It Was a Tearful Choice to Make
My husband and I were in a fix for quite a few months discussing whether we could keep our loving pet dog, Max. His behavior had worsened over the months—chewing furniture, scratching doors, and various messes of untold origins that greeted us were the order of the day. At that point, we were simply overworked, not to mention being frustrated, and had already made up our minds on the issue of the shelter as the most logical option.
We had done all that we could: obedience training, more playtime, and a pet behaviorist was involved in the consultation process. But still, everything seemed like a failure. Wiping back tears just when we were about to make the call, our savior came in the form of a close companion who proposed that we try and catch the rogue Max on video while we were away. Imagine the surprise when we finally saw the real picture—his/his despair, our prejudices.
What We Found Was Truly Alarming
After getting the chance to have another look, we felt our hearts sinking. Without any doubt, we were sure that Max wasn’t acting destructively out of a wish to draw our attention or a need for fun. It was quite the opposite, as the camera clearly showed a young person who was in fact not part of our family, who was our neighbor, who came into our garden many times during the day. He mocked Max, threw stuff at him, and even used a hose to spray him. Our beloved sickish dog was, from being the wrongdoer, the most pathetic: so much so that the only action it took was trembling and barking to the best of its abilities.
Confronting the Truth
We were angry and sad at the same time, and as a result, we met with the neighbor, who was equally shocked by her son’s behavior. The boy expressed his guilt about bullying M, A, and X, and at the same time claimed that he believed that it was “just fun.” After we gave him a strong warning and took an apology, we decided it was the best thing to do to install a better security system and put Max inside while we weren’t there.
A Happy Ending
In no time, Max became a very different dog. He was more peaceful, happier, and he stopped tearing things apart. We were not aware of his real intention of communicating with us; that’s why it ended up this way.
At present, Max has gone back to his usual self, that is, gentle, loyal, and caring towards us. The whole issue could have ended up tragically, but fortunately, we were wrong to take that view since the forces of nature can also have a major influence on pet animals. Thus, we learned a very important lesson that sometimes, not our pets but the invisible forces around them are the source of the problem.
The Lesson We Learned
Should your pet suddenly turn into a different creature, don’t go into panic. Look into it closely before you decide on something you can’t turn back. It’s a fact that cameras and patience, besides vet consultations, are ways to identify the real cause of your pet’s problem and also to save them/from the stress caused by your false diagnosis.
We will never forget how thankful we were that we gave Max a second chance; he would have been suffering had we not shown him mercy. It wasn’t his fault, it was the perpetrator. And now, he is here, safe, happy, and at peace.
