A Note From My Mom

[ Tell a friend | Save to your Corral | Make them Dogster Pup Pals ]
[ See the full Chingu page ]

[See the entire diary archive for Chingu]

February 12th 2012 4:38 pm
[ Leave A Comment | 2 people already have ]

I know it has been awhile since I've posted and I haven't kept up regularly for a long time but I wanted to post this so that those who have helped support me with helping Chingu with his fear-aggression issues would know how much we have both appreciated this.

On Saturday Chingu bit my boyfriend pretty badly on the hand. Luckily no permanent damage was done but the bite was bad and very easily could have resulted in permanent nerve damage or the loss of a finger or two. The bite, sadly, was unprovoked and occurred after Chingu walked up to him and placed his head on his lap (which he always does when he wants to be pet) and my boyfriend began to pet him. We have both worked very hard to read his body language and Chingu gave none of his usual signs and he just lost it.

Unfortunately in recent months I believe his cognitive function has begun to diminish. He has begun to have accidents in the house (which he never ever had before), he becomes very restless at night, and will cry and whine continually at night in his sleep. The times when you can see that lost look in his eyes has become more frequent and it now appears that he forgets sometimes who his mom and dad are. He has also been snapping more and there have been recent nips which are increasing in frequency.

I am going to have him looked over by the vet (although he just had a check up) just to check everything but ultimately I know that the time has come to make the decision I had so hoped that I would not have to make, although I knew that I would.

Almost 2 years ago when he bit me we had a discussion with the vet about his behavior and how to help him. I put him on Prozac which has helped to ease much of his anxiety but she warned me that with his Canine Dementia more than likely the day would come when he would become too aggressive and I would have to make the choice.

Chingu has made so much progress and I am so proud of him for all the hard work that he has done and these past 20 months or so in Texas have been great for us. Most of all I'm so proud that he was able to not just love me but able to learn to love and trust my boyfriend (aka Dad). I didn't think in the beginning he would ever be able to trust another person besides myself but Chingu was able to open his heart and find a bond with another person.

However, he has begun to have less lucid periods and more periods of fear and confusion. I don't want our last memories together to be of fear and pain. I want them to be of happy times filled with peace, love, and warmth.

We're going to spend the next week together and then I will make arrangements to have him go to sleep at home where he feels comfortable and safe.

This will be a week of eating steak and liver and all things tasty. It will be a week of dancing, and petting, and lots of walking. It will be a week where my angel can do as he pleases and I will take every opportunity to tell him how much I love him.

This is not an easy decision but it is no longer a question of if he will bite but when and the risk has become too great.

However, I don't think of this is a failure. I believe were it not for the dementia that all the work we've done would have turned him around for forever, but as he slips more into the twilight of his life he is unable to forget behaviors of the past. That is not his fault and that is not how I want him remembered. I also know that he does not want to hurt me or his dad.

I want to thank everyone for the support they have given us and especially to those who shared their stories of inspiration. Several people have written us telling us that Chingu's story has given them hope about their own dogs' issues with fear-aggression. I hope Chingu's story continues to give people hope because having him as my best friend for the past 3 years has made me a better person and has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Chingu has taught me so much about love and forgiveness and I will forever miss my friend.