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Jacques Chirac’s dog, Sumo, banished to the French countryside due to ongoing bad behavior
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Jacques Chirac’s dog, Sumo, has been banished from the family home in Paris to a farm in France’s Seine-et-Marne. Sumo, a Maltese-Bichon Frise mixed breed, attacked the former French president on multiple occasions and inflicted injuries requiring medical attention. Since his move to the countryside, Sumo has reportedly created no further trauma to human flesh.
During his presidency, Mr. Chirac and his wife, Bernadette, provided Sumo with the luxurious accommodations of the Elysee Palace. Sumo had the freedom to roam the Elysee Palace’s sizable gardens with Scott, a Golden Retriever. When Sumo was no longer considered “France’s first dog”, his roaming space was downsized to a sizable apartment. Additionally, Sumo no longer benefitted from regular social interaction with another dog. The restriction on Sumo’s outdoor access and loss of canine companionship reportedly caused Sumo to exhibit depressed behavior. The psychopharmaceutical Prozac (Fluoxetine) was administered to Sumo in attempt to improve his melancholy mood. There is speculation that the side effects of Prozac may have contributed to Sumo attacking the former French president. Mrs. Chirac has never been the recipient of Sumo’s aggressive outbursts. The most recent attack led to Sumo’s banishment from Chirac’s Parisian flat to the Seine-et-Marne farm.
The Guardian.co.uk details Mrs. Chirac’s recollection of Sumo’s latest attack: "It was after dinner, I was reading and Sumo was lying on the floor," she said. "My husband came in and the dog jumped up very high in the air and bit him on the stomach. I was extremely frightened by all the blood. It's awful, those little teeth. The dog was raging! He wanted to jump back up and bite him again."
It is not clear if attempts were made to explore the possible underlying causes of Sumo’s behavior changes with a veterinarian. Physiologic abnormalities that can contribute to behavior changes include (but are not limited to) arthritis, degenerative joint disease, endocrine diseases (including hypothyroidism and Cushing’s Disease), cancer, and periodontal disease.
Employing behavior modification techniques under the guidance of a board certified veterinary behaviorist can augment the potential positive effects of psychopharmaceuticals. It is unknown if the Chiracs utilized such techniques in addition to the administration of a Prozac. The use of acupuncture, herbs, and dietary supplements can also help to improve undesirable behavior and a pet’s overall health.
I hope that Sumo is adjusting to his new country home and that he gets the occasional opportunity to visit Mr. and Mrs. Chirac. In his new environment, Sumo’s increased outdoor activity and potential for social interaction with other animals may reduce his aggressive tendencies. Perhaps Sumo will return to Paris to reside with his owners should he show continued behavioral improvement.
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Photo Credit:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/02/jacques-chirac-pet-dog-sumo
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