What should I do?

[Backward_Cinderella]

My mom just called.
Booger killed her tortoise, they've had him for four months, he was ten years old, the neighbors had gotten fed up with taking care of him, and my mom, kind hearted animal lover that she is, took him in. Apparently Booger has been nit picking at him, biting and whatever else, and this morning Mom found the tortoise dead with its front leg chewed up.
I'm totally sick at my stomach over this.
Dad wants Booger put down.
Mom doesn't know what to do.
Neither do I.
Bringing him here isn't an option right now, or I would.

Someone help me.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I dont have ANY experience or expertise in this area... but my opinion, if this was my dog... I wouldnt have them put down.

I dont see this as aggression... if Booger had killed another dog or a cat that would be different... but he may not see a tortoise as something to be nice to.

I understand if your parents dont want Booger in the house anymore but unless there is some aggression I dont know about maybe you could just rehome?

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I'm sorry, that is just a dog being a dog. They had fair warning with the dog picking at the tortoise earlier.

 

[bubbatd]

I can't fault Booger !!! Yes , it's too bad but things in nature happened . I had a cat that ate a goldfish once .... I sure didn't put the cat down !

 

[Backward_Cinderella]

I'm sorry, that is just a dog being a dog. They had fair warning with the dog picking at the tortoise earlier.

That's what I think, too, Red. I just don't know what to tell my parents.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I see it as a dog being a dog also. Doubt the dog saw it as an equal, more like prey.

 

[mrose_s]

I definetly wouldn't put down. Dogs are dogs, killing things is part of what they do.

 

[bubbatd]

I personally can't see anyone getting rid of a dog over a tortoise they took in only 3 months ago . Are there other issues ???

 

[Backward_Cinderella]

I personally can't see anyone getting rid of a dog over a tortoise they took in only 3 months ago . Are there other issues ???

A lot of them. He's been starting fights and barking constantly. He bit a kid that came into the back yard a while ago, but the general consensus was that the asshat kid deserved it. He's also bitten my little brother, but again, kid deserved it. He knows better than to hang on Booger's ears and whatnot.
I think he's just being a nuisance in general to my parents and they're tired of it. I should have brought him with me when we moved.

 

[Renee750il]

To a dog, a tortoise is prey. Why on earth would any rational, sane human being want to kill a dog because it acted like a dog? Especially if they knew Booger had already been after the tortoise?

I'm not sure what you tell them . . . other than it's their own fault for putting Booger and the tortoise in that situation and ask them what kind of consequences they're prepared to take.

 

[Backward_Cinderella]

I'm not sure they ARE right minded any more. They're in their 70's.
*sigh*
That's not saying that everyone in their 70's isn't right minded, but I'm just not sure they are.

 

[smkie]

tell them two wrongs won't make anything right. IT's bad that it happened but to kill the dog will not change a thing, It won't bring the tortise back, it will only make a dead dog and that much more sadness for everyone. Hopefully dad will calm down by morning. (((HUGS)))) and i am so sorry.

 

[grab01]

Dogs do many times see tortoises as prey animals. I've seen many a horrible injury on tortoises and turtles caused by dogs, through work. You should always keep the two apart. In fact, I have a desert tortoise, and part of the game and fish dept's prerequisites for being ok'd to have one is that if you have dogs, the tortoise must have an enclosure safe from them.

I can't imagine why they didn't separate the tortoise if they'd seen the dog bothering him

 

[Kathy29]

I agree with everyone else. Booger was just being a dog. You can't fault a dog for being a dog.

Just like how you can't fault a cat for being a cat. If I was careless and left my cat and bird out together and my cat killed my bird, putting my cat down wouldn't even cross my mind for a split second. He's just being a cat and it's instinct.

I hope your dad changes his mind.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Why was the tortoise anywhere near the dog unsupervised anyway? That is irresponsible. Just because a tortoise has a shell,doesn't mean it will be protected against a predator.

Putting him down for killing a small animal who WAS allowed near it unsupervised? That is wrong.

 

[corgipower]

I agree that the dog was doing what dogs do and the dog and toroise shouldn't have been together unsupervised. Not a reason to put the dog down.

A lot of them. He's been starting fights and barking constantly. He bit a kid that came into the back yard a while ago, but the general consensus was that the asshat kid deserved it. He's also bitten my little brother, but again, kid deserved it. He knows better than to hang on Booger's ears and whatnot.
I think he's just being a nuisance in general to my parents and they're tired of it. I should have brought him with me when we moved.

This bothers me. Whether or not the kid "deserved it", whether or not your brother "deserved it", that's two kids who have been bitten by the dog. Your parents need to get better control on him with training and confining before the dog becomes a danger. If they can't manage him, then rehoming might be best.

 

[FoxyWench]

the tortoise is there own fault, the 2 should NEVER have been left alone together, plain and simple!

the biting of 2 kids, deserving or not however is a worry and if there not willing to work on his behaviour to prevnet those types of situations i dont know if euthanization or rehoming may be a better option, sounds like your parents have simply just given up and are looking for excuses...in those kind of situations, unless there willing to change that side of things, the dog will never get better.

 

[Catsi]

I agree - the dog is just doing what dogs do. I have a much loved bird who is out and about in my room with me as much as possible. I would never, ever let him unsupervised with the dogs. It all comes down to good management. I am sorry about the tortoise though.