Posted on 01/04/2024 6:17:41 PM PST by nickcarraway
THE American bully XL is now being banned in England and Wales, after many attacks involving the breed.
These dogs now require a special licence, and must be kept on a lead, in addition to being muzzled in public at all times, even in a car. However, as many are aware, this is not the only dog breed that is capable of being dangerous. Euro Weekly News spoke to British woman, Sharon Hall, who is currently living in Sheffield, UK, about her story of adopting what she thought would be her perfect furry companion.
The date was February 1 2021, and the first wave of total lockdown in England was in full swing. Sharon, who is a mother of two adult children that have now left home, explained to EWN that “we had just lost our beloved miniature schnauzer ‘Stanley’ a few months prior, and being ‘dog people through and through’, I was definitely missing the companionship.” What happened next made Sharon feel like it was ‘meant to be’. “I was scrolling through Facebook and suddenly I saw a picture of the most beautiful dog I had ever seen, he was being advertised by a local kennel as being up for adoption, and I immediately messaged them to say we were interested”
Xerxes, formally ‘Carlo’.
The kennels informed her that a large number of people had also replied with the desire to adopt the cute canine, and requested that she send a ‘reason why’ she wanted him, along with a video of her house and garden. Sharon explained she lives in a “large country manor with many acres of land”, and that after sending a video of this, alongside a heartfelt message, the kennels invited her to come down and meet the dog, who they had named ‘Carlo’.
“Everything was great, me and my partner went to meet him and took him for a lovely walk. He was well behaved and seemed quite placid but friendly”. Feeling that this was the dog for them, Sharon and partner Paul signed the papers and went back two days later to bring their new forever friend home. They named him ‘Xerxes’, after the Persian ruler, as they decided he looked ‘regal’. Spoiling him instantly, Xerxes went from an abandoned dog on the street to having personalised beds and an array of toys and treats. Everything was perfect, until it wasn’t.
Just three days after bringing Xerxes home, he began to show signs of aggression towards any visitors to the house, thinking this was normal and that maybe the animal was just nervous, Sharon and Paul tried to calm him with cuddles and love. However, things were about to get a lot worse. A supermarket delivery man arrived at the front door on Xerxes’ fourth day of being in his new home. As Sharon went to open the door, Xerxes dived past her and immediately bit the worker. Everyone was horrified, and although the family were able to quickly get the animal back inside, and the driver luckily was not seriously injured and did not want to press charges, Sharon now knew that something was seriously wrong.
After a series of similar incidents with Xerxes attacking viciously and randomly, and Sharon and Paul taking numerous trips to dog trainers, behaviour specialists, veterinarians and the kennels where he was originally from, they were left with an awful decision to make. The dog kennel explained to them that they would ‘take him back’, due to this behaviour, and animal specialists told the couple that Xerxes would have to be kept away from people and muzzled at all times, if they could get him to wear one. The future looked bleak for this rescued dog.
However, nearly three years later Sharon tells EWN that they have “defied the odds”, and Xerxes is not only completely muzzle trained, but also shows a different nature, after many training and therapy sessions.
“We do not trust him with anybody but the family, and whenever we leave the house he wears his muzzle, which the vet told us he couldn’t believe we have trained him to wear!”. She added that “we are his whole world, and we are glad we didn’t give up on him, because now he has the happy life he deserves, after he clearly suffered some mistreatment in the past”.
Xerxes with Paul, who now wears a muzzle whenever he leaves the house
The story of Xerxes and his family ended in triumph, however, it proves that no matter how cute and fluffy a dog may look, they could potentially still be dangerous. Likewise, although an animal can appear to be intimidating and dangerous, they may pose no risk to the safety of humans at all.
The moral of the story? With love, attention and care, any dog can find their happy home, no matter their past. No animal deserves to be given up on, and Xerxes, Sharon and their family are a testament to that.
Xerxes? Really? She wanted that name for a 'peaceful, loving dog'? Tough name, for companionship AND protection AND able to read her mind on who/what to be threatening against? This woman is an idiot.
Guest with wireless hole puncher could solve this.
when she said “partner” I figured she had a screw loose.
Xerxes is a hard name to use for a dog. Try using a command with that name without getting your tongue twisted.
She’s likely not married to her ‘partner’ because she gets more money from government by being single-with-kids.....
I’m always amazed people will spend thousands of dollars on training, devices, therapists, etc. What a waste. Just go get a new dog. You’ll love the new one just as much, the new one will love you, and you won’t be nervous about the beast tearing somebody’s face off when you aren’t looking and forget to put the muzzle on.
I have never been without a house dog for the past 85 years.
Everything you can think of from a German Shepard to a stray to a rescue dog.
Australian Sheppard, mutts.....whatever.
In addition many many hunting dogs.
The last chapter in this story has yet to be written and it will not end well.
Some dogs think.
Some dogs are stupid on four legs.
The thinkers are wonderful and fun if they think the right things, but there are also dogs who are smart enough to hide their thoughts until one day.....
What’s that supposed to be... a Border Collie Weinerdoodle?
Exactly right on!
And I too have enjoyed a life with dogs.
🐕
Crazy eyes!
Is there a hot/crazy matrix for dogs?
I like dogs...too busy to have one of my own. But I wouldn’t be happy with a dog I had to muzzle like that. :(
It is possible that they are married. Lots of European papers refer to long time married couples as "partners" because they are trying to be "inclusive".
I guess I stand corrected then. Thanks. But I still maintain the disparity of choice for the name and the expected performance of the dog stands out.
Cats however are far more simple but far from dumb. I have cats. They are thinkers for the most part. Really. They consider every move and don't just blunder through life as most dogs seem to do. They have to be careful to survive and they know this well. If a cat trusts you it is because you have really earned it. They, as can most animals, see through a fake in no time at all.
My sis had two cats, brothers. If they didn't like you they would find your shoes and crap in them. Cats get ahead, not just even.
Dogs on the other hand will take up with just about anyone who feeds them and are fawning to even those who little deserve it.
I really pray though that people will quit dumping cats at my front gate. I have enough. More than enough. Don't want any dogs either.
An idiot with a dangerous dog.
Huh, and here I thought this would be about Joe Biden.
Nope. Different idiot this time.
Not the kind of thing that you can picture yourself yelling for him to get back in the house right NOW!
OMW!I cannot believe the substandard writing evident in this piece. The writer must be 8 years old.
Many atrocious examples here, but this is my favorite:
Xerxes with Paul, who now wears a muzzle whenever he leaves the house
~~~~~
I guess Paul never bites anyone now.
That may be a caption for one of the pictures.
“The moral of the story? With love, attention and care, any dog can find their happy home, no matter their past. No animal deserves to be given up on, and Xerxes, Sharon and their family are a testament to that.”
No. THe moral is that not all dogs are right for all owners. She adopted the dog based on emotion. Not on the dog’s temperament (breed does matter). Not on her and her family’s ability to handle the dog’s protective/aggressive streak. Not on an honest assessment of why the dog needed rescuing in the first place.
This kind of rainbow fart approach to dog rescue leads to a lot of heart break. People can and do get hurt when they get a dog that they are not suited to own.
Mynd you, Xerxes bites Kan be pretti nasti...
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