A dog lover has spoken of her devastation after her violent puppies left her with no choice but to have them put down.
Rachel Adams, 59, bought two St Bernard dogs – named Dave and Alan – for £3,600 in February 2022.
She and her husband Paul Adams, 53, were delighted with the pups but soon noticed they were anti-social with people and other animals.
The Oxford couple spent eight months trying to change the dogs’ behaviour but, after two attacks on Rachel, they decided to put them down.
They are now speaking out to warn about dog breeding – believing Dave and Alan may have come from a dubious source.
“We will never get over having to make that decision [to put them down],” said Rachel. “We were both utterly devastated, but we had no choice in the end.”
St Bernard dogs have a reputation for being docile but there have been isolated reports of violence.
“Both attacks came from nowhere. It makes my blood run cold to think of them,” continued Rachel.
“But otherwise the boys were very loving with Paul and I. The situation had got worse and worse and worse – their world got smaller and smaller and as a consequence so did ours.
“They were frightened and aggressive. We couldn’t take them out, or leave them, or have people round.
“I couldn’t use the hoover or the hose. They were frightened and would have attacked. In the end, we had to do what we did to protect people in our locality and, of course, myself and my family. If they had ever got out it would have been a tragedy for anyone that they came across.”
The couple used to run a rescue centre and are used to handling large breeds.
But it was clear within a couple of weeks they had their work cut out with Dave and Alan, they say.
Soon the dogs, each weighing around 50kg, couldn’t be left unsupervised, as they were attacking Rachel and Paul’s other four dogs.
Paul even had to miss a wedding to keep the dogs safe, and the couple couldn’t have their grandchildren visit because it was too dangerous.
Happier times: Rachel Adams and her new puppy.
The home and seven acres of land had to be ‘dog-proofed’ because the St Bernards weren’t safe around other people or animals.
By May, the dogs were too afraid to leave a ten-by-ten-foot square patch.
Dave and Alan then attacked Rachel when she was getting their breakfast for them in October, slamming her to the ground and biting at her.
They dragged her outside – ripping off her clothes.
One of the two puppies that Rachel decided to have put down
Rachel Adams’ injuries caused by her new puppies.
