Should I Put My Dog Down?: an ethical question

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That's great news!

Hopefully, the pitbull folks can help the dog. It's really sad but most regular shelters would just put down a dog with behavioral issues, because they don't have the resources to deal with them.

Sending the dog to a bitbull rescue means that he'll at least have a chance!

I don't agree that he has it coming. Although euthanasia remains a viable option if a suitable home is not found. But he was just being what he is. He bit my mother because she grabbed his face as he altercated with the other dog.


He's just too much for me. I bit off more than I can chew. I feel better having admitted this to myself. Today I got his records and he's up to date on his shots. This is good as the vet says his acceptance in the pitbull rescue will take cost into account. His health is good as well. So fingers crossed. Even the vet said it would be hard to put him down.

I voted no. The dog just needs some training to behave and I don't think he is really dangerous. Unless he actually attacks someone or is violent and vicious, then I would say yes. If you can't control him or can't afford to hire a professional dog trainer and he is too much for you to handle, I would say re home him and hopefully someone will actually train him, he could not be the right dog for you. Or you can try and get dog training books and look online for advice to see how to do it.

He bit your mother. Any dog that bites the hand that feeds it goes to the grave for me.

I'd bury it, but it wouldn't get a cross.

God this is a long weekend. I forwarded Henry's records to the vet, but have not heard back. It's really hard not knowing if he will be put down or be re-homed.
To those who mentioned that he is a good dog and I am a bad owner, I agree that I am not skilled enough to curb his behaviour. I regret that I did not realize this sooner.
I hope to remedy this situation quickly.

Not intentionally. She wasn't his target. But I get what you're saying. Believe me.

Don't beat yourself up about being a 'bad owner.' I don't think anybody was trying to imply that you're negligent or anything.

What you're trying to do for your dog right now, makes you a very good owner.

Our first dog bit my dad at the animal shelter because she was very frightened. All he tried to do was put the leash on her so we could walk her and she fought to get away so she whimpered loudly and used to teeth to get away and ran back in the crate and shook her body in fear. She was an abused animal but she never attacked anyone, she only coward and piddled. Like children, some dogs get aggressive when they are abused and some just cower and run when they feel threatened. It's unfortunate that some abused animals need to be put to sleep because they are so dangerous and it's for everyone's safety because a dog can kill or cause serious injuries. My dad didn't have cuts or anything.

Even puppies bite playfully but that is a different story.

hugs ann tight

My feeling was that the damage was done by previous owner(s) and that it's got to the point where only trained specialists can give Henry the support he needs. I second the good owner statement.

Thanks for the votes of confidence.

The vet wondered if he may have been trained to fight dogs when he was younger. I hope he can be re-homed soon as it is hard not to feel sad when I know he is going.

Hugs.

I hope you can get another dog soon that fits in better. Not that he / she'll replace the feelings you have for this one, as he seems friendly enough to people except when he sees other dogs. But it could be a good thing. I'm sorry you have to go through this and hope he gets a good home with someone who's been vetted for suitability and knows how to handle him with love but not abuse.

I once worked for a few months at a kennels housing American Staffies. They were friendly towards me and other people they trusted but we had to keep the males apart from one another, and the females too, as two of the same sex can really have a bloody fight. It seems that because of their genetic breeding they have a tendency to fight one another as they were originally bred for this disgraceful purpose.

Honestly, I don't know. He could do a lot better with a different owner who knows what they are doing, but it's more probable that you may not be able to find that owner. My gut reaction, as much as I hate to say, would be to put him down, as it seems his behavior would be much too dangerous for most people to handle, but there is still that small possibility that what he needs is a good, patient owner who knows the right way to train him.

Of course, a track record of being re-homed 4 different times doesn't look very good, so it's better to be safe than sorry. It may be for the dog's benefit to be humanely euthanized anyway, as it's possible that its violent behaviour is caused by some irreversible psychological damage that was inflicted by a previous owner. I know some people will cry foul, but the perspective I'm looking at it from, is that which would cause the least suffering possible to both the dog and its handlers. If it's suffering so much that it has to take its pain out on others, why force it to live?

OF COURSE THEY DO

It is NOT a third world country....

Haha
Yes we do have dog rescues. He's just hard to place because of his behaviour issues with other dogs. I haven't heard back from the vet yet, I am fearing that I will have to put him down. But even if he does find a home, I will miss him.

If you will miss him, if he find a new home, why would you take into consideration putting him down...i don't understand ...