Fewer dogs and fingers - Sep 22, 2006 - Tribune, Kansas, United States

We have had 3 dogs. An australian shepherd named Shadow, a Blue Heeler named Little Chief, and a Border Collie named Sophie. We got them all within a few months of each other and they have grown up together, getting along fine and they were great companions to us. We loved them all. However, over the past year, they have started fighting with one another. The result was that Sophie was always the weakest dog and had lots of injuries. After a rather frighening fight, we finally isolated Sophie in her own pen, except when we were home to watch them all. On August 5, they had a really bad fight and Wes tried to seperate them. He was bitten severely. His little finger was bitten almost off. We took him to the ER and he was patched up. The Doctor stitched his finger back on with the possibility that it would reattach and be good again. Xrays indicated that the tip of the bone had been bitten off. We kept him bandaged and had several trips back to the doctor. In the meantime, Shadow was put to sleep. She was always the instigator of the fights and was always picking on Sophie. It was a difficult decision since she was a great dog. I had tried to find her a new home for over two years, but no one wants an adult dog and even the rescue shelters were full. All was fine and the other two dogs were getting along fine - until about two weeks later when they were fighting again. This time I was bitten and Sophie was pretty well torn up. Off we went to the ER again. I was bandaged up with only a few stitches. I had mostly puncture wounds. We went to the vet with the understanding that one of the dogs would have to be put down. We weren't sure Sophie could survive her wounds. If not, she would be put to sleep. After sedation and treatment, the vet thought she would be fine. So, Chief had to be put down. It was a very hard thing to do. I loved both of those dogs and I miss them daily.

Now, we only have Sophie and she is much more relaxed and happy. However, the final straw in the situation, was that yesterday Wes had to have the end of his little finger amputated. He is doing fine, but having a lot of pain. I certainly hope that we are done with all this. Wes has been to the doctor more since his retirement than all the rest of his life!