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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:
LucieMorningstar · 08/11/2018 20:46

QueenofmyPrinces
lucie - I won’t be able to update until about 9.30pm but I will let you know what’s happened.

A lot of people on here care enough to wait till that time 🐶

NotUmbongoUnchained · 08/11/2018 20:58

My neighbour had a healthy puppy put down because he couldn’t have her anymore but didn’t want anyone else to have her!

treeinthedistance · 08/11/2018 21:07

This has really upset me. What sort of person kills a healthy creature for such a stupid reason? Poor, poor dog. The one person who should care for him thinks his life is totally disposable :(
Is there any chance that you or anyone you know could take the dog and take it to an animal charity / rescue centre OP?

Henryismyfriend · 08/11/2018 21:11

@Greentorch

My mum was going to have our elderly family dog PTS because we were all planning a big family holiday and she said he wouldn't cope with kennels, he'd always been fine and had been to the same place several years. He was healthy for an older dog if a bit slower than he used to be and having the odd accident, but quite happy and healthy. I refused to go and he came to live with me, then I just kept him, he lived with me for another happy 2 years until he had a stroke one night and the vet came there and then and away he went.
I've never quite forgiven my mum for that, or the bloody fuss she made about me not going on holiday. He'd been a wonderful family dog, but we'd all moved out and I think to her, he'd outlived his usefulness.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/11/2018 21:12

Sounds like he's just looking for any excuse to put the dog down/be rid of him. Poor dog.

RiverTam · 08/11/2018 21:14

God, I know people are upset here but no-one seems (well, not seems, actually doesn’t) to give a shit about this elderly man who, right now, is no doubt at the forefront of the OP’s colleague’s mind. I hope that none of you ever have to deal with the reality of an elderly relative’s fall. I doubt he is thinking straight about the dog, he is scared about his uncle, what damage might have been done. I would assume that once his uncle is safely home he can decide what, if anything, to do about his dog.

Stupid reason? Fuck off.

Mumoftwo12345 · 08/11/2018 21:16

This has shocked me!
I work for a company that makes a product to stop dogs pulling on the lead. It's £20, I'd be happy to send him one FOC if it saves the dogs life! I had a spaniel, I lost her last year, she was my very best friend and yes pulled on the lead without our collar, but there was not a bad bone in her body. I'd do anything to have her back 

Hoopaloop · 08/11/2018 21:17

What sort of utter arsehole gets their dog put down for that reason??

RiverTam · 08/11/2018 21:18

What sort of utter arsehole can’t see that this man must be really frightened about his uncle and probably not thinking straight?

Mumoftwo12345 · 08/11/2018 21:19

My mother was pulled over by her dog, she was hospitalised. We were all devastated for her but not once blamed the dog. She knew her dog pulled, it was an accident. She still has the dog, loves her to bits.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/11/2018 21:19

Yes it's sad about the uncle, obviously but thinking about putting your dog down because he pulled him over is pretty shit. Be upset and annoyed but that's it.

RiverTam · 08/11/2018 21:22

And have none of you ever said something in a panic when something has gone wrong, and then, once the dust has settled realised how daft you were and calm down and think about things rationally? No? What an unlikely bunch of paragons you all are.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/11/2018 21:25

Oh calm down RiverTam, let's hope you're right and it was just him venting for the dogs sake.

RiverTam · 08/11/2018 21:28

Why are you telling me to calm down? Look at this thread, everyone taking off for Mars about something that hasn’t happened and probably won’t.

Brigante9 · 08/11/2018 21:28

Your colleague's an idiot. Spaniels want to be in front, hunting instinct, they always try to go first. Obviously he should have trained his dog, however, please show him the video here, it has saved me so many times from being pulled over. I have mobility issues and 3 springers. I can walk them using one finger each, literally, when I use this technique. Poor old uncle could use it and I promise, it would mean he'd never fall over because of the dog again.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/11/2018 21:30

Well I hope you're right RT.

bengalcat · 08/11/2018 21:36

Pity it's not legal to put your colleague down

GabsAlot · 08/11/2018 22:53

what a horrible man u dont put a dog down for that!

hes not appropraitely trained thats all and its on him not the dogs fault

ImNotReallyAWaitress · 09/11/2018 08:51

@RiverTam

You are being ridiculous. No one is saying that the elderly uncle doesn’t matter.
However this is an extremely different situation than if the dog had bitten the uncle.

They had to have known the dog pulled and the uncle was happy to accept that risk. It’s sad he was hurt but it doesn’t warrant destruction of a dog who was just being a dog.

Rudgie47 · 09/11/2018 11:42

Whats happening then OP? can you let us know how you have got on please?

LucieMorningstar · 09/11/2018 13:04

@Rudgie47

Op said yesterday it would be around 21:30 that she would be able to update.

Batteriesallgone · 09/11/2018 14:58

He’s probably just upset and not thinking straight.

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 09/11/2018 21:30

Well, I’m reeling with disbelief following the conversation I have had with my colleague today and I think he has entered the CF territory....

I asked him today how his uncle was in order to ease into the conversation about the dog, and thankfully the dog is still alive.

The uncle apparently was really upset at the prospect of the dog being put down and ultimately he is paying for a professional walker!

According to my colleague his uncle was adamant that as he isn’t fit to walk the dog anymore then he should be the one to pay for someone else to do it, especially if it means the dog being PTS is the only other option.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!!!

I had said to my colleague, “Don’t you feel bad that your elderly uncle is having to pay money to have your dog walked?!”

My colleague’s answer was that it was his uncle’s choice to do it and that he (my colleague) didn’t want to upset the uncle by having the dog PTS so thought it was only right he take his uncle up on the offer.

I mean, WTAF?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/11/2018 21:34

Some people shouldn’t have pets. Shock

ChiefClerkDrumknott · 09/11/2018 21:38

Colleague is a cockwombe, dog did nothing wrong, colleague should have invested time training the dog, uncle probably enjoys time with the dog and is mortified that dog will be PTS because of an accident, feels bad enough (not that he should) that he offers to pay.

I could not speak to your colleague for any other real than pure necessity. What an arsehole