Oliver

[fabrisse]

One of our Westies, Oliver, has been known to bite. He doesn't do it when he's on a leash on a walk; he has done it when someone comes into our yard without permission. In total, he has bitten three people, other than family, in his 8 years. He is a great watchdog. He has prevented one break-in for certain -- I was living with the parental units when he did. He also got a compliment from a police officer who was on a stake out. Said cop had to move his car because Oliver kept barking at him thus giving away his stake out position. The guy mentioned that a dog like Oliver did more to keep a house safe than a gun.

A couple of months ago, while I was on the phone with my sister, Oliver went crazy with barking. Sis looked out the window, looked out the peephole, and opened the door to show Oliver there was no one out there. There was. He bit the woman multiple times (this is the third person from the paragraph above).

Today, the insurance company called and essentially told my parents that Oliver was too great a liability. It doesn't matter that in not one of the three cases was the family or Oliver in the wrong. We won the cases as they were on our property without our permission (which is explicitly stated on the "No Soliciting" sign on the fence).

The family will be asking our dog walker if she knows anyone who can take Oliver. If not, he will probably be put down. I'm trying to figure out if I can take him. The extra $25 per month (if it's still only $25) and the $300 deposit wouldn't break me, but it would put me in a rough position financially. I worry about his barking in an apartment that's less than a third the size of his current living situation and his no longer having a companion through the day.

I just needed to vent a bit. I'm so angry about this because as Dad once said, "If Oliver didn't protect the house, we wouldn't have a reason to feed him."

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

That's horrible!

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

I agree.

I don't know the full story yet about the insurance. It sounded like they called while Dad was at class; Oliver is, in many ways, Dad's dog. I hope the dog walker can find someone who will take him.

[gileswench.livejournal.com]

(clings and wibbles)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Not. Okay.

Sorry, I can't get more coherent than that right now.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

I know. I'll update when I know better.

[gileswench.livejournal.com]

You know I would offer more concrete help if (a) I thought I could ever make even a marginally acceptable dog mommy, (b) I had the funds to stretch for proper care and feeding of another critter right now, and (c) it wouldn't freak Jake out so much.

IOW the spirit is willing, but the flesh is seriously weak.

Hmmm... I wonder if Merida would consider a Westie. If your parents don't have luck otherwise, I could always ask her. I know she wants a poodle, but I could at least ask.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie. I know. Thank you. I'm still trying to figure if I can take him. My funds are all right, I think, but I'm worried about the other issues -- like him living in an apartment.

[eanja]

I'm really sorry to hear this.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[kuriadalmatia.livejournal.com]

So sorry about this. I hope things work out. I have two pups of my own, so I understand the dilemma.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Thank you. {{hug}}

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

I just read this and I'm really sorry to hear it. I hope that everything works out. Oliver sounds very protective/loyal to his "pack" and "den." I have a German Shepherd who is a shelter rescue with... um... issues... so I understand. Good luck.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

He is. He's very, very sweet in many ways, but he has to be reassured that people are friends before they come onto the property.