[masraum]

We have a rescue that we’ve had for about 9 years and is probably 11-13 yo. She’s a sweet dog 99% of the time. She’s got some leash aggression towards other dogs so we steer clear. She occassionally decides that she doesn’t like a particular person. One of those folks is an old guy in our neighborhood. She nipped him tonight. It was the tip of her snoot, so I think it was just her front teeth and they pinched him on his thigh just above his knee. I apologized and asked if he was OK several times, but he started raving and went inside, so we left. He came back out when we were way down the block and was yelling after us about killing the dog. I’m pretty sure he had been drinking.

My wife is completely freaked out now, both about the old man and about the dog. She’s going to be terrified to take the dog out to do its business which since we live in an apt is a necessity. We can get a muzzle, but I think she’ll still be freaked out about having to be outside with the dog and being seen by the old man. I can’t come home to take the dog out every day. I’m taking her to doggie daycare tomorrow, but we can’t afford to do that every day.

I love the dog, but I love my wife, and her mental health is more important. I feel like there are two options, to rehome the dog (shelter or adoption which will be tough for an older dog) or to have her put down which is horrible. Are there any other options that I’m not seeing?