August 2009

Stoney was a mix, probably Samoyed and something else, who came from Montana. We know he had been tied out most of his life on a rope, and the animal shelter told us they were glad not to return him to that home. Sandy Nelson brought him to Coeur d’Alene and met Kathy there, and she brought him back.

From the beginning we knew there was a problem between Stoney and other dogs. It’s likely because he was tied that he learned to fight dogs who came into his territory; he had no way to run away. He didn’t trust other dogs and we soon realized he had to be segregated from our other dogs. At different times he fought with all our dogs, even our old girl who gets along with everybody. He ended up spending lots of time in the laundry room with baby gates across the door, which is no life for a social dog. When the other dogs were outside or in other rooms he was affectionate and seemed to love people.

Dennis and Rocky lost Chilly last year and had no other animals in the house. They agreed to take Stoney to see how he would do in a one-dog house, and everything seemed to be working fine. Then one day, a visiting neighbor stood up and he took it as a threat; he lunged and bit her. In rescue work there is only one absolute rule; a biting dog cannot be adopted out. The liability is too great, and it does no good for our breed when people hear one of our dogs bit someone, even though Stoney was a mixed breed dog.

They gave him one special day before bringing him back to us. We did everything we could to make his final hours happy, and then Kathy sat with him while he quietly crossed the bridge.

This is only the third time this has happened to us, and it forces a change in our rescue policies. Over the years we have placed some really great Sammy mixes, but on the other side of the coin it has been mixed breeds that have given us almost all our problems. From now on, only obviously purebred Samoyeds will be taken into our rescue program. We will continue to help mixes as much as possible, including listing them on our web pages and referring adopters to them, but they won’t be taken in as fosters.

Another dog from Montana, a handsome purebred named Alex, is being fostered by Sandy right now. Alex is mellow, loves being there, and is available for adoption. We are waiting for an applicant from the Spokane area to visit him, and if that match isn’t perfect we will continue down our waiting list.