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I really want to thank everyone for their kind words and support, this has been a very difficult adjustment.

Sam is doing fine, and there doesn't seem to be any lasting repurcussions from the incident.  I think, for Sam, the whole thing happened so quickly that he doesn't even realize what actually occurred.  He doesn't seem to have any lingering fears or anxiety over dogs, he still wants to chase Zoe, our poodle mix, all over the house.  Sam, being so young, doesn't realize what has happened, nor does he grasp that Tonka is gone.  Macey, my 6 year old, on the other hand, had a difficult time and I think, initially, she was angry at Sam and blamed him.  We talk about it and she knows that aunt Misty has Tonka and she will be able to visit him and he will visit her.  She has come around and accepted this and is excited about getting to see Tonka with Gracie and Rosco very soon.  I have told her we just need to wait a few weeks and give Tonka plenty of time to adjust to his new home and his new family before we go see him, I don't want to confuse him.

I know, without a doubt, what happened was not an "attack" or a "mauling", it was just....I don't know, it was not vicious, though.  Given the fact that Sam has a mark on his cheek that is about 3cm long and his chin that is about 2cm, I realize that if Tonka was angry or attacking the damage would have been far worse.  I just know that if I had kept Tonka, every move and sound he made would have been completely overanalyzed by me and I would have overreacted and been nervous and anxious, and that would have only made him nervous and anxious.  There is also the fact that my son is visually impaired, he is legally blind and his vision will only continue to deteriorate as time goes on.  This event made me consider other scenarios, like my visually impaired son stepping on or tripping over Tonka one day, because he didn't see him, and hurting him or compelling Tonka to protect himself or retaliate.

This turned out, in light of these events, better than I ever could have hoped.  The day all this happened all I could think about was what would happen to Tonka, what if he was neglected or abused, what if he didn't adjust, I just would never know.  I know that Misty will take care of him, I know that he will be treated exactly the way he should be, I know he will be very happy.  I get to see him, I get to know how he is doing and my daughter, who loves that dog, doesn't have to let go completely.

Thank you all again for your help and support, it means so much to me.  I am comforted everyday when I hear from Misty and she tells me about how Tonka is adjusting well.  Here are some pics of Tonka and my Sammy:

I don't know what happened, to be honest, I didn't see.  The whole event was over as quick as it happened.  Ever since we moved back, Tonka has had issues.  We were living with my parents for a few months when we first got out of the military, before we got our own house here and I have some relatives and aquaintances to thank for these fear issues he has.  There was always someone, my uncle, my dad or one of my brother's friends, who thought they would get a testosterone burst by intimidating the giant dog.  My dad, thinking he has a total handle on Ceasar Milan's methods, would stare Tonka down and raise his voice until Tonka would cower, my uncle would do the same thing.  My brothers friends would come over and stare him down and make barking sounds in his face.  They thought it was hilarious to scare him, they would throw rocks on top of the tin car port so they could laugh as Tonka tucked his tail and ran for cover.  They would run up at him barking, and if he barked back or growled, he would get started down and yelled at.  I would get angry, I would tell them to cut the sh*t out and leave him alone.  I told them they were going to make him fearul and they were putting my children at risk with the behavior they created and encouraged.  They finally stopped, but they only stopped when I was watching, I would find out that they were still doing it all when I wasn't there.  When we finally moved to our own house, the damage was obvious.  Tonka was visibly afraid of all men, something that had never been a problem before.  Female guests were always welcomed with leans and licks and excitement, men were met with caution, apprehension and fear.  Even still, children were always Tonka's favorite guests.  DD would have friends over regularly, at get togethers my friends children were always excited to play with Tonka, birthday parties were held and Tonka was always playful and affectionate.  One day, on a walk, a neighbors daughter came running outside (she was 5) stood face to face with Tonka and screamed at the top of her lungs, not 5 inches from his face.  Tonka buckled, he growled, barked and lunged at her.  I yanked the leash and he immediately layed down, but that was the turning point with children.  From that day forward, he feared children, if any came to the house he was apprehensive, he would growl at them and bark, I had to keep him seperated from visiting children after that day.  MY children were never an issue, not once, especially Macey.  Sam has always been supervised with Tonka, he is small and is still learning how to be gentle and careful with animals, but Tonka has never behaved negatively towards him.
Now, today, I am faced with this.  Because I don't know what happened, I can't take any chances that there will be a next time.  I want to make the right decision, I want to do right by Tonka, but I also know that I cannot pretend this didn't happen and have him do it again, to my kids or someone elses.

