to have sobbed my heart out at work today because I shouldn't have to do this

[caniscantanymore]

I'm a vet. Some details changed or omitted for anonymity purposes and because I'll get flamed for this.

Today a man brought his dog in to me.

The dog was a large, boisterous adolescent puppy. He hurtled into the room, bouncing up to me excitedly, wagging his tail all the time and nudging at my hand with his muzzle. His big squishy paws crashed against my chest each time he paused to greet me, as he bounded around the room investigating all the smells. He was an unusual cross, very striking to look at and obviously a bright and energetic dog. He was adorable.

The history went like this:

The dog had been bought as a tiny puppy by a couple who were told it was a "designer" cross between two specific small breeds. Now, if the people who bought this puppy had had the slightest inkling about what they were doing it would have been immediately obvious to them that this was most certainly not a cross between two small breeds. But anyway, they didn't have a clue so they bought the cute little puppy from this dubious source (probably at a cost of several hundred pounds) and took it back to their family home, complete with toddler.

The dog grew a bit and it became clear that it was actually going to be really big. It was bouncy, energetic and destructive. It kept racing around and knocking over their small child. So they rehomed it to a family member.

The family member also had children but they were slightly bigger children. The family member really wanted to do the right thing, so they tried to "discipline" the dog. The dog began to show occasional signs of aggression and was completely hyperactive in the home, destructive and unmanageable. I was not surprised to hear this, since it was obvious to me from this dog's heritage that it was the sort of dog which had significant needs in terms of exercise and stimulation. In an attempt to magically resolve the issues the family member had the dog neutered. Which unsurprisingly made no difference.

Today the dog was brought in to be put to sleep. It had growled very aggressively when a child had put its face near his, and between this and an imminent change in circumstances the family member felt unable to manage the dog any more. He had tried local and national rescue organisations, all of which were full. He had nobody to care for the dog overnight tonight. He was not able to take the dog home, partly because of safety concerns and partly because the decision had been taken together as a family that it was the right thing to do.

So I put this healthy, affectionate, vibrant dog to sleep while it munched on treats and the third owner in its short life cried into his fur. Then when it was just me and the body of this poor puppy I had a good old cry myself.

I know there will be people who think I was right to put down a dog who has shown any signs of aggression under any circumstances. I disagree.

I know there will be people who think I was wrong to put down a dog when I could have taken it and found it a new home. I disagree.

I also know that there will be many many people who have no idea that this is happening all the time in this country because of irresponsible ignorant greedy people, selling dogs to irresponsible ignorant feckless people, who then pass them on to naive and thoughtless "rescuers" who eventually get to the end of their tether and bring them to me for euthanasia. All the time.

These are the dogs who bite children in the home due to a total lack of knowledge, reasonable expectations and effort to socialise them adequately.

These are the dogs whose owners can afford four figure sums to buy the latest random mongrel "breed" with a stupid made-up name, but cannot afford fifty quid to get it vaccinated, far less any money at all to treat even minor illnesses.

These are the dogs who clog up rescue centres all over the country, waiting along with thousands and thousands of others for the home with no children, no other pets and eight-foot fences, with an owner who has experience of managing behavioural problems, works from home, has stainless steel furniture and can write blank cheques to pay for the inherited illnesses the dog suffers from. Homes which don't actually exist.

These are the dogs who I have to put down because I know that it is more responsible of me to painlessly take their life than to condemn them to wait with the rest of the enormous population of "difficult" dogs sitting in rescue kennels all over the country.

Please, please, I implore you. Get advice before you take on a dog - from a vet, a qualified positive behaviourist, the Kennel Club, the Blue Cross, the Dog's Trust, the RSPCA - the information is there for the taking, there is no excuse. Go to a decent breeder, who has a waiting list, or a rescue centre which really grills you thoroughly before matching you with a pet. Find out how to bring your puppies up properly so if you do find your circumstances change then at least they are rehomable. Make sure you can afford to pay for the unexpected. Make sure your expectations are fair.

Please, because I can't keep having to do this :(

[pigletmania]

I wasvso to read. I could never do your job it mst be so hard. Why dnt people think long and hard before getting a pet. I think that people should have licences before owning a dog

[Flatbread]

Sorry, Canis. You don't know that there was no alternative for this dog. 20 minutes is hardly enough time to make a decision to take a young, healthy life.

It seems to me that people are too quick to get dogs, and vets too quick to kill them when they become an inconvenience.

I don't see how it is of benefit to the poor dog or others like him, to be killed at the drop of a hat.

