My story is sad. I loved Zak. I spoil my dogs like children. He was 80 pounds white with brindle markings. His behavior was more on the pyranees side where me and my 2 young daughters were his flock to protect in his fenced in yard with beware of dog sign. His best bud was a female minature dashund that we still have. He became more protective towards us when the neighborhood kids in the hood of the city of poughkeepsie would torment him while I was inside. I did not catch it right away; when I became aware of it, I would only let him out when I was with him. I had chain-linked fence which I had to add the 8 foot wooden fence because he would try to jump at anyone near the fence.
One summer day, not to my knowledge, my neighber cut down the thick hedges that served as my fence in a portion of my yard. One of the kids who had tormented Zak was riding his bike; Zak saw the opportunity to "get" one of his tormentors and found that spot as soon as I let him out. The boy, rather than remain still, tried to ride away and also hit him with a bat. Zak bit him in the ankle and the boy went to the hospital and got stitches. No charges were filed; we were all neighbors. I then put the fence up where the shrubs had once served as a fence. All was fine, until 2 months later. It was early evening; the mailman usually has come and gone by then. I let Zak out. I came in to fill his water dish. I heard a comotion. The mailman, even with a "beware of dog" sign and Zak outside, proceeded to come to the mailbox which unfortunately for Zak was located on my house porch. I did not see it happen; but I knew it was bad. I tried to catch up to the running mailman but couldn't. I called the post office but it was closed. That night I received a visit by 2 police officers who took a statement from me. The next day, 2 animal control officers seized my dog from my home. He was only 1.5 years old. They did not have a warrent which at the time I did not know they had to have before they seized a dog. They do not let you visit your dog; my dog, whom I loved and was spoiled was kept in solitary confinement in a cold wet kennel for 45 days before the order came that he must be destroyed. No one would represent me on the laws of Agriculture and Market which handles dog laws; there are also city and town laws which I urge all of you to get a copy of especially if you have a territory aggressive dog. The day I got to say goodbye to Zak was a sad day. He was not my Zak; he didn't really want to see me he just begged anyone to get him out of the horrible conditions he was in for 45 days. My boyfriend held him when they gave him the lethal injection. He will never forget it because Zak lay his head on his shoulder with trust. I now have Zak's ashes in an urn on a shelf. He should not have died. I tried to retain a lawyer to deal with the city but they all say the animal control officer's have a protection in the dog laws. I wrote letters to the mayor and was fired unjustly from my job at the DCSPCA because the Exec. Dir. and the mayor were friends. I cannot prove that but I tried. It was 2 days before Christmas. I am now being sued by the mailman who testified that he had mace in his pocket and saw the dog but felt he had to deliver the mail (many mailmen had an understanding with me that if my dogs were out, do NOT enter the area and bring the mail the next day). Anyway, I learned a lot. I live in a rough part of the city of Poughkeepsie and was told that my dog was too dangerous for the city. My dogs are my protection. There is a happy ending after so much heartache. The breeder who got me the puppy had another litter about a year later. I now have Buddah, the same parents as Zak but he is more like a St. Bernard and very playful. He's 70 pounds and only 8 months old, so I believe he will be larger. I have taken ALL precautions to make sure he does not fall to the same fate as his brother. I urge all of you to look into your local laws and take precautions.