To think that it is horrible to put down a healthy young border collie

[Spaniellover2]

My son’s friends have had a border collie for eighteen months. The dog is unhappy and has been put on antidepressants. The dog is stuck in a small house with a tiny garden and, because it shows ‘concerning’ behaviour ( aggressive … nippy…has nipped a man … hyperactive…) my friend and her partner are going to speak to the vet tomorrow about putting it to sleep. The dog walks daily on a lead. Sleeps in a cage at night. I am so upset … what would you do? My son is begging her not to euthanise the dog. He wants to phone shelters tomorrow. Shelters take Bullies - surely they would take a border collie?

Poor bloody ddog. Have you got a ddoggy shaped hole in your life op?

It's a herding breed, they nip.

Hopefully any vet will tell them they are idiots and tell them to re-home the poor thing.

Border Collies are very intelligent dogs. It’s bored and understimulated probably. They’ve let that dog down, massively. Of course it should be rehomed and not PTS and I can’t understand why that would be their first port of call!

Do you know which vets? Could your son ask to take the dog whilst he finds a rescue space for it? Could you contact the vets abc discreetly explain the situation and ask them if they could try and help? How awfully sad

Oh no, I'm sure they would take it. A little border collie would get adopted quickly. Please help them do the right thing. Abduct their dog and do it yourself if needs be.

This is no life for a BC and of course they will act out - they are bored! The Border Collie Trust may be able to help? They take BC"s to rehome. I hope this poor dog gets a second chance with people who know what they need and can give them the life they deserve

Shelters might take her but they're also over subscribed and she may need to wait for a space to open up.

The behaviour you've mentioned are common for collies who aren't being properly stimulated and exercised, they're a working breed and incredibly smart and it sounds like your ds friends haven't done their research on the breed.

Is there any possibility you or your ds could take the dog until a shelter could rehome them? I've found collies with a decent temperament do get rehomed and do well with the right owner. Breed understanding is key.

I'd like to think any decent vet wouldn't put a dog to sleep that's healthy and where its an owner issue but I guess that depends on what they tell the vet.

These people are fucking arseholes. The dog is not housed correctly - no wonder it's frustrated.

Please contact Wickaways. They are a border collie rescue. Even if not local, they should still be able to advise

Contact Protecting Preloved Border Collies on FB. They will hopefully be able to place this poor wee mite in a foster home and then up for adoption

Lots of collies end up getting rehired unfortunately. A good vet will want it rehomed.

They should Google Yorkshire Canine Academy 'should I get a border collie' video.

He explains it all.

Hopefully the vet will contact an animal charity. I don’t know what area you are in but I help out at a local one so feel free to contact me and I can put your or your friend in touch with them and they can take the dog into foster to access it’s behaviour and look for another home

There are several specialist border collie rescues in the U.K., including Valgray’s in Surrey and Diane Hart in Wales. If they Google they can find these and others. I’d strongly suggest contacting a specialist rescue that will have expertise in assessing this dog. From what you’ve said, it sounds like a typical border collie! I have a rescue BC with issues myself. Great dogs but my God they are not suitable for the average pet home.

Poor dog, it's probably bored and full of energy if it's only walked on the lead and otherwise cooped up. You should really need a license to own a dog, some people are just unfit for it.

We had a border collie, they are working dogs with a very high drive. They need a lot of stimulation and exercise not a little dog walk during the day, that’s no where near enough for them. Sounds like it’s doing the nipping and being hyperactive as it’s needs are not being met and it’s getting into bad habits.

Poor dog needs to be rehomed first to an experienced handler before even considering being put to sleep.
They thrive in the correct environment.

Thankyou … we cannot take the dog, as have two dogs. This advice is useful, as are other suggestions. I do not understand why they are going for euthanasia. It is a healthy young adolescent dog. My husband suggested secretly contacting the vets. My son is swearing about it … we are really upset.

Collies need mental stimulation not just physical. Poor animal sounds bored and wired, but no need for putting to sleep.

Just needs a different home. My friend has one, it comes to the stables with her all day so has acres to run in, goes for a run with her husband at night and is happy and chilled. He’s outside from 7am - 6pm most days or has a nap in the straw

They do not know that I am posting here … it is in the South East. They are very upset apparently, but I agree with the majority - at least give it the opportunity to be rehomed. Would your charity possibly take the dog?

An example of fucking idiots getting absolutely the wrong breed of dog and now it's the poor animal that suffers.

Poor animal, I really hope he can be rehomed

A breed specific rescue would definitely help. They generally have volunteers all over the country. This dog doesn't sound dangerous or in need of being PTS. I sincerely hope you can intervene and have it rehomed instead.

Absolutely disgusting. I have 2 collie crosses. They live in a fairly big house with a garden, and have a lot of off lead walks and we play with them. They don’t nip as they are stimulated and kept busy. I can’t imagine not taking the time to exercise them. I know someone who had a husky and it never went out properly. I get people want dogs but don’t get a dog if you are not willing to put in the time for them. They rely on us for everything so we need to treat them well.

@Spaniellover2 Please do anything you can to help this dog. If you tell me the name of the vets I will ring myself.

They won't. Vets put down healthy animals regularly, it is part of their regular job. I knew a young woman who was a vet and she explained to me that it was incredibly mentally destructive to be constantly facing having to kill healthy animals, or even sick animals, that most medical professionals don't actually have to deal with or be the bringer of death a couple of times times every week most weeks, which was not something I had considered.

The frequent exposure to euthanasia and the moral conflict that causes - because most vets love animals obviously - contributes significantly to depression among veterinarians. Studies show up to 80% of veterinarians experience clinical depression, with euthanasia cited as a major stressor. Just one link below, there's loads of info about this though.

https: //www dot psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/zooeyia/202311/silent-suffering-the-high-rate-of-suicid