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PHILIP - CHIHUAHUA, DADDY TO 7, AND FRIEND TO MANY

A Dog Tragedy That Could Have Been Avoided - PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOGS LEASHED/FENCED

The below was written by Missy. Last night, one of our dog-family members, Ruby & Philip's daughter, Isabella, was violently killed due to someone's carelessness, ignorance, and/or apathy. This could have been avoided.

PLEASE ALWAYS KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH OR BEHIND A SECURE FENCE. ALWAYS.

We all have love and dread in our hearts today.
Please read Missy's story:

Love, Dana

_____________________________________

My family has suffered a great tragity in the past 24 hours that was totally avoidable.
PLEASE READ BELOW
PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH
PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH

On Sunday we went out to East Hampton and visited My Aunt and Isabella (Ruby's puppy).

We got a phone call... Isabella died around 9 PM Last night . At 7:30, she was attacked by a Rottweiler... who was off leash. He shook her like a rag doll, it was a violent death. He broke her back & neck and bit her until her insides came out.

Woodrin is heartbroken. Dana and I are really upset. The whole family is in shock.

We just saw her the other day. We are in shock.
She was only two.

Ruby's baby. She's gone just like that.

My aunt was pretty insistant we bring one of our dogs out there because Isabella was always terrified of other dogs and wanted her socialized. We brought her father Pippy out there they ran around the yard together . My aunt couldn't get over how happy she was. We made plans to come out again now that we live so close so Isabella could get to know her family and have other dogs to play with. It's so sad to think that she spent her entire short life being afraid of dogs, and then actually getting killed by one.

She teased that Isabella had to lose some weight when she looked at Pippy but then she reconsidered and said "It's okay that you are chubby, you are perfect for me when we snuggle." and demonstrated how every night isabella curled upp in a ball and they snuggled face to face.

You have to understand that this dog meant the world to my aunt. She lives alone, all of her children are grown, and she lives about four hours from the nearest one. She lives a very solitary life. She is a very femine woman, who had three boys and ALWAYS wanted a daughter, something she could dress up in pink, rhinestones and lace. Isabella is the first animal my aunt ever wanted and when Ruby was pregnant she said "If she has a girl that is all white save it for me." Ruby had one all white dog, a girl. It was like she was born to be her dog.

She said from their ride home, they connected. She really felt like they were soul mates. They did everything together. Isabella wouldn't even let her take a bath unless she was in the room. And when she was a very small puppy, she would sometimes get so excited she would jump into the tub! She would often say that every day their bond became stronger.

My aunt used to call me and email me all the time with little Isabella anecdotes. How Isabellla was so defiant in her obiedence classes and the teacher hated her but then when the judge came on the final session she hit tricks she had never hit before, just to show up her teacher and take first prize. Or how my aunt was so happy she found a daycare center with a nanny cam - so when she was in the city she could check on her all day.

She never spent a night away from Isabella. And she never left her alone for more than four or five hours at a time.

My aunt had even signed up for sewing classes so she could make her sweaters. My aunt was showing us on sunday all of these little pink, halfdone sweaters... its so sad.

I think its disgusting that these people had their dog running around without a leash.

EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW YOUR DOG VERY WELL, AND YOU DON'T THINK IT COULD EVER BE CAPABLE OF SUCH A HORRIABLE THING. I"M SURE THIS DOG'S OWNER FELT THE SAME WAY, SO PERHAPS YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR DOG ASS WELL AS YOU THINK.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ALWAYS KEEP YOUR DOG LEASHED!

As a pet owner should always act responsibly, because if you don't you can cause serious harm to those around you. I don't want another family going through what my Family is going through.

There are some accidents that "I'm sorry just doesn't cover." I would hate to say "what if this was a child", but my aunt loved this dog like she was a child. She was EVERYTHING to her.

I've been tossing and turning all night, thinking of my Aunt trying to fight off this dog, while he killed the thing she cared about the most. Or her having to run back to her house carrying her as she died. Or her having to face that dog owner covered in Isabella's blood who just said "sorry". Of that horrable drive to the vet, covered in her dogs blood, kissing her, breathing air into her nose and trying to keep her awake.

I ran out of my house when I heard. Everything was spinning and felt like my chest was caving in. I couldn't get far enough away from the spot where I heard the news. At one point when Dana and I were outside, we noticed that the moon was so bright and full and I stood under it and cried and made Dana promise not to laugh at me, but I started talking to Isabella.

I told her how much we loved her, and how beautiful and sweet she was. I told her how much we would miss her and then I thanked her for how happy she made my aunt. And how thankful I was that she brought us closer together. How sorry I was that she had to be killed in such a painful awful way.

Isabella was the runt of Ruby's litter and for days I didn't think she would live. I remember moving the pups around so they would surround her for warms, and the first few days having to PUT her on the teet because she didn't quite "get it". Feeding her droppers full of formula, that she would asperate because she was so tiny. For the first 72 hours I didn't think she would make it, and I was so scared of losing her. I felt like during my shifts with the litter, that Ruby and I were working as a team with her. I always heard that Mothers often reject the runt, but that wasn't the case with Ruby. She used to seak her out and protect her.

Isabella taught me how beautiful and delicate these puppies were.
When she got bigger and thrived she showed me just how strong something so little could be.
When she and my aunt fell in love it reminded me about how deep the bond between a dog and a human could go.

I always took pride in the fact that we placed Ruby's puppies in wonderful homes. In every home they would up in they were the center of that persons entire universe. Which is what makes this so hard for EVERYONE that took home one of Ruby's babies. We have all lost a member of this little extended family that we have.

It's so sad because it is so violent and senseless.
I could have been 100 percent avoidable.

I'm cuddled up with my dogs now, but I can't sleep.
I'm so greatful they are here, but I am so sad that my aunt is sleeping the night not face to face with Isabella.

Please everyone, hug your dogs a little tighter today and take a moment to really appreciate how much they mean to you.

And please... KEEP YOUR DOGS LEASHED/FENCED. And please... SHARE THIS STORY WITH YOUR DOG-LOVING FRIENDS, MAYBE ANOTHER DOG CAN BE SAVED. And please... IF YOU SEE A NEIGHBOR'S DOG OFF LEASH, PLEASE ASK THEM TO CHANGE THE SITUATION OR REPORT IT.