Puppy PTSD after being Attacked
This is my first post. Sorry in advance if this is a long post. I really need help, please, anyone. I've included some background info so hopefully the whole situation can be observed. I will take help anywhere I can find it right now.
We have a 17 week old Pomeranian, male, named Baxter. He weighs 8 lbs. Baxter also has a sister - Pepper, our 4-1/2 yr old Pom/Papillion Mix (15 lbs)
We welcomed Baxter into our family at 12 wks old, January 15th. In the first month he was house trained and crate trained. He is an exceptional dog. Well behaved and very smart. Such a happy little guy, until last Tuesday Feb 20.
Around 4:30 last Tuesday our neighbors 6 yr old was walking their large breed dog. At the time I was standing in the my front yard with Baxter and did not see the child or the other dog until it was attacking both of us - after dragging the child to the ground and across the street.
Baxter hasn't been trained yet to Run & Hide so I threw myself over my puppy as fast as I could, and tried to protect him with my body, but we both were attacked. The screams and barking, the fear in my puppy, the weight of the dog on me, biting, scratching as I crawled towards the front stoop. I screamed for help, over and over, and no one was coming. Apparently the child's mother was inside the house and at some point came to pull her dog off me.
Multiple bite wounds for both of us, doctors and vets, damage to my neck from the weight of the dog on me (my vet said I saved his life - so it was totally worth it). Immediately after returning from the emergency vet Baxter started refusing to near the front door, and absolutely not out in the front yard.
Slowly and with a Ton Of Praise and Treats he has gone back outside - provided it is completely silent. Otherwise if he see a person or hears a car, a door, another dog, any sound, he beeline it straight to come inside. He is terrified to walk by the "Dog" House.
We are both suffering from PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety, etc. while healing our bodies as well.
How do I help him get past the fear? How do help him to not be afraid of the noises? The people? They will only increases as the weather gets nicer, and the dogs in the "Dog" House will be in the yard 24/7 all day every day behind a very small fence (I terrified of the Attacking dog jumping the fence and coming after Baxter again)
I've been slowly carrying him by that house on the opposite sidewalk so we can walk Baxter with Pepper. The entire time he is visibly shaking from the core, he immediately starts having a panic attack. I softly and calmly whisper to him it's ok. Momma is here, Pepper is here, it's ok, it's just a sound, it's ok, etc., until we get a few houses away and he will walk and follow Pepper - provided another fear trigger doesn't present - a car, a person, etc. at which point he starts again with a panic attack.
Right now everything is secondary to helping Baxter recover. We have all kinds of dogs in our neighborhood. He was supposed to start training and now we can't.
The attacking large dog has a history and a trigger for attacking small animals. I personally witnessed this dog killing a groundhog, and last summer she attacked our other dog, Pepper, while being walked by a 10 yr old (and at that time we were told a child would never walk the dog again). Pepper was fast enough to get away without harm - She's been trained to Run and Hide.
The "Dog" House has two large breed dogs, and the other one barks 24/7 and throws himself against the window when the owner isn't home - neither dog is getting enough exersice, they are screamed at constantly, and they are home alone everyday for at least 10-12 hours. I don't know if this is considered abuse.
We called the police, but our local Boro did nothing. We called Animal Control but no one has called us back. The owner has still not provided the Rabies Certificate - but there isnt anyone asking for it either. I am so torn apart. The attack was so horrifying I went into shock. I just don't know what to do or how to get help. Those poor large dogs are obviously needing love and attention and training.
I am at my wits end here - I love animals - all of them - and it's breaking my heart not knowing what to do and no one helping us figure it out. We don't want to press charges - but there are four young children in that Dog house and we have 7 small dogs in our neighborhood. I do not want to responsible for the large dog getting blamed. It's not the animals fault.
Any and all help or advice or suggestions are welcomed.
I need help
- Robin