Gone to the Dogs

flowerbug said:

sadly, there are some animals that are not compatible with humans and even if their breeding means they are mostly ok, that still doesn't mean that each and every one is ok. at times, like with people, you just get a bad one and you need to be responsible and put it down as humanely as possible. alas, too many people just abandon such pets and that just passes the problem on to others and is much worse because a stranger doesn't know the history of the animal or what it is capable of and may think they are helping out a friendly stray only to end up being hurt or killed.

i love that you have a big heart and love all pets and animals and want to rescue them, but in the end not each one can be.

Click to expand...

Sadly that's so true.

flowerbug said:

sadly, there are some animals that are not compatible with humans and even if their breeding means they are mostly ok, that still doesn't mean that each and every one is ok. at times, like with people, you just get a bad one and you need to be responsible and put it down as humanely as possible. alas, too many people just abandon such pets and that just passes the problem on to others and is much worse because a stranger doesn't know the history of the animal or what it is capable of and may think they are helping out a friendly stray only to end up being hurt or killed.

i love that you have a big heart and love all pets and animals and want to rescue them, but in the end not each one can be.

Click to expand...

An older retired fellow here saw a prospective dog at a local shelter, so came in to walk him several times a week for a few months and eventually started to take him home for weekends. He already had one dog, and grandchildren that came to visit regularly, so it had to be a good fit - and the adoptive dog was a year old already.

All went super well and they brought him home for good, but at the 3 month mark (once the dog had gotten comfortable) he started to show some very undesirable behaviours. Granted, the family had welcomed the dog into the home as a family member and not given him much structure/discipline. This was a 75 lb. mutt, a gorgeous mutt with bully breed genes. Man started to realize why the dog had been turned in, so sought help with the training place I go to. It’s a lot of money, and he didn’t have it. Community rallied to support him, raised all the funds to save the dog & get help. Shelter said if he comes back - it’s the blue juice. Training place posted the dog’s progress and the man’s noble efforts so we could all see, and the guy felt like things were moving in the right direction. Lots of us watched closely, waiting for the happy ending - which often happens.

About a month in, the guy was unloading some groceries in the kitchen, and a bag of chips fell to the floor. The dog jumped to get it, man interceded and got to it first. The dog went WILD & unleashed his dark side, true ferocity, what clearly got him in that shelter. The dog tried to take the man down. As he attempted to force the dog back in the direction of his crate, the dog would retreat slightly then come back again at him. That man knew he could wind up either dead or seriously injured. He happened to be a pretty big guy, which I’m sure helped. It was decided by all involved the dog had to be put down. The original owners had not mistreated the dog, but had spoiled him and given him far too much power in the household. And the dog was not going to easily relinquish the power he had always known because it has worked for him. In the end, it cost him his life. Everyone was sad, most of all the man. He said the dog had a side to him that was so good, but the total package was just too dangerous.