February 12, 2008
Dear Sir,

     This is probably going to be a strange e-mail but I need to find out from someone in the field if I did the right thing.
     I bought my husband a Bassett hound in 1998. In 2007 the dog bit me. The dog had always had this streak about him that I thought he was just stubborn He would look right at me and urinate on the kitchen floor. He had been fixed as a pup. The last year or so he would growl and act territorial toward his toys, bed or just things he wanted at the moment.
     The day he bit me he had pulled a bag of bagels off the kitchen counter. As I approached him he started to growl and bear his teeth. I backed off. However as he ripped at the plastic bag I got concerned that he could choke on the plastic. I again approached him and I reached down and grabbed his collar. My intent was to open the back door and get the dog out of the house. Well, he jumped and turned and grabbed a hold of my forearm (the one holding the collar). I did manage to get him outside but not before there was a large puddle of blood on the floor.
     I went to the emergency room. The Dr. said it was a “Pretty good puncture would. It is very deep, that dog had long teeth”. They did not stitch it for fear of trapping bacteria; I had it wrapped for a week or so. Thank God it left only 2 scars, no muscle damage or missing tissue.
     The township made me quarantine the dog for 10 days, in my home. During that 10 day period the dog chased my 15 year old son and pinned him against the dinning room wall. My son had heard the dog ripping something, as he came down the hallway to see what it was, he was still 10 feet from the dog, and the dog charged him and pinned him against the wall. Growling and snarling the entire time.
     The next day I opted to have the dog put down. The local ASPCA agreed that under the circumstances it was probable a wise idea. My brother and sister who live with in walking distance of my home have 4 children between them that are all under 7 years old. They are at my house often. I didn''t feel I could take a chance.
     Here is my problem, my husband is still very angry at me for “killing his dog.” Tonight after almost a year has gone by he has made a comment about another dog article my daughter read about a man killing his girlfriends dog, pure animal cruelty, he beat the dog to death because it urinated on the carpet. My husband''s comment was, “that dog deserved to die. Just ask mommy.”
     I asked if he saw the difference between that guy who abused the dog and beat it to death for no reason and my putting a dog that attacked twice, down. He said that I should keep telling myself that there is a difference.
     Was my decision to put the dog down unjustified? Did I act in a negligent way? Act too soon? Was there something else I may have done? How does one know when it is time to put a dog down?
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Laura Fabian