NOTE FROM BOSTON TERRIER NETWORK:  Dear Readers, This is part two of a true life story that just breaks your heart. We recommend that if your are not familiar with Robert and Ozzy's story that you read the beginning before you jump to the wrong conclusion. There is a link to part one at the bottom of this article. 

This is about Canine Rage and the efforts Robert to do everything possible to save Ozzy. Because we feel strongly that you and your family and other pets can be harmed. We feel it is very important to continue to  share in the next couple weeks a real life story. This is something that most of us are just not prepared to deal with. This is something that our love alone will not fix. The causes are not always clear. There may not be any outward signs to explain what is going on. Without knowing the cause of idiopathic aggression, treatment is difficult and frequently unsuccessful. The condition is also virtually impossible to manage safely because of the sheer unpredictability of the outbursts. The prognosis, unfortunately, is very poor, and many dogs with true idiopathic aggression must be euthanized, for the safety of surrounding humans. If you have such a dog you know you must seek professional help from your vet and a behaviorist. Do not wait until a human or other dog gets harmed…

 

PART 2

The response to part 1 was overwhelming. I wasn't planning on writing this so soon, but people wanted to know the rest of our story. Also the sooner all this comes out the faster it can be put to good use.
Furthermore, I have had trouble sleeping since the attack and just woke up from a nightmare and it is fresh in my head.

Let’s continue. Ozzy was now mine.

The bonding took a bit cause, my feelings for Akiles. But I knew Ozzy was a special dog.  I did a video of him with Will Smith's welcome to Miami, and did a post explaining to him about what Akiles and I did, I went on to explain what Ozzy and I were going to embark on.

I told Ozzy that Akiles wanted us to change the world or as much of it as we could. Well we got off to a big start. Without going into details I saw someone in need and began a Gofundme account. I explained story and my post read, "I want to show how just 1 dollar from 3000 people could change someone’s life." Well wouldn't you believe it we raised 3,000 dollars in 3 days!

Everyone rallied around me and Ozzy to help this person. People I never met entrusted me, a recovering drug addict with a dark past with money. I was floored. I joked with everyone saying, I can't believe you guys listen to me, we should start a cult."   My humor gets mistaken for arrogance sometimes and it’s the furthest thing from the truth. That's just the way I am. Well needless to say the person I set up the Gofundme for came into some money and didn’t need it, I refunded all the money.

  There were 3 dogs living on our property. Vinny is my sister’s American bulldog, my sister-in-laws Chihuahua Ringo, and now Ozzy. How do I integrate Ozzy?
When Akiles was alive he was the Alpha although Vinny was the toughest and strongest, but Vinny was a puppy and knew Akiles was older and always respected him.  Vinny and Ringo would come to my RV every morning and wait for Akiles to come out. Akiles being the smart dog he was would lead them out to the middle of our 2 acre property then dash towards the house to claim the couch for himself. That’s a bulldog for you.  

Before we had a chance to integrate them, Ozzy was in backyard and Vinny knew this. Somehow Vinny got into a room that had a doggie door to backyard and went right for Ozzy. My heart stopped. Wouldn’t you know Ozzy had no fear and stood toe to toe with him? I threw myself in the middle of it and got bit and my ear torn. I was holding Vinny and I don’t blame him for biting me.  If I was in a fight and someone was holding me while I got punched I’d punch the person holding me.  Finally I got them separated, rushed Ozzy to RV while I was a mess.  They were both white covered in my blood.

The dog’s didn’t have a scratch. That’s all I cared about. I went to hospital and lied. Told them I was helping a stray and it attacked me. This was bad. It was naive of me to think I could keep them separated as long I lived there. There were two more incidents and both times they fought and I took the blunt of it.  I had been bitten so much over a month’s period. I couldn’t use my left arm.

My sister and I called a behaviorist.  We tried working with them together but they hated each other. I was heartbroken. Vinny had the ultimate play partner cause Ozzy was fast strong could run like the wind like Vinny.  I wanted things to be how they were with Akiles. All I thought was no more family pics or holidays with all the dogs.

Two days after the behaviorist training I called my sister and asked is everything ok at home. I just had a bad feeling.  She said yes why?  We hung up. I got a call 45 minutes later from my mom telling me there’s been an accident. I said please not Ozzy and Vinny. She said Ozzy attacked my sister. Not bit her, full-fledged attacked her.  Before you say we didn’t have a good behaviorist he was one the top guys down here and highly recommended.

She was being rushed to hospital! I ran out of work. My mom said the neighbor heard her screams and came over and helped by waving a shovel at Ozzy. Ozzy was still in the backyard roaming around.  I got a call from my brother-in-law saying he was going to kill Ozzy.