I am just so confused right now.  I don't know if there is a right answer or a good outcome.

This is Misty's (GracieBelle) newest mooch, Roscoe.  I took the pictures this weekend while they were visiting. 

OH MY!!  That is weird!  Why on earth would someone want to smell a dog?  I love to smell puppy breath and babies, but I don't like to purposely smell my own dogs most of the time, much less someone elses.

And that is quite an interesting guess on Bear's breed.  I would have cracked up!

the sound of running water makes you jump up and yell, "OUTSIDE!"


you tell your dog to sit, and he backs up until he finds a chair


it takes 3 people to get your dog on the scale at the vets


you walk your dog and everyone knows him by name, but you have no idea who these people are


you can carry on a conversation with a dog's muzzle firmly in your crotch


you own a dog capable of pulling someone from a porta potty


your dog can hide an entire tennis ball (among other things) fully inside his lips and give you that innocent look that says, "What? I'm not eating anything!"


you carry a tape measure with you when shopping for a new vehicle


you keep at least one color-coded "drool towel" in every room of your house


after banishing your husband, the snoring in your bedroom still keeps you awake


you are hiking with a friend who later suggests that you ought to have an environmental impact statement done on your dog


visitors enter the house holding their privates protectively


you toss your dog a ball and cringe when he almost hits his head on the top of the doorway


you take your dog for a ride and he rests his head on your arm, causing you to make random right turns


you have given up on water dishes and you just use the bathtub


your two dogs decide to play in the house, and they end up pulling the ceiling fan down -- for the second time


you have to move over when brushing your teeth because your dog wants a drink


you show a picture of your dogs and kids together, and the first person you point out is your dog


while stopped at a stop light, everyone stares as your car rocks back and forth because the dog is panting out the window


you go to vacuum your car and most of the fur is up there on the ceiling


you avoid the dogs on your way out the door, so they won't smear your makeup


you've learned to force a smile when asked "do you have a saddle for that thing?"


the monthly dog budget exceeds your home mortgage payment


 your veterinarian has been able to put in a swimming pool, build a large home, buy jet skis and a personal plane


you have had to train your dog not to lick dishes, and the dishes are in the sink


the donuts you put on top of the refrigerator are gone when you get home and your dog has powdered sugar on his nose


your dog can see what you're cooking, and he tries to assist you in the preparation


you're holding him straddled between your legs when the doorbell rings, you take a short (but fast!) ride straight to the door


the pizza delivery people tell you to meet them at the end of the sidewalk


your dog stands in your lap and reaches over you to stick his head in the drive-through window at MacDonald's and nearly gives the cashier a heart attack when she turns around to give you your change


you purchase a large screen TV and you still can't see the program when he stands in front of the television


after surgery, your bored pup decides to get up and cruise around the vet's office-- pulling the rolling IV stand behind him

My daughter, when she was teething would get a fever and the poos and be sooo fussy.  With Sam, he has no symptoms, just new teeth.   

It is so hard not to worry about the kids though.   

Sounds like Tonka a couple of months ago.  They just chalked it up to gastritis, sent us home with some anti nausea med, 2 antibiotics.  They told me not to feed Tonka until he had not thrown up for 12 hours.  He couldn't even hold down water, I had to give him an ice cube every couple of hours.  My carpet shampooer paid for itself that weekend.
Hopefully the vet tells you it is nothing serious, and she clears up with some meds.
Me and the crew will be thinking about Grace!

OMG!!  I love it!  I wish it was real!