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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this dog shouldn’t be put down for causing this injury?

111 replies

QueenofmyPrinces · 08/11/2018 11:07

I was talking to a colleague yesterday who was telling me that he was having to leave work early as his elderly uncle was in the local A&E and he was picking him up.

I asked what had happened and he said he’d been walking his dog (as in it was my colleague’s dog) that afternoon who had pulled on the lead which caused his uncle to fall over. It had happened in a park and the uncle fallen on a gravel pathway and cut one of his hands quite deeply which needed cleaning out and stitching under local anaesthetic.

My colleague said his uncle walks the dog during the afternoon so he gets an opportunity to go to the toilet and have some fresh air as my colleague isn’t usually home until 7.30pm-ish.

Anyway, my colleague has said that his dog isn’t safe if he can’t be trusted to not pull on the lead and that as he can’t risk his dog causing anymore injuries he’s going to have him put down.

I was really shocked and my facial reaction couldn’t hide it. I’m not a dog lover particularly but I was genuinely taken aback that this was his answer to his problem.

He’s had this dog for about 8 years, it’s a spaniel of some sort and he’s always talked fondly of it so I’m surprised that he’s decided to have it put down for causing an accidental injury. It just seems a bit harsh?

Surely he could just find someone rather than his elderly uncle to walk the dog, someone who is able to manage a dog who pulls on their lead? My colleague is in his early 50’s so the uncle must be quite old?

I’m no dog expert at all but it just seemed very extreme. I feel a bit sorry for the dog to be honest Sad

OP posts:
Oswin · 08/11/2018 11:11

You are right. He should be paying for a proper dog walker. He is killing the dog because its an inconvenience really. The uncle won't be able to walk him anymore so instead of being a good dog owner he and paying money he would rather put it to sleep. Selfish fucker

Henryismyfriend · 08/11/2018 11:19

Well Spaniels need a lot of exercise, so maybe if the uncle is elderly, the dog wasn't getting enough hence the pulling.

YANBU though, pulling on a lead is by no way equatable to biting someone. With a bite it's generally not worth the risk to try and train it out, but pulling on a lead is quite easy to resolve with the right harness/collar and lead and training. Sounds like your colleague can't be arsed to pay for someone else to walk the dog, or put time into training the dog not to pull.
Poor dog.

CantWaitToRetire · 08/11/2018 11:21

Wow! Unbelievable! There are so many ways this could be addressed - getting a dog walker, having the dog rehomed etc. I'm surprised a vet would agree to have the dog PTS if this is the only reason for it. I'm shocked Shock, and sad for the dog too.

blueskiesandforests · 08/11/2018 11:27

I'm not a dog fan and absolutely unwilling to defend dogs which bite - one of my children was bitten by a relative's dog who turned out to have bitten other people, and various people rallied around to minimise and cover up previous biting. Relative continued to bring the dog off lead into enclosed spaces with children without prior warning. I wish I'd taken my bitten toddler to A&E and had a record made of the bite instead of dealing with it myself while relatives minimised and shushed others who mentioned other people the dog had bitten - the wound got infected and took a long time to heal :(

However even I would be shocked at someone having a dog put down for pulling on the lead. The owner needs to apologise, give uncle a bottle of wine and find a proper dog walker.

LucieMorningstar · 08/11/2018 11:30

Does he think he can just walk in to a vet and say “hi, my dog pulled my uncle over on a walk and he cut his hand. The dog is ‘unsafe’, id like him PTS”. Do vets do that??? This is ridiculous if that’s what’s gonna happen.

PurpleDaisies · 08/11/2018 11:31

Would a vet euthanise a healthy dog for that reason?

MissLadyM · 08/11/2018 11:32

There's just been a fucknut in Edinburgh who put peanut butter on his genitals & the dog bit them off! Dog was destroyed 😞

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 08/11/2018 11:33

lucie and purple - I also can’t imagine a vet would put down a dog for this reason??

OP posts:
MidnightAura · 08/11/2018 11:33

That’s so sad formthe dog. PTS is not the answer. Bastards

MidnightAura · 08/11/2018 11:33

For the dog even

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 08/11/2018 11:34

Surely there are far better ways to prevent a dog from pulling than killing it? We have a spaniel and the first 60 seconds of every walk are spent with me saying "for the love of god, satan, you're going to pull my arms off" because she bounces and pulls til I can right myself and sort her out. There are ways to train dogs out of pulling, and leads and harnesses to discourage it.

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 08/11/2018 11:35

No vet will do that. Unless he lies and says it bit someone a vet will not euthanize a healthy dog.

easyandy101 · 08/11/2018 11:35

Your colleague is a wanker

SputnikBear · 08/11/2018 11:36

Ridiculous and truly terrible. Can you offer to take the dog and rehome? My dog has pulled on the lead every day of her life and it isn’t dangerous or vicious behaviour!

PoisonousSmurf · 08/11/2018 11:41

Does the Uncle not have a say in all of this?

ErickBroch · 08/11/2018 11:44

They can rehome the dog, hand him over to Battersea, Dogs Trust, a local Rehoming Centre, there are so many options. Most vets will not PTS a dog for that reason and suggest they call one of the above.

eightoclock · 08/11/2018 11:46

Yes a vet would, if the owner's mind was made up, although we would not enjoy it.

I do think it's very irresponsible to fail to train your dog not to pull/get an appropriate head collar to prevent it and then let your elderly uncle walk it.

Branleuse · 08/11/2018 11:48

wow thats really harsh

ProfessorMoody · 08/11/2018 11:53

Please please encourage him to at least try and rehome the dog if he doesn't want it. Absolutely disgusting.

And yes, some vets will PTS at owner's request. They get paid to do it, so.

Butteredghost · 08/11/2018 11:57

The vet who did an AMA here a while ago said they do euthanise healthy animals on request, as they are afraid if they say no, the owner may kill the animal in some awful way.

Lovemusic33 · 08/11/2018 11:59

Poor dog. A lot of dogs pull on the lead, spaniels are known for it, it’s not a reason to put a dog down, I’m sure the vet will refuse to put a healthy dog to sleep.

ILoveAutum · 08/11/2018 12:03

A spaniel pulls on a lead. It’s hardly headline news is it? I wonder what’s really behind this, because it can’t be that.

I hope the vet is successful in suggesting a rehoming/fostering place instead.

Rudgie47 · 08/11/2018 12:05

The Dogs Trust will most likely take him in, please get your colleague to drop him off there. Pedigrees go like hot cakes.

PennyArcade · 08/11/2018 12:06

The blame lies solely with your colleague. As a responsible dog owner one of the first things a dog should be taught is how to walk on a loose lead.

Who is their right mind would rely on an elderly person to walk a Spaniel that hasn't been taught to walk properly on a lead?

If colleague CBA to train his dog he should, at least, make proper provision for day care or dog walking.

Your colleague is the pits!

Poor dog 😢 Just another example of useless owners..

Wolfiefan · 08/11/2018 12:07

What an arse. Can’t be bothered to train the dog or pay a professional?

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