Before some of you say something negative remember it’s his wife and mother of his children. What if it was his daughters? I had no idea what was going on. I entered the backyard cautiously I called Ozzy and he walked over to me. He had blood on him, my sisters sandals were in the grass and blood stains on them  Ozzy looked at me as if to say dad I know I messed up and did something bad but I don’t know what I did

I called Roberta and this is where me and her had a falling out. I recall her saying one thing and she another. I didn’t know what to do with Ozzy. I called my vet and he said “you need to put him down. An unprovoked attack is not good”. I didn’t listen.
 

I called my groomer who has 3 bulldogs and she told me take him to animal control. I took him there crying and confused. I told them story and they handed me papers to sign him over and put him in quarantine. They said if I signed papers he’d be euthanized in 10 days. By law they have to hold them 10 days for rabies.

 

I was lost. How could Ozzy do this? All he did was cuddle and kiss me.  



I get a phone call from my sister crying. She said, “Robert don’t put Ozzy to sleep. I’m not mad at him." We talked and thought maybe he associated her with Vinny and that was reason. I did leave him in quarantine because it was the safest place for him to be and would give me time to figure out something. I saw Ozzy taken away and kissed him telling him I’d be back.  

I arrived at hospital and I burst into more tears when I saw my sister’s wounds all over her body. I held her hand and cried I’m sorry.  She didn’t blame me or Ozzy. She told me “I want you to keep Ozzy but you can’t live there on the property anymore if you kept him. This caused a family rift but it was between me and my sister. If she said euthanize him I would. We are extremely close and have save all sorts of animals since kids. I posted about what happened and as usual some people said my sister must have done something.  It’s awful to say being honest to a fault is a fault.  My sister came home and Ozzy was with animal control. I had 10 days to rescue him once again. I had no idea what to do. To be continued


Don’t Stop Believing-Part 1

Christine Flowers Coulter contatced us today at 10:45 AM

 "We had to put her to sleep this am. We found cancer last Friday and it was evidently aggressive and fast moving. She started failing last night  and by 7 am was throwing up blood."

We say goodbye for now to another precious Boston who has been freed to romp with new playmates who wait for us on the other side of the rainbow..

We thank you so much for supporting Cassie and our sponsorsip program allowing us the opportunity to help in small ways ease these sweet ones on their last walk to the rainbow....Special Thanks to Kathy Horne...

Photo  CASSIE

Fostered by Old Dominion Boston Terrier Rescue

           ***forever foster ***
Cassie was surrendered to Old Dominion Boston Terrier Rescue along with two other girls. . They belonged to a 'hobby breeder". Cassie was kept in small box in a basement for her entire seven years of life.
She  Had NEVER been to the vet, not even for puppy shots. Riddled with every worm known to man except heartworm. Breeding and giving birth every time she was physically capable.
It's estimated that in her 7 years she could have had anywhere between 8-12 litters.
When we first introduced her to Porter she immediately backed up to him and "presented" herself to him because she didn't know anything different.
It broke my heart. She was fed minimally the LOWEST standard and quality of food and never supplemented with anything during her pregnancies.
She was malnourished and emaciated when she was surrendered. From one person’s decision and greed, a poor helpless animal was subjected to cruelty and neglect that resulted in profound deafness due to untreated ear infections, some blindness due to cataracts, tumors in her mammary glands, fatty lumps, most of her teeth falling out and most of what was remaining had to be pulled out, and developing spine disease.
The tumors and lumps have been removed but the spine disease is irreversible. We, as fosters, and the rescue are left to try and repair the broken pieces of her and her sisters lives. Her pain, as of now, stems from the fluid sac caused by surgery but will heal. As far as her spine, there are things we can do to supplement and make her more comfortable like acupuncture (which is very expensive and we are asking for sponsors) until it reaches a point of no return.
We have no idea how long it will take for her spine to deteriorate, could be months or could be years. But right now, as we treat the inflammation in her mammary glands, she will still have very good days ahead of her that we are determined to make the best days of her life for however long her body will allow her to make good memories with us.
We don't know why fate paired us with Cassie Girl but we are going to teach her to Seize the Day!
 START SPONSORING CASSIE TODAY!



Old Dominion Boston Terrier Rescue
 We are a small foster based rescue covering VA, Northeastern NC, MD,DE and DC
      Special thanks to:    Kathy  Horne

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Whenever you’re unsure about what to do, ask a question and then answer it. Often you can use questions that your audience is asking on social media and in discussion groups to frame your content to be something they want to consume. I’ve even used questions that I’ve encountered at networking events, because you can bet if one person has asked the question, more than one wants the answer.