If a Dog Has Been Hurt, Fought, or Gone Missing and you feel terrible— Read This First
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Aug 1, 2025
- 5 min read
If a Dog Has Been Hurt, Fought, or Gone Missing and you feel terrible— Read This First
If you are here because something has happened with a dog — an injury, a fight, or a moment where a dog was lost — pause.
This page is not here to investigate what went wrong, assess your handling, or work out what should have been done differently.
That work may come later.
This page exists for the moment immediately after — when your chest is tight, your stomach has dropped, and your mind is replaying the incident over and over.
Nothing you are feeling right now means you are careless, incompetent, or unfit to do this work.
First: Slow Everything Down
Before reading on, stop for a moment.
You do not need to:
Explain yourself
Replay every decision
Anticipate conversations
Judge your actions
Take one slow breath in through your nose.
Exhale fully through your mouth.
You are allowed to pause before making meaning of what has happened.
Shock, Guilt, and Panic Are Normal Responses
When a dog is hurt, fights, or goes missing, the nervous system reacts fast and hard.
You may feel:
Intense guilt, even if you followed protocol
Panic or dread about consequences
Shame or embarrassment
A sudden collapse in confidence
A strong urge to quit, hide, or never do this again
This is not a sign that you are at fault.
It is a sign that you care deeply and hold yourself to high standards.
High-responsibility roles carry emotional impact when things go wrong — even when no negligence occurred.
This Does Not Automatically Mean You Failed
In canine work, risk is never zero.
Dogs are living beings with instincts, histories, triggers, and unpredictable moments — even with the most experienced handling and robust systems in place.
An incident does not automatically mean:
You are unsafe
You ignored warning signs
You should have known better
You are no longer trustworthy
Outcomes do not always reflect competence.
Sometimes they reflect the reality of working with animals.
Do Not Analyse While You Are Flooded
Right now, your nervous system is likely in fight-or-flight.
That means:
Your thinking will be distorted
Your self-judgement will be harsh
Your memory may replay selectively
Your brain will search for blame — often landing on you
This is not the moment to:
Reconstruct the incident
Rewrite policies
Decide whether you should stop this work
Internalise external reactions
Analysis requires steadiness.
Steadiness comes later.
Separate the Event From Your Identity
Something happened.
That does not mean you are the problem.
A single incident — even a serious one — does not define:
Your professionalism
Your ethics
Your experience
Your care for the dogs
Be careful not to collapse your entire identity into one moment.
You are allowed to hold both:
Responsibility where it genuinely belongs
Compassion for yourself as a human in a complex, high-risk role
Shrink the Timeframe
Your mind may be racing ahead:
Client reactions
Reputational fear
Worst-case scenarios
“What if this ends everything?”
Bring it back.
For now, only focus on:
The next practical step that is required
The next calm conversation
The next moment of regulation
You do not need to solve the whole future today.
Care for the Carer
If you work with dogs long enough, you will eventually be impacted by an incident.
This is rarely spoken about — but it is real.
The emotional weight of responsibility, fear for the dog, and fear of judgement can linger.
Ignoring that impact does not make you stronger.
It makes recovery harder.
You are allowed to feel shaken.
You are allowed to need time to settle.
This Is Not the End of the Story
Right now, it may feel like everything has changed.
But most incidents:
Are processed
Are learned from
Are survived
Do not end careers
Do not erase years of good work
This moment is intense because it matters — not because you are incapable.
When You Are Ready (Not Now)
When the emotional charge has eased — not today, not immediately — there may be space for:
Reflection
Learning
System review
Supportive discussion
But that comes after regulation.
Right now, your only job is to steady yourself.
A Quiet Reminder
Working with dogs is meaningful because it carries responsibility.
That same responsibility makes moments like this hurt deeply.
Feeling the weight of it does not make you weak.
It makes you someone who cares.
Take this moment slowly.
Do not rush to judge yourself.
We will still be here when you are ready to take the next step.
About the Monthly
Each month, we focus on a single theme designed to help you run your business more calmly, confidently, and effectively.
The monthly content includes:
A short, grounding audio to help you step out of reaction mode and tune into intention.
A blog with examples, insights, and practical strategies to put the theme into action.
Attachments and worksheets to make the month easy to navigate and implement.
Optional deeper dives for months where you feel you need extra guidance or support.
You can use the materials at your own pace: listen, read, and apply as it suits you. The goal is steady progress, not perfection.
Think of each month as a rhythm for your business — a way to focus on what matters most, reduce friction, and build lasting calm and clarity with your clients and dogs.
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. Before building my own dog walking company, I worked as a dog trainer and held corporate roles at Pizza Hut’s Head Office in London and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, based at Embankment Place. Business, structure, and people management have been part of my life for a very long time.
With full time, hands-on experience in the dog industry since 2007, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for general information and educational purposes only. It is intended to support pet care professionals in understanding common legal considerations when operating a dog walking or pet care business in the UK.
This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor or legal professional. Laws, regulations and local authority requirements may change over time and can vary depending on location and individual circumstances.
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or applicability to your specific situation.
By using this website, you acknowledge that:
✓ You are responsible for ensuring your own business complies with all relevant UK laws and local authority rules
✓ You should seek professional legal advice before drafting, using or relying on any contract or legal document
✓ The website owner accepts no liability for loss, damage or legal issues arising from the use of this information
If you are unsure about any legal obligations, contractual terms or liabilities, it is strongly recommended that you consult a solicitor experienced in small business or consumer law.
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