I heard something I did not like and I really not sure about the people now. Their dog was asleep and they leaned over it and it bit their nose. It didn't mean to it was deeply asleep it was scared . 2 hours later they pts the dog. Because it had bitten them by accident. I felt sick I know it bit and they found it frightening but I could not understand why they killed a dog that had been a family pet for 7 years. They felt it was ok to kill it for one mistake. They did not even consult a behaviourist or give the dog a chance or any real understanding. They said we can't trust him because we have kids. I understand all that but I just feel the dog lost his life for no real fault. I would have realise I had made a mistake. He was a blameless happy dog up until that point and had never been a problem. I think it was wrong to do this. I just can't get it out if my brain I feel so upset and angry about it. Would anyone else pts a dog for this. I was speechless when I was told and they seemed to think it was the only normal thing to do. I didn't I thought it was really wrong.
People can justify anything. Someone I know pts her two chows after one bit her 4-yo daughter on the face. She knew the dog bit out of pain - daughter hugged the dog, it had a pinched nerve in the neck (treated with meds) - but her vet recommended pts because daughter was young and could hurt the dog (unintentionally) causing it to bite again. She was upset but felt justified. Other dog had a sore knee, also on meds. Both dogs were about 10 yo. I’m sure you feel sick at this incident. It sounds rash.
If Stanley bit me I would be absolutely devastated. But more so because I'd be so upset that I'd put him in a position where he felt as though he had to bite. Then I'd get a behaviourist out to make sure I understood him better. If he bit someone else I would do everything in my power to ensure he didn't get pts. Poor dog - I completely understand why you're so upset. It's such a quick turnaround, they didn't even consider any other options by the sound of it
That's very sad and seems downright crazy to me. Two hours? How can you even make a decision like that so quickly? What vet would even do that? There's nothing you can do to help the dog anymore sadly and I hope they don't get another. You have every right to feel upset and angry. A neighbour of mine in Spain and I were becoming friends a few years ago. I often ran into her when I was out with Brogan on walks and we'd stop to chat with her. We went to lunch one day and she told me about a dog she had rescued and named (ironically) "Lucky". He kept jumping the fence. She took him to a trainer who kept him for a while and said he was fine with him - no fence jumping, no aggression. Apparently the dog simply wasn't getting enough exercise (he was a young shepherd and she is an older lady). She took him back from the trainer, he jumped the fence again and she had him pts. I'm still minimally cordial with her because she is a neighbour and my anger is not going to help that poor dog now, but I certainly can't consider her a friend and I can't help but think of poor Lucky every time I see her.
I just don't understand why the vet would allow the owners to make that decision for the dog to be pts, why aren't other solutions offered?
It IS sickening @SwampDonkey . I don't even see that the dog made a mistake. The owner made a mistake by startling a sleeping dog. If they really felt they couldn't trust it, it could have easily been rehomed. The woman who gave Scooby up alleged hit bit her - she took him to the vets to be pts. The vet wouldn't do it and re-homed him with a friend of OH's (who takes in waifs & strays). He came to us because he didn't get on with one of their resident dogs.
Just very sad it all stinks. If my dogs had done it I would have realised it was my fault. Seems to be they are in our power so we'll do as we please.
I’m so sorry for the poor dog. I would never pts a dog who done this. Surely they realise it’s their fault for startling him! Big hugs @SwampDonkey
Absolutely this, and yes @SwampDonkey it is upsetting. As a child growing up it's one of the things drummed into me - let sleeping dogs lie, literally, never step over them,never put them in a position of doing that very thing. And I taught my own children the same thing, there were no excuses. We ask and expect so much of dog's that share our lives that it's the least we can do to respect their space and need to rest.
Just remembered a guy who arrived at the dog park with black eyes and a nose bite. His new spaniel from the SPCA was sleeping and appeared to be having a bad dream. He went to comfort it and it woke up with this guy in his face and bit his nose. He realized his mistake. Dog is his best mate - 5 years on and I still see them every now and then at the usual walking spots.
I am also so sad that that happened @SwampDonkey, people just don't understand dogs. Difficult for vets as if they don't put the dog down and it bites again, they could be in trouble. However, my vet will suggest a behaviourist first. It also breaks my heart that a dog loses its life.
It is wrong. Years ago, Shadow snapped at a kid that had been annoying him and came too close. I wasn't experienced enough, hadn't understood his body language well enough. He caught the kid's skin, but not hard enough to even leave a mark. I was absolutely horrified at what a mistake I had made and what could have been. I explained to the parents what had happened, not sugar coating it and they were amazing blasé about it but I couldn't stop shaking for hours. In another situation, that could have been the end of him. The thought just makes me sick; no way could I ever blame him for a mistake that I had made and it would always be my mistake if one of my dogs bit me or anyone else. To choose to have him PTS for that is beyond unthinkable.
This is a dreadful story. This is the sort of thing that makes you wonder if there should be more necessary 'training/education' resulting in some sort of test pass/licence before people take on animals - not just dogs. This incident occurred from ignorance, not anything nasty or spiteful but a simple situation where the people concerned had no idea that what they did was tantamount to scaring the living daylights out of their dog. Awfully sad the dog should lose his life through a total misunderstanding.
Yep I agree. There seems to he some strange ideas about dog behaviour which are so ingrained they are hard to get rid of. My dogs have bitten me. Doug mistaken bit my finger when he was old and partially sighted. He misjudged it and so did I it was a serious bite but I never once thought it was his fault or he'd turned on me . In another household he may have been PTS