[pigletmania]

Flatbread she was doing her job, no yep there is no alternative , don't you think she would use it if there were? The vet cannot be expected to take home every dog destined to be put down, her house would be full of them

[impty]

This is so sad. As the owner of two dogs both rescues, one a lurcher and one a loopy afghan I can't express enough just how much work is involved in having a dog. Walking, playing, training, loving, and in my case grooming! Then there's the costs. And the working things out... For example afghan loves his crate at night, lurcher hates them. This was worked out after 6 months of afghan weeing all night every night!

Dogs don't just 'fit in' to family life. In many ways our life revolves around the dogs! It amazes me whenever friends get dogs that there is so much shock that they are hard work.

I've also sat in vets whilst a rescue place has tried to be found for young dogs... One in particular was for a dog who had growled at a young child who had grabbed it whilst eating.

I'm sorry OP you do have a tough job, I hope today you feel that the good out weighs the bad.

[Flatbread]

Piglet, in 20 minutes she figured out there was no alternative?

How convenient, owner gets rid of dog with minimal hassle, vet practice gets paid their fee. The only loser here is the poor dog.

[pigletmania]

Flatbread as a vet she knows the situation, rescue centres are full and cannt take anymore. The owner also tried rescue centres but with no luck, the vet finds themselves in an awful situation. Not the vet fault but te owners who just did not think

[theodorakis]

I am so sorry, I do understand. In Qatar, our annual population explosion of strays always reflect the latest fashion. Saluki crossed GSD, Dalmation, Husky, Pitbull and so on. People here don't seem to have any interest in "normal" dogs. I have fostered over 50 in the last 5 years and some have had to go to the vet and what a terrible decision it is to make, even if it is the best one.
I end up with the one eyed, bent tailed ugly little crosses and people are bewildered why I don't have "nice dogs". Then I have to walk past the pet shops selling overbred dogs knowing that next season they will be contributing to the stray population.

Our government is bringing in a policy where all dogs have to be taken to the Ministry and if they aren't neutered, they do it for free. They chip them for free and scan it against the owners ID. The hope is that if the dog changes hands, the new owner will change the details with the Ministry. Because we have to get an exit permit to leave the country, when you leave for good the permit won't be issued until your account shows you have either handed the dog in to the Ministry, changed owners or a licenced vet has euthanised. It isn't perfect and much easier to administrate in a country that has control over it's people's movements and an electronic ID system but it's a start. One foster we had when we lived in Dubai had a clowns face drawn on his face in permanent pen and WANKER written on his body. It was horrific but he found a home and 3 years later it finally wore off. The Police are quite sympathetic, they caught the guys who did that from fingerprints on the collar and they were jailed for 3 weeks.

Do you think the UK should bring back dog licences? I am torn because not all owners can afford to pay a high fee. Microchips here cost about 80p each in bulk, maybe if they were compulsary for a start it would help. I don't know what the answer is, like you, I just pick up the pieces.

I feel for you so much.

[pigletmania]

The only way is to have a licence to own a dog, than there I'll be strict controls for anyone who wants a dog, not every Tom, dick or Harry can have one

[Dawndonna]

My Cavalier King Charles is curled up on my feet. I'm so sorry you had to do this.
My dog has pseudomonas at the moment. We're off to see the specialist next week. My vet was telling me that there are a phenomenal amount of people who just think 'Oh it's an ear infection, they'll survive' and do nothing about it!
I agree, it must be a shitty job somedays.

[caniscantanymore]

I look forward to hearing your credentials, Flatbread. I assume you have a qualification in animal behaviour?

This animal was far from a lost cause. But when an owner won't, can't take it home, all local rescues are full (except the one which regularly homes downright dangerous dogs with small children or frail elderly owners, with no back up, and guess who has to deal with the fallout from that ...?) and I simply cannot provide the dog with a home myself?

I'm sorry but you clearly have absolutely no knowledge of the current reality. It's not fair on the dogs to leave them bouncing around between rescues and homes, all the time being more damaged and more likely to hurt someone physically.

I have the skills and experience to make this decision, unfortunately. I'm not saying I'm always right. But this fluffy happy place which might materialise for these dogs does not exist.

[Northernlurkerisbehindyouboo]

Flatbread - what is your purpose on this thread? To demonstrate your insensitivity and inability to understand the complexity of a situation?

[impty]

Flatbread as someone who supports greyhound rescue, I know that people will 'get rid of dogs' they don't want in all kinds of horrible ways. If the local rescues are full, the vet can only do the most humane thing possible.

