Cut and pasted from SaveHeidi.com:
"We adopted Heidi almost 4 years ago from a well-established and reputable rescue organization specializing in the Doberman breed. Like most Doberman, Heidi is a very intelligent and energetic dog. She is a loving & loyal member of our family.
In October, while out for a leashed walk to a local market, a stranger approached suddenly wanting to pet her. Startled and in her excitement, Heidi popped up at the same time that the stranger bent over to pet her. She collided with his face. He has claimed this resulted in a broken nose and reported the accident to Royal Oak Police.
Royal Oak is now prosecuting this as a dog bite/attack! The Assistant Deputy City Attorney has offered to dismiss the criminal charges only if Heidi is destroyed or removed from her loving family in Royal Oak. This is happening to our family with a 30+ year history as law abiding Royal Oak residents. Heidi has no previous incidents of aggressive behavior and is a well trained, obedient, loving success story of a Doberman rescue.
All dog owners must be aware of the risks of criminal prosecution under the antiquated Michigan statutes written in 1919 and the paranoid overreaction by local city officials who are prosecuting dog breeds, not dog attack cases.
Time is of the essence to save Heidi’s life. A final decision on Heidi’s fate will be made on February 9th, 2012.
Please help us to save our sweet girl, Heidi by signing our petition to the City of Royal Oak."
(photo from here: http://www.saveheidi.com/index.php/photo-gallery, not owned by me, used without permission. I hope they don't mind. I'll take it down if they do.
Link to the petition: http://www.saveheidi.com/limesurvey/index.php?sid=73841&lang=en
Note from me after the jump
And now a note from me: Why do I think this story is so scary? Well, how many people approach you and ask to pet your dog? I joke about people fleeing when they see Elka, the Big Scary Doberman, but some people do want to pet her. While she doesn't much jump up anymore, this was something we had to work on. She's certainly caught me in the face more than once (though not broken my nose, or my jaw [though that one was dubious after one bath]), and even if accidentally, a dog injuring a stranger is apparently CALL THE POLICE time. I mean, I'm sorry if the dude's nose is broken, but petting dogs is a contact sport. If you are a stranger to a dog, you don't know what you're going to get, and if you prefer not to take the risk, don't talk to strangers. She didn't bite him, she didn't (that I can see in the account) growl; she brought up her head as he brought his head down. A mistake. An accident. Does this mean Heidi requires euthanasia? I shudder to think if the criteria are so lowered. Does this mean Heidi shouldn't be with her family? I apologize for the juvenile language, but I think that's just stupid. At most, Heidi's family should pay for the medical bills, not lose their dog and have perhaps have her killed.
That is terrible!!
ReplyDelete~Higgins
It is, it just breaks my heart!
DeleteSaw this in the BlogPaws Community. It's so sad. I've shared it on my facebook too. I really hope everything turns out ok for Heidi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping spread the word!
DeleteI hate to see stories like this. My parents had a dog while I was in college who was fearful of strangers. They were working with a trainer to help him accept people into the home when a man came to the house to replace a window. My Mom had Buddy on a leash and told the man not to approach the dog, etc. The man told her he loved dogs, and walked directly up to Buddy, reached over his head, and Buddy bit him. The man called the police and sued my parents, and even though Buddy was deemed 'not dangerous' he had to be rehomed or euthanized. I'm happy to say that Buddy is living with a great family and has overcome his fear issues, but I still get upset that one selfish person can completely ruin another's life so easily. Good luck Heidi!
ReplyDeleteI hate seeing stories like this too! It just seems like reason to train your dog to ignore people, and to keep people away from you at all costs, because you don't know when they'll turn on you. Sort of ironic. Poor Buddy :(
DeleteWhy don't people listen to dog owners when they are told to stay away from the dog? This is such a sad, tragic story. I'm signing and sharing :(.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
DeleteIt is very sad, and I hope the petition makes for a happy ending.
If a person chooses to approach a dog he or she should be ready to take whatever consequences come of it - not the dog. Praying that things turn out well for Heidi and her family.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on all counts!
DeleteHi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteAugust 16th of last year, 2011, I did a big article on why my Human won't allow you to pat me. The bottom line was I don't meet more strangers because today's litigious society means even a small mistake on my part can result in a large lawsuit for my Humans.
Unfortunately, Heidi is the prime example of the sad results.
Y'all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
PS the Human signed petition.
I'll have to go and read that blog article later (on my way to work now, have to stop playing on the Internet!), but unfortunately, stories like this make me hesitant to allow Elka to meet people.
DeleteTell the Human thanks for signing.
I've signed! I hope they count signitures from Canada!
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard this story I was so saddened. Kyuss has stomped on my feet numerous times while excited; by Royal Oak's standard, that would mean I was "attacked" by him.
I've also been a victim of the "dobie bonk" although not bad enough to have my nose broken. It always seems to happen while bending to tie my shoes in preparation for a W-A-L-K. =b
Yes, Elka has "dolphin nosed" us in the eye socked many a time, given us fat lips, hit noses, stomped on us....like I said, dog owning is a contact sport! Which most people understand.
DeleteI don't know if there's a restriction on signatures; I didn't see that anywhere, anyway. Thanks!
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ReplyDelete