Thinking of getting my dog put down, too harsh??

Tiddlywinks

As far as I can see, your post was all about your needs and not really about the dog.

You admit that you don't provide enough exercise opportunities or attention and you should blame yourself for that. What example are you setting for your children by neglecting rather than caring for your pet?

You have a responsibility to this animal - it relies on you and you should be prepared to step up to the mark and do your best.

Rehome and allow it the chance to experience love and affection - being neglected should not be punished by death.

Pruflo

I'm going to write this - probably delete most of it - write it again and then potentially post it.

I deleted the original one I wrote - suffice to say I think this is appalling - would you put your kids down if they became an inconvenience - sorry if you came on here looking for approval of your decision you wont get it from me.

Before you look at the easy way out try rectifiying some of the reasons for her behaviour - try an alternative food - maybe one for sensitive stomachs, take her for walks - put coats on the kids and take them with you. Partition off a portion of your garden and take her there to do her business - even if it is sloppy you can hose it away. Take her to the vet to make sure there is nothing physically wrong.

The kids - I assume go to bed at some point - give her attention then - if you can be bothered that is.

Right I'm off before I get accused of being a screaming liberal but I stand by everything I have said - instances like these are the reason there are so many animals in shelters and needlessly put down.

mrcow

I think you should speak with your vet about her toileting habits and see if they can give you anything to help.

Also, if you can't walk her every day, then why not look at getting a dog walker?

Also, if she is pooing in the toy room,then put a stair gate across it.

She sounds a right little character. And a loved one at that.

I know that it is hard when you spoil pets and then children come along as they simply get moved down the pecking order overnight. It's not your dog's fault though and personally I would try alternative solutions as putting a loved animal down is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do and I wouldn't wish it on you or anyone else if there was another way - especially if they are essentially healthy.

YorkiePud_3

I totally agree with the last two posters ... YOU are thinking of having this dog put down because YOU don't have enough time for her and instead of YOU taking this dog to the vets to see if the runny poos are a medical condition YOU want to get rid of the dog, even to the point of having it put to sleep, to make life easier for YOU ....

Well ... none of us know which direction our lives will take when we bring an animal into our lives. But we cope. When we have our blessed animals put to sleep it is because THEIR lives are impaired, through pain and illness and their medical situation being incurable. It is for THEIR sake that we take that decision to help THEM ...

I couldn't believe you had kept this little dog even though it had bitten your kids, yet as soon as it starts with runny poos, it's got to go, whether it is to a rescue centre or the injection ... I bet a lot of people have read your post and been as gobsmacked, disgusted and angry with you as I am.

For God's sake, you admit you don't give the dog the attention it deserves .. but as has been said, if you WANT to include a pet in your lives, you FIND the time to do it. You don't just say enough's enough ... and NO real animal lover would even consider putting their pet to sleep if there was another alternative and it didn't seem like it was that pet's time to go ...

One poster already asked you where you were, talking about a rescue centre they knew about ... contact them ... or get your pet to one of The Blue Cross centres because they NEVER put an animal to sleep unless that animal is very ill and can't recover ... they will let them live there, at the centre, and will pay for any and all medical costs for them throughout their lives.

Another place is oldies.org.uk who only take in older dogs ... so you needn't be so hasty in taking your poor dog for the one way ride to the vets. There ARE other options ...

My God ... I can only hope your kids never get diarrhoea ... gawd knows where you will send them ...

... *just shakes head* ...

Pruflo

Thanks Yorkie Pud - you wrote everything I did in my first post but didn't post - I cant understand why people get animals and think its OK to get them put down when they become an inconvenience.

YorkiePud_3

... ooops, hadn't seen that others had mentioned the Oldies rescue centres before I did!! ... bravo folks!! ...

Mutter_2

leiela wrote: »

I totally feel for your situation,

I have a dog that was a less than perfect rescue match, like your's she bites my children not badly enough to break the skin, but still it means they are terrified of her. Mine can't be left in the house at all because she's not housetrained and nothing i've tried has changed that, and she eats the furnicher.

I keep my dog outside in the garden and not a single day pass's that i don't feel guilty for it, she's a very lovable dog, well at least to me she is but as im the only person she doens't growl at and bite i guess there would be few people who'd agree with me.

She recently had £500 worth of surgery against my husbands wishes and even though i knew putting to to sleep was for the best i couldn't go though with it and even the Vet said while she was with him she was "unmanageable" and had to be sedated several times just to keep her calm.

I;ve spoken the the RSPCA and dogs protection league about her and BOTH said that if she came to her they would put her to sleep. I was very shocked especially in the dogs protection league as i thoughts they never put a healthy dog down, however they said in her case even though physically she was healthy, mentally she was not and they would not be able to keep/rehome her.

