Update on Christmas Dog.

I'm sorry to say that Toby is out of here. On the morning of the 29th around midnight, I had put the grandsons and other dogs to bed, called Toby into our room where he had been sleeping. Usually he would go right to his bed, but for some reason he didn't want to. I think he had been having too much fun playing with the boys. MJ came up and told him to go to bed and he stepped forward and let me clip the leash on. We had not been letting him run free yet, trying to get him use to sleeping in his bed beside ours. He refused to lay down on the bed and lay down instead on the floor next to it. Normally that would be okay, but since the boys were here, I knew I would be getting up to check on them, they always play awhile, and he was in my way. I kept telling him to get on his bed. Finally I reached down and lifted him up with both arms and was moving him over. He growled, but I was almost down with him. The next thing I knew, he turned and bite my right wrist. Then he bite again and would not let go. That is the worst feeling, pain and mentally. I yelled something at MJ, I don't remember what. I think I said he was biting me and wouldn't let go. I was pulling back from him and finally he released my arm. I stood up and got away from him quickly. I had a two inches slice in my wrist and it started bleeding, a lot. Tyler came in, saw it and ran for the others. MJ was trying to find something to apply pressure with. We called 911, mainly because I couldn't get it to stop bleeding and thought I would have to go by ambulance to the ER. Police came. The paramedics got it stopped and wrapped. We decided to let MJ drive me. We called my mother to come sit with the boys.
We got to Baylor ER quickly and was seen pretty quickly. They x-rayed it, gave antibiotics, a tetanus shot, but did not stitch it up. They said it might cause more of a chance of infection. They wrapped it. We were back home by 3:45 am.
I decided later that morning that I could not keep this dog. I had really loved this dog, but now I was afraid of him for myself and grandsons. So MJ called the Violas, told them what had happened and ask if they wanted him back because we couldn't keep him. They said they would come get him. In the mean time, Animal control called and told me they needed to watch him for 10 days, he couldn't leave the state. So we all decided to surrender him to Animal Control. He had bite someone 3 yrs ago and everyone agreed after my experience, he would have to be put down. The fact that he clamped down and wouldn't let go was the deciding factor for most of us. So AC came shortly after noon on Tuesday. I said I would surrender him to them and signed the papers. He was in my office behind closed doors and I did not want him drug through the house by their pole in front of the boys, so I went in and put his leash on him and walked him out the truck. I said goodbye. AC will call me after 10 days with the results, rather he showed any signs of rabies or not.
I'm sorry for Toby, the Violas, and us. My wrist seems to be okay, but have numbness along the top of the thumb and two fingers. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow.
Coming home from the hospital early Tuesday morning, a small black and white dog ran in front of our car. I said " Let it run". I think I have learned something from all this, but only time will tell.