The "rescue" of Joshua, 
a 9.5 years old Leonberger

(purebred but NO pedigree) was due to private need.

Joshua's owner was left alone with Joshua, had a job who kept her away from home from 6.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and young boys (14 +) had been paid to "walk the dog".

Due to the latest Dog edicts only adults are allowed to "walk" a dog - and almost nobody feels "ready to take care for such an old guy".

The former owner was finally sent to a Leonberger mailing-list (Germany) and found
via this list her way to ask the breed-club.

 

Well, as other friends of mine bought by July 2000 a Leonberger puppy (of course not only purebred but with a good pedigree) and as I was involved by "peparing this contacts" and as I also knew that this puppy
was meant to keep another "Leonberger grand-pa" happy again  - and as unfortunately this Leonberger grand-pa
(12 yrs. old Ranger) passed away by end of July, it was rather clear that "Joshua and the
Tate-family" had to join each other.

This was absolutely necessary as Joshua
would have again a family and the "important
task to help to bring up a Leo - puppy the proper way"
- well, and for the Tate's he would help them to
deal a bit better with the loss of their beloved
Ranger and for a puppy there is nothing better than a "canine friend" to teach a puppy how to become
a "good dog".
 

Joshua & Angie
Hedda and Edith
Oct. 22, 2000 - FFM/airport

 

This happened on September 30
- and the first plan was that Joshua should leave Germany by Oct. 3, 2000 -
but due to the injuries he got by this "dog-fight" and due to other incidents
- his departure was delayed.

I must admit that I first was "in rage" to hear
a Leonberger biten seriously bit a pit bull - but finally
"loving all animals and being convinced that it was
a male vers. male - attack helped me back
to see things again clear - and to continue with
helping DOG's - no matter which breed"

Joshua sollte den letzten Samstag in Deutschland nochmal ein bißchen genießen.
Joshua should enjoy his "last saturday" in Germany.

Es war schönes Wetter und für einen Septembertag noch recht warm.
The weather was fine and rather warm for end of September.

Wir fuhren zu einem See in der Nähe.
We (Ex-owner, friend and Joshua) went to a nearby-lake.

An diesem See gingen Leute spazieren, einige saßen oder lagen auf den
Wiesen und sonnten sich.
People went for a walk, other's sat there and enjoyed the sun.

Unter anderem gab es auch eine kleine Gruppe Jugendlicher mit einem
beige-braun farbenem Pitbull.
Amongst the other people there was a small group of youngster with a
beige-brown-coloured Pitbull (or Am. Staff?)

Der Hund sprang zwischen den Beinen der Jugendlichen herum,
wedelte mit dem Schwanz und bellte. (aus was für Gründen auch immer. )
This dog jumped around, wagged the tail and barked.

Joshua sah den Hund fing in seiner typischen Art an zu "quicken" (das tut er immer
wenn sich freut) und wedelte ebenfalls mit dem Schwanz.
Joshua saw the dog, squeaked in his "typical" manner if he is "delighted", want's
to play etc. and he was wagging his tail as well.

Beide Hunde waren nicht angeleint und liefen aufeinander zu .
Zu diesem Zeitpunkt sah alles noch ganz harmlos aus.
Both dogs had been "off-leash" and runned towards each other.
At this time everything looked "rather harmless"

Ich weiß nicht mehr genau, ob Sie sich noch beschnupperten oder nicht - der Pitbull
fing plötzlich an zu beißen und der "Kampf" ging los.
Suddenly, the Pitbull began to bite and the "dog-fight" started.

Die drei Jugendlichen (vor allen Dingen die Besitzerin) standen ziemlich
regungslos daneben, während ich versucht habe Joshua anzusprechen
(besser anzuschreien).
The 3 young people had been rather helpless; I had tried to "talk"
(indeed screamed) onto Joshua -

Nach 2 oder 3 Minuten hatte Joshua die Oberhand und stand über
dem , auf dem Boden liegenden Pitbull.
2 or 3 min. after "Joshua won" and stood over the on the floor
lying Pitbull.

Als ich Joshua rief wollte er ablassen, aber sobald der Pit sich bewegte
fing er wieder an zu knurren.
Joshua was ready to "finish" on my command but as soon as the "Pit" moved
Joshuas began to growl again.

Die junge Frau zog ihren Pit am Halsband weg, während ich Josel ebenfalls festhielt.
Finally the young girl grabbed her dog on the collar and I got hold of Joshua.

Der Pit hatte 1 oder 2 kleine Löcher im Gesicht - sonst aber keine weiteren Verletzungen.
The other dog had 1 or 2 minor injuries in the face - but nothing else serious.

Joshua hinkte fürchterlich und war ebenfalls am bluten (re. Voderlauf).
Joshua limped terrible and was bleeding (right frontleg).

Nach der Untersuchung stellte sich heraus, das der Pitbull Josel den
Knochen des Vorderlaufs gequetscht hatte.
After examination at the animal hospital they found out that Joshuas
bone was squeezed (so-called crush injury).

Joshua was for 6 days under treatment - all time in the animal hospital.