There are dogs found mutilated, shot, and left to starve in remote areas. Often just to save the cost of a vet.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Canis, I think you're incredibly brave to post that here. If it makes just one person think harder about getting a dog then I hope that is some recompense for the flaming you get from people who don't have to walk in your shoes and have to do what you have to do.

Flamers - please don't shoot the messenger.

'But that is their problem. I can sleep well' - that's just passing the buck. I think the OP shows more moral courage than that.

[theodorakis]

Flatbread you have a right to your opinion and, if my memory serves me, you are involved with rescues but, as I am in the same situation, I ask what to do? I have way too many animals in my house, a job and a family and a husband who has his limits. I have to say no so often. I have to do that knowing that the dog may be euthanised but as there is not a lovely big jolly home down the road with unlimited funds and no potential owners, what is the alternative? I simply can't saturate my house with dogs and it isn't the right thing to do. This will only be sorted when neutering is compulsary and owners are held to account for their actions. The solution lies in long term strategic planning, not keeping unwanted and unhomeable dogs alive.
For what it's worth FB, I don't think the OP was wrong to do it, or to be upset or to post on here. I think you could be a little less emotional unless you are preared to open your doors to unlimited dogs (and in my case parrots monkeys and lizards as well)

[ladymariner]

canis ignore Flatbread, she clearly has no idea of the reality of the situation.

You had no choice in this, and my heart goes out to you. What a sad, shitty state of affairs.....

[schnauzerfan]

Very moving post. You are amazing by the way. x

[GrimmaTheNome]

The only way is to have a licence to own a dog
I wish this could happen - and not just a piece of paper, a license akin to a driving license where you have to do some sort of simple test on the realities of ownership. Can't see it being a realistic proposition, unfortunately.

[Flatbread]

Canis, you said in your opening post that the dog was young, adorable, healthy and with no real behavioural problems.

So why kill it then? You cannot know that it will not find a home, and you certainly don't seem to have a huge effort to find it one either.

Instead of coming here with a moany, preachy, woe-is-me post, why didn't you write a post before you killed the dog to see if anyone was willing to take it on?

I cannot believe that we allow people to kill animals so lightly. There should be a proper procedure in place to verify that euthanasia is the only option. Owners and vets are complicity in allowing the current charade to continue, where dogs are seen as disposable items.

[firstpost]

This made me sob

It also prompted me to make an appointment to have my labrador spayed. My husband was keen for her to have puppies, he thinks that a pedigree puppy does not take away loving homes for rescue dogs. I disagree. He just got out voted.

So sorry, presumably you go into vetinary medicine because of a passion for animal welfare, and it must be soul destroying for you to have to put healthy dogs down .

[poorchurchmouse]

I'm so sorry. What a horrible thing to have to do. Huge sympathy, OP. I don't see how you could have done otherwise - we are looking for a rescue dog at the moment and all the shelters are full to the gunwales. (We're having some trouble finding one as although DH and I have both had dogs before and DH is at home, DS is a toddler and shelters are rightly very cautious about rehoming to families with small children - unlike the irreponsible breeders others here have eloquently described.)

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

I'm actually crying

You did what you had to professionally and it obviously was very hard for you.

[cardamomginger]

I think you are a brilliant vet. XX

[achillea]

Do you think that killing animals in this way adds to the cycle? If every vet turned away these cases and refused to put dogs like this down, owners would simpy have to find a solution. It sounds to me as though the public have an idea that it is an easy way out, this suits the breeders as well.

[geegee888]

YANBU. As a professional, you were put in an almost impossible position. I know vets really don't like putting animals to sleep without strong medical reasons, and some would refuse to. I understand your position.

And its not just big dogs. Its dogs who the owners have no time to train, dogs who the owners get fed up with when something changes in their life, and they want to dispose of them like a piece of garbage.

As a horseowner, I'm so often shocked at the lack of knowledge and consideration of dog owners for their animals. So many of them lack basic training and are out of control, because the owner has never bothered to spend the time with them, training them.

As a horseowner, I go to a lot of trouble and expense to ensure my horses have adequate, natural and varied turnout with adequate shelter in winter. I ensure they have plenty of exercise and equine companionship. Its a lot more trouble to keep horses this way, as the cheapest way would be to rent a tiny paddock, keep them on their own and chuck in some haylage. But the horse wouldn't be happy. And most horseowners I know go to a lot of trouble to ensure the best environment they can for their animal.

Yet many dog owners are urban, have little understanding of animal welfare and see a dog as an accessory, almost a toy, and think 2 10 minute walks a day (if its lucky) or a small garden are adequate.

[achillea]

Also, is this a new phenomenon?