Reply #18: Egads!

[a la izquierda]

All three of my dogs are rescued, but only one was abused (we suspect abuse). Two of my dogs are pups, abandoned at very young ages, so we're fairly certainly they weren't abused.
However, we have an English Bulldog/Boxer mix who was used as a bait dog. He doesn't like other dogs at all, with a few exceptions. He is 13 now, and we've had him for 7 years. The first few months were really tough, because we couldn't move certain ways without the fear that he might bite our faces off. Eventually, he became a very mellow dog. He's a little snappier in his old age, since he's blind. But he wouldn't attack us and we know this because: a few weeks ago he got aggravated by something and lunged at what I believe he thought was something in the air (nobody/nothing was around). Unfortunately, he connected with my leg. As soon as he realized he'd actually bitten something, he let go and ran away.
He doesn't leave our yard and is never left alone outside (not that he'd be able to escape anyway, but still).
It is very sad that human actions destroy dogs (or any other animal).
I feel really bad for this man, who was just doing a good deed.