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

Pruflo

Hi Orlao,

You make very valid points and I think that unfortunately is the problem - because there is no easy answer the "easy answer" appears to put the dog to sleep.

In my opinion its abit like getting granny put to sleep because she has gone abit senile and wets herself when I want to go to the pub.

What upsets me most is that the OP even poses the question - two of our dogs are very old and cost a fortune at the vets but we wouldn't consider getting them put down because of it. It not convenient - I would much rather spend the money on other things but we took on a LIFELONG responsibility when we adopted them so we cant and wont walk away from them now.

One of our cats over the years has had everything under the sun wrong with her and could never get insurance because she was born like that - the reason we got her in the first place was because she was taken to the vets to be put down because she wasn't a perfect persian!!

Mutter_2

Aspiring wrote: »

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




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

I recognised that the OP had taken care of the dog. Unfortunately it seems that the beauty of youth has trancended into the ugliness of old age. It will happen to all of us. Let's hope our children look more kindly on us as we age than some dog owners do.

Our dog here is just another member of the family.

If he becomes incontinent or whatever, if neccessary I will sleep downstairs and take care of him.
He has given us nearly thirteen years of absolute joy, fun and laughter with never a scowl or growl.
It won't only be my duty to take care of him but a pleasure, in return for all that he's given us.
Not that he gives a sod for me, he is lifting his head every few minutes in case I make a move toward the kitchen. Cupboard love.

YorkiePud_3

orlao wrote: »

While I feel as strongly as many people who have posted on this thread that the dog hasn't done anything wrong my concern about her being rehomed is

1) Rescues are already over run with younger healthy dogs that in theory should be easier to rehome.
2) The dog has obvious health and possibly temprament problems that further reduce the odds of her finding a home quickly and easily.How many rescues have the resources of both time and money to rehabilate this dog?
3) the OP has already said that the dog wouldn't thrive in kennels.
4) Private rescues are fraught with danger for the dog as there are people who "talk a good talk but don't do the walk" so to speak!

Yes I agree that all the above are possibly fixable but I'm not sure that very many people/organisations would be prepared to do so when it came to the crunch. I also believe that pet owners must take responsibility for the problems that they have created rather than just palming them off to someone else. If the dog was pts, in an odd way that secures her future as she cannot be stressed or neglected any longer either in her present home or while waiting for a new one....hopefully it would be peaceful death.

Just to say, that I don't condone the OPs behaviour but I think it would take more guts to pts rather than pass the dog on.

Okidoki, to answer
#1 as stated, Oldies.org.uk take in and try to rehome older dogs. No healthy pet is ever put to sleep there.

#2 I have yet to meet a JR who didn't give a warning nip when he or she felt a bit threatened or intimidated by a child, and as we don't know for certain this dog is the vicious animal that some think it may be, we can't paint it black without all the facts!
Healthwise diarrhoea could be a serious problem. It could also be something that can be sorted out with a change of diet.
As has been stated also, The Blue Cross never put a healthy animal down, regardless of its age or what meds it has to take. They are happy to keep the animal for the rest of its life, so that negates the "won't find a home at that age" issue.

#3 The OP does not know and cannot say for definite the dog wouldn't be ok in kennels. At least in kennels it would get walked and would get attention, which seems to be a step up from what the poor thing is getting now.

#4 As mentioned above ... Oldies.org.uk or The Blue Cross are absolutely smashing with ALL pets, whether they are on lifelong medication or not, they will take in any pet and if unable to rehome it, it will live out its life there, being walked, fed regularly and having whatever medical treatment it needs to keep it happy and healthy throughout the rest of its life.

Btw, hope it doesn't come over curt, me answering one by one like that! It just seemed the less complicated way of doing it!!

Aspiring

YorkiePud wrote: »

-

Can I just say though ... that Oldies.org.uk ... it isn't just a place to rehome pre-loved oap's ... they do actually have items for sale, so people can order gifts, badges, pens etc from them and still help the oldies! Please go have a look, folks! Just buying a couple of car stickers and pens would make a difference if we all did it!

Ok, taken a look at the merchandise and you've given me a wonderful solution to a personal dilema. My best friend has 4 dogs (one very seriously ill and not expected to live much longer) - very sadly, she text me Wednesday to say one of her dogs had died in her arms after collapsing suddenly; not the one that is terminally ill, one of the others - most unexpected. She is devastated (naturally!). She is very much an animal person in preference to a people person. I see a gorgeous bag that I know she'll use and I know she'll appreciate far more than a sympathy card :beer:

Pruflo

I'm going looking at the bags now.......

orlao

Pruflo wrote: »

Hi Orlao,

You make very valid points and I think that unfortunately is the problem - because there is no easy answer the "easy answer" appears to put the dog to sleep.

In my opinion its abit like getting granny put to sleep because she has gone abit senile and wets herself when I want to go to the pub.

What upsets me most is that the OP even poses the question - two of our dogs are very old and cost a fortune at the vets but we wouldn't consider getting them put down because of it. It not convenient - I would much rather spend the money on other things but we took on a LIFELONG responsibility when we adopted them so we cant and wont walk away from them now.

One of our cats over the years has had everything under the sun wrong with her and could never get insurance because she was born like that - the reason we got her in the first place was because she was taken to the vets to be put down because she wasn't a perfect persian!!

