t feel anything though, still really didn’t think it was a big deal…just sort of thought I was light headed because I hadn’t eaten in a while.

So I walked on, washed it off with some water and splashed my face with water, then sat down with the dog & other 3 bouncy young labs for about 25 more minutes while I waited for the blood to stop flowing and my head to stop spinning – but he wouldn’t come w/n 3 feet of me. Eventually I realized I probably just needed to call it a night, drive home, and go get some dinner because I felt so nauseated and out of it.

Also—I realized this dog never learned any sort of bite inhibition or gentle mouthing– though great with dogs and happy to be around humans–would need special rehab to learn what he should’ve gained from owners in the first few weeks of life. Knew I hadn’t found that sort of rehab in either Austin or Houston– so I decided I’d keep searching online and calling until noon the next day– if I couldn’t find a rehab for a young adult with no bite inhibition toward humans, then I’d just have call ACO myself and explain to them that THOUGH the dog is not a “nuisance” I’m really not comfortable with it being around people- possibly kids- who might be petting it, touch a sensitive spot, then get nipped.

Because of no leash law in the county area- it’s really not in the ACO protocol to catch loose animals UNLESS property owners will say it’s a legitimate nuisance– even then they’re often told to rent a trap themselves….

That night, after I wisely decided to go have a professional clean the wound, I realized it was actually pretty deep, and I wasn’t going to mess around with the animal potentially hurting someone else. Lack of aggression or not, bite inhibition is extremely important, and human welfare trumps animal welfare- so I called in to report it.

Even then— ACO still didn’t want to respond until I finally had to vomit out the words, “Listen- this dog may not be aggressive, but it DID bite me- it’s not worth chancing on someone else.” That got their attention, they’re now trying to catch him– neighborhood cats & other animals are just trying to be kept from the area where the traps are. So far no luck— and so far I’ve yet to find anyone who will give me day #3 dose of rabies exposure treatment.