Dog attack - Ellie dislocated toe - me, broken bones UPDATE

today a different dog showed up and attacked completely recovered ellie (who was attacked in december by another dog) as i was standing right with her watching her like a hawk. not sure yet of extent of injury as i am down to one working arm (see below...) and couldn't yet examine her closely but do know her leg got hurt as she lays down or holds it up. have given her some quiet time to try to ward off shock. holding my breath awaiting seeing her condition after she hopefully gets some rest tonight.

in an effort to intervene when the dog raced in the yard and went for her i got mowed down by the dog and now have multiple fractures in fingers/hand (i am typing with one finger) and may need surgery (pins...). hurts pretty wickedly. had to go to the ER and have to call ortho in a.m. for more official cast and whatever else. probably at least 6 weeks in cast. this of course makes countless pressing responsibilities very difficult. and my car is a stick shift. it took 2 of us (a friend happened to be there, visiting from other side of the state) to hold the dog down. she still got away and i had to really lunge to get her and lay on top of her to hold her down. a neighbor then came and helped hold her down while i called animal control and searched for ellie. dog looks like a husky and it belongs to a very irresponsible person in town who always loses track of her. and now that she has discovered my sweet birds.....

i am upset from animal control's smiling arrival, saying it's just a dog's instinct and that some people don't consider chickens pets anyway and later, a phone message from the dog owner saying sorry this happened but it's risky for me to have put my hand near a dog's mouth when it has prey (sounds like animal control told her i was bit - wait till they learn it was multiple fractures...).

the fractures were pretty upset with me finding and catching ellie before going to the ER as she was in a panic and flailed about. but she hasn't walked since - definite leg injury, at least.....pretty sure no punctures as i kept intervening as the dog was trying to grab her again and again. there are several feathers on the ground where he had her for a split second. gave her some electroltyes, aspirin water (i had blood on me but i didn't see any on her), rescue remedy in another bowl of water but i don't think she touched that one, and put her in a comfty carrier inside she and BJ's house, so they could comfort one another yet ensuring she didn't try to jump up on anything. it's a comfortable temperature tonight. praying she is not worse in a.m. or i'll have to try to get her to vets - a long drive away, one armed with stick shift (i don't know of anyone available that could help tomorrow...)
not sure next steps - first thing is to see what ellie needs in the a.m. - i pray it isn't bad a.) for her sake first and foremost and b.) because it is seriously pretty impossible to catch/hold/medicate her with one hand - you really need 3, or 7!

calling jody (horsejody), any advice?

thanks for listening everybody - i knew that there would be folks here who would also bristle at what animal control and also the dog owner said....

jj

That's awful & that owner has some nerve. I'm sorry...BUT??? Yeah, I try not to put my hands in the mouths of attacking animals. I always feel sorry for the dogs with owners like that. I can understand the occaisional escapee - but people with constantly roaming dogs -

Hope your hen is OK.

Another unbelievable story. So they are trying to blame you? I just don't know what to say.
I'm so sorry this happened.

Imp- Crushed hand=Lawyer

Since the dog had attacked your hen and bitten you as well I would have just shot the dog and you may need to call the police and tell them what happened

Wow! What a tragedy! Can you believe the gall of the animal control? Oh, wait, yeah, I can. She is your pet, regardless of what other people think. I'm sorry that you had to get hurt in the rescue. But you love your girls, and thats what we do.

If that dog comes back on your property, would you be able to somehow get it to the pound? Maybe if the irresponsible dog owner had to pay to get it out, maybe they'd think twice about letting her get loose in the first place! If it were the other way around, and it was your dog, they'd probably say it was all your fault!

I hope that things go okay for you, and you manage to get someone out to help you out for a while, you will need it. As for your little "girl", hope she recovers well also.

Quote:
AGREE!!!!

omg FORGET animal control , where's the cops????
after your doc appointment you need to go down to the police dept and file charges, the dog owner broke the law!! that dog is suppose to be in a cage at animal control not back at the owners house.



hmm forget the morning i'd call now,

I'm not one to sue, but get a lawyer, a good one, and take them on and do something about animal control too. It's not up to them to tell you whether or not chickens or pets, the dog and owner were in the wrong.

thanks kind folks. i should add that the police did show up a few minutes after animal control. the guy was gruff, never got out of his car, didn't bother to speak with me and he and the animal control person enjoyed some fun banter as i left them to try to search again for ellie, who they may not even believe was the subject of an attack since i could not produce her when they arrived - it took me quite awhile to find my poor girl.....

i am certain they do not think a chicken is worth anyone's concern. it's so saddening and maddening.

jj

Good Grief JJ, does Ellie have a target painted on her? Is there some sign out there that says, "For a free chicken dinner, try here!"

I guess your gonna have to get one of those shepherds crooks when you go outside now. Just make sure one end has a very sharp spear point on it.

I am hoping for the best for Ellie, poor thing has had a hard road to hoe it seems. But she is a tough bird, she has survived attacks before. If I lived closer I would be more than happy to jump in and give you a hand.