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We recently befriended an abused, stray dog. He loves us and knows he has a home with us but we still have to be careful how we approach him. We can pet him, but only tentatively; he is very scary. He needs vet care, shots and neutering and has a skin condition. How can I get him to a vet?
– Kathy
Hi Kathy,
I recommend two things. First, schedule a behavior expert to come out and evaluate your dog to see if he’s safe to provide a home for. It’s really great you were so kind to him and took him in, but your safety must be the first concern and it sounds like there is a potential problem here. If the behavior counselor believes training and rehabilitation efforts can help him learn how to live with you, then you can work toward that goal.
A great place to start your search for a behavior consultant is through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. APDT members are all over the world, and you can find the members closest to you by simply typing in your zip code after clicking on Trainer Search. Many dog trainers are very good at behavior evaluation, but the actual certification of behaviorist indicates their skills have been evaluated. I recommend calling at least three to five trainers/behaviorists before choosing one best suited for your needs.
Second, arrange for a veterinarian to make a house call so you don’t put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation by trying to get your dog to the vet’s office. If your veterinarian isn’t able to provide this service, I suggest you go online and see if there is another veterinarian in your area offering in-home visits. Be sure to explain the circumstance and see if they would come out, and inform them of the behavior evaluation results.
Your description of the dog being very scary is the most important thing to address in this situation, so please schedule the behavior consultation as soon as possible so that you aren’t inadvertently put into a dangerous situation. It’s a sad fact that an abused dog is sometimes beyond rehabilitation and unable to successfully and safely integrate into a new home, but it is absolutely not your fault. You are to be commended for your caring, and not put yourself at risk for injury by the abhorrent acts of another person who abused the dog.
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