By Kay Bradnum
Behavioural euthanasia is the term given when an otherwise healthy animal is put to sleep due to behaviours which the owner can no longer cope with, nor in good conscience pass on to someone else to deal with – usually aggression. The biggest initial problem people have is whether they should do this, and the second after that decision is made, is when should it be done?
There is no easy answer to this and no one else can make the decision for you. Have you talked to the vet and/or a behaviourist? They may be able to advise if there is something more you can try before making a decision – but even so, you may feel that trying one thing more is just too much especially if you feel the dog has become a danger to your family or others. Kudos to you for not wanting to pass the problem on. Homes that can safely handle such a dog are unicorns and rescues are very rarely able to help. Those who say they can ‘turn this around’ may use unkind methods and should be treated with extreme caution.
The one thing I can say is that no one knows your dog better than you and my view has always been a week too soon is better than a day too late, for whatever reason you are considering euthanasia. If you are fearful for someone’s safety that’s a big thing to cope with. People can tell you to make sure he’s never given the chance to bite but they can’t tell you how to make that work on a day to day basis and a day too late could mean severe injury or worse for someone.
The biggest thing I want everyone to understand is that EUTHANASIA IS NOT A WELFARE ISSUE. Slipping away quietly in a private room (or even at home if that’s an option) doesn’t have to involve any fear or pain for the dog. It’s a far better option than being taken by an authority to somewhere scary and without anything familiar and the ending being rushed for safety’s sake. For a dog who is afraid of the world and just not coping with day to day life, which is very often the case with severe aggression, it is actually a kind thing to do. No dog bites for fun, they do it when they feel they’re out of options. If you’ve done what you can to help that dog know they do have options and they will be listened to and it still isn’t helping – not every dog can be saved I’m afraid.
If BE feels the best option for you and your dog, then it very probably is the best option and you shouldn’t let anyone try to tell you – or worse, bully you – otherwise. It’s easy for someone else to say ‘love conquers all’ or ‘he just needs time’ when you already know love isn’t enough and he’s had all the time you can give.
As already said, no one can make this decision for you but after the fact, Losing Lulu is a safe facebook group (and website) to share your feelings. This is their ‘about’ info:
Our mission is to provide grief support for those individuals who feel their choice resulted in the animal’s death, and their grief is complicated by their choice (including Behavioural Euthanasia).
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