In loving memory of Hannibal

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This is the first anniversary of my having to put Hannibal to sleep. I can't say it was something as gentle as putting him to sleep, in my heart it was murder. Let me explain:My daughter, son in law, his uncle and my grand daughters moved in with me a year ago Memorial day. It was a big surprise that they were going to live with me, as my daughter asked if they could come for a few days to visit. Then I was informed that they would be with me until they got their bills caught up, which would be never. I choked, but decided that the grand daughters shouldn't be on the street, homeless; and since I own my home (such as it is) I would let them stay. There was one big rule and that was "You can't play with the dogs without asking first". Simple rule, right? I found out that it was wrong. December 21st my oldest grand daughter came in crying that Hannibal bit her. She had brought him in without asking permission and had been playing with him and he bit her out of the blue. My daughter went ballistic! She demanded that I put him down immediately. No trial, no quarantine no nothing. I tired to get her to let me keep him through the holidays, but there was no way...if I had I might have been able to find out the truth. Hannibal was a sweet tempered dog and had never offered to bite anyone. He loved kids and other animals and wouldn't harm them. He would get upset if you teased him but he NEVER in the seven years I owned him offered to bite anyone. He had been an Easter gift to my Mom. She was sooo thrilled when I put him on her bed. He bounded up to her and snuggled up to her neck and kissed the daylights out of her. For the first time in months she laughed!! It was the best gift she could have given me. A month later she was air lifted to the hospital, and that July she died in my arms. Before she died I promised to take care of her dogs (at that time there was also two other Rottweilers, Rocky and Kitty. They both subsequently joined my Mom) until it was the end of their natural lives. I ended up giving in to the demands of my daughter. I got to take Hannibal into Animal Control alone, I got to hand him over to have him murdered-ALONE. I had no options, either destroy the dogs or my daughter would haul the family out on the street. I couldn't bear to think of the two little girls out on the street! We did a lot of brain storming about Hannibal. None of the neighbors, friends or animal specialists believe that it was an unprovoked bite. My oldest grand daughter did something to provoke the dog and he bit her in the hand-once!!! The grand daughter will never tell the truth about what happened. It wasn't realized that she disobeyed the rules, it was just total hysterics and demands on my spoiled daughter's part, demanding and ordering that the dog be murdered without a trial. The kicker to the story is that her mother in law has one of those little dogs, I think it's a Maltese...anyhow it has bitten everyone, including me. It has bitten the grand daughters, neighbors, my daughter, son in law, even it's owner!! Yet my daughter doesn't have the balls to order her mother in law to destroy the dog. That dog is a true menace! Any way, here is to you Hannibal. You didn't deserve what happened!!! It wasn't your fault and I carry that guilt with me now and forever!!! I miss your muddy face, your runs beside the golf cart, your bark (you never did learn how to howl!) and everything else. You won't be forgotten. I also apologize for what happened.