YorkiePud
Okidoki, to answer
#1 as stated, Oldies.org.uk take in and try to rehome older dogs. No healthy pet is ever put to sleep there.

#2 I have yet to meet a JR who didn't give a warning nip when he or she felt a bit threatened or intimidated by a child, and as we don't know for certain this dog is the vicious animal that some think it may be, we can't paint it black without all the facts!
Healthwise diarrhoea could be a serious problem. It could also be something that can be sorted out with a change of diet.
As has been stated also, The Blue Cross never put a healthy animal down, regardless of its age or what meds it has to take. They are happy to keep the animal for the rest of its life, so that negates the "won't find a home at that age" issue.

#3 The OP does not know and cannot say for definite the dog wouldn't be ok in kennels. At least in kennels it would get walked and would get attention, which seems to be a step up from what the poor thing is getting now.

#4 As mentioned above ... Oldies.org.uk or The Blue Cross are absolutely smashing with ALL pets, whether they are on lifelong medication or not, they will take in any pet and if unable to rehome it, it will live out its life there, being walked, fed regularly and having whatever medical treatment it needs to keep it happy and healthy throughout the rest of its life.

Btw, hope it doesn't come over curt, me answering one by one like that! It just seemed the less complicated way of doing it!!

I can't say I disagree with anything either of you say....and I also believe that pets are for life no matter what the vets bills are or how much time or effort they require, sadly a lot of people don't:mad:

I knew the Blue Cross/Oldies Club/Dogs Trust did fantastic work but wasn't aware just how much commitment they showed. Most of the rescues around here are now reversing their no kill policy due to lack of space and/or money and also a sharp drop in potential adoptors, mainly because a lot of people don't feel secure enough in the current climate to take on another commitment plus there are a lot of dogs being handed in due to job loss, reposession etc.

Of course it is preferable that the dog is rehomed if possible, my fear was that was a very slim chance and the conditions she lives in now are only going to worsen with new babies due.

Kimberley

to be honest I would rather get her put down than take her to a rescue centre.

I've just re read her post and this comment makes me sick. I foster dogs for a rescue. She does not have to go into a kennel and some rescues may put her in with a foster carer in their own home.

How dare you say you would rather have her PTS. I hope to god you never ever get the chance to own another animal. I doubt very much a good vet will put her to sleep if she is healthy though. My vets would certainly not do it just because the owner has asked.

I'm so sorry but i'm quite annoyed at that comment :mad:

YorkiePud_3

orlao wrote: »

I can't say I disagree with anything either of you say....and I also believe that pets are for life no matter what the vets bills are or how much time or effort they require, sadly a lot of people don't:mad:

I knew the Blue Cross/Oldies Club/Dogs Trust did fantastic work but wasn't aware just how much commitment they showed. Most of the rescues around here are now reversing their no kill policy due to lack of space and/or money and also a sharp drop in potential adoptors, mainly because a lot of people don't feel secure enough in the current climate to take on another commitment plus there are a lot of dogs being handed in due to job loss, reposession etc.

Of course it is preferable that the dog is rehomed if possible, my fear was that was a very slim chance and the conditions she lives in now are only going to worsen with new babies due.

I understand ... yes, it's heartbreaking that some of the rescue centres are reversing their policies ... I understand why they have to, but I would never support one that did! Just my own personal view of course, but I wouldn't call em a rescue centre any more!!

Mutter_2

YorkiePud wrote: »

Those poor dogs ... some people get animals and believe having an animal is their right, so they can treat them however they want to.

Personally, I would have broken into that house and got that little dog out, and as for the big dog who was tied up outside, he would have vanished suddenly and been rehomed miles away with friends of mine or family ... but that's just me ... he he he!

Some of the services are great when it comes to animals and their welfare, but some aren't. I have seen animals die because the RSPCA etc said they were "basically ok" ...

Believe me Yorkie, all those plans occured to me too. Had I carried them out and was sent to prison, those two plus mine would be the losers.
Remember RSPCA and the Police were made aware and still the family were top of the list for rehoming.
If an animal has shelter, even a hole in a barn wall, has water, even though Ryan knocked it over most days and is fed, then that is all that is required for the welfare of a dog. That is what I was told.
All I could do was report to authorities repeatedly. The number of horses that came and went via the RSPCA, you wouldn't believe.
I'd love to name and shame, but maybe one of the family is reading.

YorkiePud_3

Aspiring wrote: »

Ok, taken a look at the merchandise and you've given me a wonderful solution to a personal dilema. My best friend has 4 dogs (one very seriously ill and not expected to live much longer) - very sadly, she text me Wednesday to say one of her dogs had died in her arms after collapsing suddenly; not the one that is terminally ill, one of the others - most unexpected. She is devastated (naturally!). She is very much an animal person in preference to a people person. I see a gorgeous bag that I know she'll use and I know she'll appreciate far more than a sympathy card :beer:

Aw no ... your poor friend ... oh that is awful. It is one thing to have a pet that is so sick you know the end is coming sooner than you would hope it to, but to have lost another pet so suddenly. Terrible ... just terrible.

I think to buy a bag from there and to let your friend know where it came from and that the monies were going to help these fab old timers, it would at least bring a smile ... like you say, a card is a card, but to know that you thought of her and wanted to help these oldies in memory of her pet ... well, I'd like it if my friend did that for me!!