The sadness of having to rehome

[EarlieBirdie]

Feeling so devastated about having to rehome our beautiful spaniel. Can't stop crying every time I think about it but just know it the right thing for everyone, him included.

He is very uncomfortable and anxious around our children and has bitten/scratched them both in recent weeks. One incident resulted in hospital treatment. We are going through a specific breed rescue and they are coming to assess him tomorrow.

Despite knowing it's the right thing, I feel so guilty. I've had him since he was 12 weeks old and he was by my side through a very difficult period in my life. If it weren't for him, I'm not sure I'd be here now. I just can't shake the feeling that I'm giving up on him.

Anyone been through similar? What was the outcome?
Did you ever own a pet again?

[JadeJ123]

We had a female American bulldog and a male cane Corso and added another full grown male cane Corso into the mix, all dogs were neutered but sadly older cane Corso just started fights constantly with younger one and got to the point where one dog was going to get seriously injured so had to return younger and cane Corso to the breeder, I didn't try and get another dog since even though older cane Corso recently passed away, I wouldn't have 3 dogs again, sorry you're going through this op I feel your sadness, but you're doing the right thing

[JadeJ123]

But did find out younger cane Corso stayed with the breeder as a pet and is happy that did make me smile when I found out he was happy

[thoughtsbecomethings]

I truly feel your sadness about 5 years ago we had to rehome our gorgeous lurcher cross, he was a rescue we had had for over a year, but he was very badly emotional damaged and scared of everything, destroyed our home and constantly escaped, we had an animal behaviourist work with us, but in the end had to make the very difficult decision to rehome him. Fortunately he went to live on a farm where he was outside most of the time and lived with another pack of dogs.
We so missed having a dog so about a year later we got another rescue and had no problems this time.
It's so tough at the beginning when they go and I felt so guilty and a failure but you have to know when you just can't go on for what ever reason and make the right decision for the animal as I was beginning to resent him at times. Good luck

[EarlieBirdie]

Thanks for your support. I obviously have to put the children's safety first but also know that if he was happy then he wouldn't be reacting in this way.
We have tried working with a behaviourist in the past but I just feel that it's reached the point now where we are all on eggshells waiting for the next incident. It certainly hasn't been a snap decision but actually a very painful one.
I am confident that a better home is just around the corner for him but still feel so incredibly sad.

[AnywhereOverTheRainbow]

We also had to rehome my hubby's dog after I moved with him, she clearly hated my guts and after six months we made the decision to rehome her to a nice family. She was my husband's dog for years, she was a rescue dog but maybe their relationship cracked when she felt 'replaced' by me as a companion. I did my best and cried because I felt guilty as hell that in a certain way my husband had to choose, but she was making our life hell (plus barking her head off during the night too). She wouldn't even let my hubby pet her anymore. We didn't get another pet for two years, we now have a cat.