Nov 30
Tragedy Strikes Local Maltese
A terrible event happened to the Boston Maltese pictured above. Gandalf, a member of the Boston Maltese Meetup Group, was attacked and killed by a pitbull by walking in a sidewalk with his owner.
Please be very careful: avoid walking your Maltese outside in the open! Don’t underestimate the possibility that your Maltese can be quickly attacked by another dog.
Here is the moving letter that Allen Su, the owner of Gandalf, has written to the members of the Boston Maltese meetup group.
“I wanted to write to you to report that while my girlfriend, Diane Wong, was walking Gandalf less than fifty feet from her house to a friends’ apartment, a neighbor’s unleashed pitbull charged and mauled Gandalf, literally tossing him around like a ragdoll for several seconds before she was able to get the pitbull to release Gandalf. Luckily, Gandalf survived without internal bleeding and is at an emergency care veterinarian being treated and operated on for a broken hip with bone protruding from the skin. Unfortunately, the veterinarian’s prognosis was that there was a less than 50% chance of recovery and that he could potentially have incontinence and an amputated leg. He may have also been in pain for the rest of his life. Taking his qualify of life into account, we made the extremely difficult decision to let Gandalf go. He was in an immense amount of pain at the veterinarian and we did not want him to suffer.
It all happened so quickly that Diane wasn’t even able to pick up Gandalf even though he was being walked on a leash. It must be known to all members of the Maltese group that you will not have a chance to react to this sort of attack. It is not just pitbulls and other large dogs, but other cats and wildlife as well. We should have heeded your warnings not to walk him. I would very much appreciate it if you could warn the other members of our Maltese group again not to walk their Maltese in public, or at least carry their dogs when they are in public. Freak accidents like this do, unfortunately, happen. THE NATURE OF THE ATTACK IS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT COULD HAPPEN. It could, as in our case, literally be right in front of your doorstep. I know earlier this year you said a member’s Maltese was mauled and killed by a pitbull on a walk.
Gandalf is remembered by his primary owners, Diane and I, as well as both of our families. He was virtually a son and grandson.”
As Allen Su told us, the incident occured in early September. Allen Su and Diane got a new dog, Alfie, pictured below. He is now three and a half months old and has actually helped them a lot with the grieving process. “While he will never take Gandalf’s place”, Allen Su wrote, “he will always remind us of him.”
If you would like to express sympathy for Allen Su and Diane, please write a comment below.
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Yup, no better way to get over the grieving of one accessory, then to buy another….
Comment by PHilton — November 30, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Show some sympathy- from Allen’s letter it seems obvious that Gandalf was seen as a member of his family, not an accessory.
Comment by YellowLab — November 30, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Such a tragedy
“Please be very careful: avoid walking your Maltese outside in the open! Don’t underestimate the possibility that your Maltese can be quickly attacked by another dog. ”
It seems we are all ways hearing of this sort of thing, I think we as pet owners of small dogs should be even more careful such a cute dog.
Comment by yorkshire terrier rescue — December 1, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
This is the third such fatal incident that has happened to members of the Boston Maltese Meet. A fourth attack from a feral cat was sidestepped by members Jim and Stacy by pulling Bella immediately out of harm’s way via the leash and her harness. This is why a harness is a necessity for a Maltese. If she were wearing a collar, Bella would be history.
My heart goes out to Allen and Diane and other owners who have had this terrible experience.
Comment by Kim — December 1, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
My heart goes out to the family that lost their precious dog, and yes a member of their family. You are not a true dog lover unless yo treat them as part of your family. I have a maltese named Abagail and she is like my daughter. I don’t care who likes it or not. She is so spoiled and pampered and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So to those of you who don’t think this was a tradgey be very careful someday a pitbull doesn’t attack you, oh well if he does right?
Comment by elaine — December 2, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Keyword… UNLEASHED
Hopefully the owner of the attacker will find him- or herself subject to the leash laws, and pit bull ordinance and anything else having an unleashed aggressive dog may fall under.
I also hope that the owners of dogs who didn’t attack Gandalf won’t be punished for the actions of someone doesn’t take care of their pitbull.
My condolences for the loss of the dog.
Comment by Molly — December 3, 2007 @ 9:22 am
My heart goes out to the Su’s. I am so sorry they and Gandalf had this happen to them.
I work at an animal shelter and hear stories of this type all too often. As an owner of a Maltese, I have taken your advice and am now extra careful. I will continue to make other owners of small dogs aware of the danger as well.
I hope their new, adorable pup brings them much happiness. Alfie is lucky to have found a home with them. I’m happy to know a dog has a good home. He is not a replacement, there certainly could never be a replacement. He is a new life that has people to love him and enjoy him.
For those of us who have chosen to make them a part of the family, when they die, no matter how they die, it is a loss and a grieving process. I wish the Su’s healing in their greiving and many happy years with Alfie.
Comment by Erin S. — December 3, 2007 @ 9:35 am
A pitbull attacked my toy poodle Miso once in the exact same manner, I was fortunate enough to have been walking with a black belt who managed to kick the pit bull in the head in order to let my poor Miso go.
After the attack Miso was fortunately okay, shaken but not in need of much medical attention besides a quick checkup at the Vets. On the other hand I had a rather stern talk with the owner, this is the EXACT Reason there are products like the invisible fence, for those who don’t want to put up a fence. There is no excuse at all
Comment by Philip Liang — December 4, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you!
Comment by Kim — December 10, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
I am so sorry for the loss of your pet.
I have two maltese. Their names are Donald and Daisy. They are treated like members of a family. They are part of of our day to day living… when they are hurting, we are hurting, too. We are serious about owning them not as accesory, but as pets that we give due respect. Accesories do not have emotions, they do not give unconditional love, accesories do not have tails that wag unconditionally…
Comment by Maria — February 2, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
hi my boyfriend and i were researching about our maltese martini and came across you story. just wanted to say that we were sorry to hear. we will be careful walking martini. sutah and david
Comment by sutah — February 16, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
That is sooooo awful and he is so cute.
Comment by Maltese Maniac — April 18, 2008 @ 1:33 pm