Hey everyone! Hope you’re all doing well—today has been fairly hectic for my family.

When I was 19 (now 23), I adopted an emotional support animal with my parent’s permission. Before adopting, I asked my parents if they would be able to take this hypothetical dog if need be. Long-time dog lovers and owners, they agreed without hesitation! Lo and behold, I adopted an older beagle who I named Rudy. Unfortunately, I felt as though I couldn’t give him the beautiful life he deserved while in college. After about a year of having him at school, I asked my parents again if they’d be willing to take him. Again, they agreed without hesitation. Rudy has happily lived with my parents, their other dog Benny, and our cat Toby for years. I thought I was making the best decision I could for Rudy.

Fast forward to last year, late 2020, my parents got a new puppy: a German Shepard Dog (GSD). Shelby has always been high-energy and doesn’t necessarily listen very well. Up until today, she has never been aggressive.

I was not home at the time—I still live away from my parents—but Shelby and Rudy were outside together. My mom noticed Rudy was digging in her garden so she yelled at him to get out. Rudy, being the oblivious little elderly man that he is, had no idea what she wanted. My mom came outside and picked Rudy up and out of her garden. After she put him on the ground, she turned her back to the two dogs to assess the garden damage. Within a few seconds, she heard Rudy yelping.

My mom, by some miracle, was able to pull Shelby off of Rudy. Even though she was quickly able to separate the two, Rudy ended up with five puncture wounds. Four are on the back of his neck. One is about an inch from his jugular. Even though I wasn’t present, after speaking with my mom and our vet, I am positive that Shelby intended to kill Rudy.

Luckily, Rudy survived the attack and made it through surgery perfectly OK. He will be staying with me and my partner for the summer; I begin working full-time in August, and will be moving to my own place then. I always intended to take Rudy back, so thankfully, we have a plan of action.

However, I am deeply concerned. My parents have another dog and a cat. I am besides myself wondering whether Shelby is capable of or likely to hurt one of them. Rudy got very lucky today, and I don’t ever want to receive another text from my mom about Shelby attacking another one of our pets. God forbid, she attacks a person or a different person’s pet. I’m so worried.

And I feel like a horrible, horrible pet owner. I thought bringing Rudy to my parents would make him happy (and he was until today)—there’s a big backyard and he loves their cozy couch.. but now I feel like I made a bad decision that almost ended Rudy’s life. I love him so much, seeing him in this sort of condition and pain is the most heart-wrenching experience.. and I never want to feel this way again.

I know this was all a lot but I think what I’m trying to ask is, could Shelby do this again?..