I wish i had the courage to get her put to sleep because in all fairness i know it's probabally for the best i just feel too guilty and too ashamed to take her to the vet and ask it to be done, i keep thinking what a terrible person he'd think i was.

Right now i just take each day as it comes, i keep telling myself if she needs anymore treatment for ANY more medical conditions ill put her to sleep... but ive said that before and still managed to pay £500 in november.

I can see your poor dog from here. I don't know where you live, but I can see it.
I can see it, because I lived next door to it.
Ryan, the GSD.

The most beautiful dog. Tied up, everyday, all day.

I reported the situation.

Sorry, said the welfare, he is fed and watered and has shelter.

The shelter was a hole in a wall.

I saw Ryan trying to shelter from snow, hail, rain leaning his body into the wall, trying to escape from the worst of weather.

Two Christmases running, Ryan got loads of Turkey, from us of course.

No one. four teenagers and the two adults, bothered with Ryan at Christmas.
Or indeed ever.
Every morning, Ryan was tied up and he stayed there all day, rain or burning heat then taken somewhere at night till it all started again the next day.
As much as I didn't like them, all credit to next door, they asked to adopt Ryan, but were refused,

Ryan's family, had horses, dogs, pygmy goats even a duck all from RSPCA. The duck went AWOL on the first day. The son's reaction. " Oh well, it was a freebie!

The family tried to palm Ryan off to the police, I watched as the Cop tried to spook Ryan in the hedge, Ryan was having none of it. He was far too soft for the Police Force and the Cops left.

Ryan disappeared soon after. Apparently he had Epilepsy so PTS.
Strange that, I saw Ryan miserable every day. Having a fit? Never.

The family "aquired" a Border Terrier. Then they moved. The Terrier stayed in the empty farmhouse.
All day and all night it cried and barked. 6weeks approx till at their convenience they took it away.

The local copper had assured me that it was being fed twice a day, so was within the law.
I despair of our laws regarding dog welfare. RSPCA, none of them seem to care. No dog should be left in the garden without company and the RSPCA don't give a damm. Just keep sending the dosh.

I can't respond to the poster without steaming.
Just one word.
Coward.

YorkiePud_3

Pruflo wrote: »

Thanks Yorkie Pud - you wrote everything I did in my first post but didn't post - I cant understand why people get animals and think its OK to get them put down when they become an inconvenience.

Well, I tried not to be personal or too offensive, just said what I thought .... but aaarrrgghhh it makes me so mad when animals get put down just because they are an inconvenience to their owners ... it's not that I am too soft with animals, I just don't think there is ever justification for killing an animal because it no longer fits in ...

I have had to make "that" decision for 12 of my pets throughout the years. While they weren't suffering, we tried everything ... every avenue, every alternative but only when it was clear that nothing else could possibly be done, or when it was clear they were suffering, did I have them put to sleep ... I have never put an animal down for being a bit of a character and having the runs now and then!

Gangstabird

I think lots of people get dogs but just don't realise how much work they become when you have a family. I had a dog for 8 years, but she tried to bite my DS when he was about 7 months old so she got rehomed. I would never ever put dogs before kids. However, I do agree with trying to find a new home.

I personally think that in order to keep a dog today, you should have to be questioned like you are if you are going to foster children. There are so many little staffies/rottweillers/mastiffs/ridgebacks/alsations round our way who are looked after by scummy balding tattoo'ed idiots who have them off the lead in, get this: the town centre. Are they mad. Especially in the summer when the dog is fed up, hot etc. All of those people to get rid of their frustrations on.

Can I ask all of you dog lovers, do you take your dogs into crowded situations, concerts etc.

Aspiring

Before people begin to get too irrate and judgemental, did you miss the part in the OP's post where she stated

lynnexxxo wrote: »

- 2003 she had haemoragic dysentry and was in vets for three weeks with vomiting and bloody diahorrea. At this point the vet suggested getting her put down but I insisted we try everything else first.

It's easy to judge a person's actions from the comfort of our own homes and computer screens, but rather than hinging on one point (PTS) perhaps a look at the whole picture? That was 5 years ago and the OP chose not to take the vets advice at that point, preferring to give the dog a chance. It's not like the OP has just discovered the poo issue and had a rethink! It's 5 years down the line.

I do agree that a pet is a responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. I also agree that when we take on that responsibility, we have to consider the long term and changes in circumstances that might occur in our lives during the pets lifetime. In an ideal world, life would be wonderful and bad things wouldn't happen, loved one's wouldn't get ill and tough choices wouldn't have to be made.

Such a pity we all have to live in the real world though where things aren't always so cut and dried