Rooney was attacked at our dog park

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I haven't been on DK since the attack, I've just been so upset (at myself) that I couldn't even come to you all for the comfort that I knew would be here.  Before I go any further - Rooney is fine, acts like his normal, loving, happy self so I do not think that he has any emotional trauma.  We took him back to the dog park yesterday when we knew that it would be empty and he just ran right it so he isn't associating the park with the attack which is good.  He is on antibiodics but we never had to use the pain killer.  He has one baby tooth broke off and another one is chipped and he has a laceration in his mouth.  No stiches were needed and the only thing we have to watch is that when his adult tooth comes in where the one tooth was broken that it comes in straight - worst case scenaro is oral surgery to correct that issue if it occurs.

Our dog park is a private park in our own development, the small dogs would meet up at around 4:00 and the larger breeds come later, just an unspoken arrangement.  Rooney has always loved going to the park to play with all of his buddies, the owners visit and the dogs have a blast.  Friday was no different except that DH was in town and was able to go with (thank God).  We were there and Bozo (an obese Corgi) came with his owner.  Bozo was dressed in a Santa outfit and it was pretty darn funny.  Rooney and Bozo have been around each other without any problems so many times.  At one point Rooney was trying to get Bozo to play and Bozo did a little growl.  HOW I WISH THAT I HAD PICKED UP ROONEY AND LEFT.  But I was told by our trainer that dogs will signal to each other and that they will work it out, a little growl or snap is their way to teach each other.  Everything was fine then and all of a sudden Bozo attacked Rooney without cause.

I'm ashamed that I let this happen, I love that little guy so much and I know that I let him down.  Bozo's owner offered to pay the vet bill (which we declined as we feel partially responsible) but I told them that if he requires oral surgery on that tooth down the road - I'll be sending the bill.  Bozo's owner has promised that Bozo won't be back to the dog park.  Well, later I was told by someone that Bozo has had other run ins and that they said they wouldn't bring him back then.  We didn't know about this or I would never had let Rooney around Bozo.  I will report it if I see him there again. 

I'm so conflicted about letting ever go back when any dogs are there.  I feel so guilty that I can barely sleep.  I feel like I'm a bad doodle mom.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Hi Jane,  just a lingering thought here... I would make them pay your vet bills so that they feel the reprocussions of their dogs actions.   Rooney did nothing to provoke this and you have no reason to feel guilty.  Especially since you have heard there were prior incidents it's important to hold them accountable for their dogs actions and maybe a monetary means is the only way to do so.  Otherwise, they may feel like they got away with it again.  Also, is there a newsletter or bulletin that you can post to?

[Susan and Sasha]

Oh Jane...

I'm so sorry to hear about what happend to Rooney!

Please...Please...don't think that you are a bad Doodle Mom....because you are Not!!

As Horrible as this is...you have to...for Rooney's sake and for yours...know that you love him with all of your heart...and did the very best that you could do!

Guiltt won't be helpful here...nor is it warranted...and...I'm sure that you will think this through...and decide on what you will want to do in the future...

We will be keeping you in our thoughts and our prayers...

[BG and Gavin]

What a shame that Rooney was attacked.  Please don't feel guilty.  How could you have guessed that Bozo would react that way.  Gavin has been pushed around a bit at the dog park before and it has made me a bit gun shy.  If I have my druthers, I try and set up play times with other dogs that I know play well with him and let them run around a fenced in ball diamond.  Lots of room for chasing balls too.  Give Rooney a big hug.  Hope he is well.

[Kimberly Daisy Kalli]

Jane -just read your story.  I'm so sorry to hear that Rooney was attacked.  It's your job to worry as a "mom", but please keep in mind that it is not your fault.  Thinking of you and Rooney!

 

[Carol and Banjo]

Jane - So sorry to hear about your horrible experience at the dog park.   Please know that you can't beat yourself up about what Bozo did.  There are very few of us who can really "read" dog behavior and I'm sure not one of them!

I'm so glad Rooney is going to be alright and that he was fine going back to the dog park. That speaks volumes about his resilience!!!   Banjo had a frightening incident as a pup when a pitbull mix broke his chain and charged into our yard after him.   Thankfully no injuries....but I was just sick about it for many days.   Banjo showed no signs of trauma at all.....it was me that had to get over it.   Your little Rooney has already "recovered".  And he wants you to do the same.  You are certainly not a bad doodle Mom!!!   Hugs to both of you from Banjo and Carol.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Jane you are FAR from a bad doodle mom you are the OPPOSITE!  Remember hind site is always 20/20.  There are so many of us on DK that have similar experiences and tortured ourselves with "I should have" and "If only I had...".  What is important is Rooney is OK and you are too.  We had a really bad dog park experience once that actually involved the children of an irresponsible family there.  Hunter LOVES to swim and she was about 6 months old and I was trying to get her back in from retrieving a ball when she was trying to hard to keep up with a few other older dogs and I knew she had enough and was getting tired.  Well these brat kids thought it would be funny if they threw a ball to the side of the lake where a big tree had gone into the water since they knew I was trying to get Hunter to come in.  Needless to say I had to jump in with all of my clothes on, cell phone in my pocket and swim for Hunter.  I got to her, cut and bruised my legs in the  tree branches in the water.  When we got back to the beach Hunter was gagging and coughing from all the water and being exhausted.  One of my friends was with me and she was already yelling at the irresponsible family.  It took about a year before we would go back to the dog park and I am beyond cautious now and I don't care what kind of over protective freak I look like.

 

You did everything you knew to do, Rooney is obviously not showing any kind of mental trauma over it :-)  He knows you love him and would never intentionally let him down.  Quit beating yourself up :-)

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

Jane~That's why we are here.  To laugh, cry, share, rant and love about our doodles!  I'm so happy Rooney is okay and like I said earlier and many others have said, your a great mom, don't beat yourself up about it

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am glad that Rooney is okay. I don't think you could have prevented this, so don't beat yourself up over it. Now you know about Bozo and you can take Rooney home if you see him coming, but you didn't know about him before this.  Shame on those people who told you after-the-fact about Bozo's aggressiveness. If you all talk and chat, they should have warned you the very first time you were there at the same time as Bozo.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Hi Rooney you precious baby, we are so glad you are ok, that must have been so scary for you and your  mom. Tell your mom that she is doing a great job and something like this can happen anywhere not only at the dog park. Your mom was doing a good thing letting you get some playtime with some doggie friends. That other dog is named well, he really is a Bozo. I have only taken Quincy to the dog park a couple of times and was never really comfortable not knowing the other dogs so we don't go anymore. Quincy doesn't get to play with other dogs very much and I'm sure he would like to. We are going to try and arrange some outings with some of my friends who have young dogs so that Quincy will be able to have some fun with other dogs. You take care and  get all better and give mom some extra doodle hugs and kisses.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I would just like to say how much DK and all of you mean to me!  I feel so blessed to have gotten this wonderful doodle boy to love and as a bonus I found all of you here.  I learn from you, laugh with you and you encourage me, now you comfort me - thank you all so much!  Jane & Rooney