So, that’s ok, right? Well…

Instead, they cared for the dog for several years, and it bit a new renter of their upstairs apartment and sent her to the hospital. Funny… it was even a German Shepard. They were very fortunate that the renter in question didn’t sue them.

Indeed, a friend of this renter even lied to the police to keep this dog from being put down. She was bit too, but since she didn’t need stitches, she could keep it from the authorities. Neither the renter nor the friend of the renter were violent or threatening to the dog. The amazing thing is that the friend of said renter did not know the owners of the dog at all.

So… was that lie a good deed?

I puzzle over some of this, because I have another friend who takes in abused animals as a matter of course, and under his care, the animals actually somehow heal emotionally. Twitchy, violent animals become docile pets over a matter of two years.

Yet, this dog did not, even after living for years with loving caregivers.

I don’t know much about animal psychology. There’s more going on than instinct, though goodness knows they aren’t as complex as humans. Humans are harder to read, I think, and some don’t know themselves from animals.

I really have to wonder if these German Shepards were trained to fight like pitbulls, where as the animals my animal training friend takes in are abused in a simpler, more straightforward way.

One of the best dogs I’ve ever kept was obviously seriously abused, (and abandoned) and yet he was harmless.

After a few years of loving care, the ranch that took him in reported him to be a wonderful dog, even trustworthy with children.

I think the lesson here is to keep in mind where the risks are when you attempt to do good. Know the situations and the potential pitfalls.

Being someone who appreciates & cares for all of God’s creatures as well, I totally understand where Frances is coming from. I have taken in strange animals to my home on previous occasion, not even thinking about the consequences to my own pets. I think this is sage advice. We need to think very clearly about whether we have the capacity to help someone or something before we jump in head first.

Rescuing strays dogs & cats is akin to working with the troubled youth I work with on a regular basis. I always have to analyze the situation: If I intervene in the issue, will I cause more harm than good?

I guess it seems simple as a Christian to jump in with guns a blazing, ready to help out, but Christ didn’t call us to be cowboys. But I digress.