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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

How to surrender my dog to a rescue?

173 replies

cornere · 02/07/2023 18:09

I took him on at 7.5 months from a colleague who could no longer keep him. He's a micro bully, not a breed I would ever choose or purchase.

Up until around the start of the year he had the most placid, lovely dog. He is now nearly two years old and for the last six months has become increasingly aggressive.

He has attacked my mum's dog quite savagely and bit my mum a couple of times when she tried to split them up, she then proceeded to have a heart attack.

I am now scared of him and I have a four year old and another dog I have to keep him away from. I'm devastated that he has to go but I know it's necessary.

Does anyone know the process please? I heard some aren't taking any more dogs as they are full?

OP posts:
Palladin · 02/07/2023 18:36

It's sad, but PTS is the best option. Please don't pass the responsibility and cost on to a rescue, and it wouldn't be kind towards the dog either if he was moved again before being euthanised.

ACynicalDad · 02/07/2023 18:40

The sort of person likely to take him from a rescue is possibly not the sort of person who we should be encouraging. Put him to sleep, there are even people that will come to your house and do it.

Ilovedavidmitchell · 02/07/2023 18:50

If he is dog reactive but not human aggressive and the only 1 time he bit a human was because she jumped in while he was attacking the other dog... I would say call rescues and talk to them.

They don't let you just walk in and hand over any dog. They will ask you extensive questions about his health and behaviour and then if they think there's a chance he could be rehomed they may take him. If not, they will say no. Just call them and ask what you should do in this situation. I think getting advice from the staff is better than advice from people on MN in this instance

caringcarer · 02/07/2023 18:54

I'm surprised you took this dog on with a child. It is not a placid breed. These dogs can be aggressive and ate very strong. He has already attacked your Mum's dog and bit your Mum. You need to have this dog PTS. Give him a treat then PTS. If this dog goes on to bite a child you'd wish you'd just PTS when you could.

caringcarer · 02/07/2023 18:54

I'm surprised you took this dog on with a child. It is not a placid breed. These dogs can be aggressive and ate very strong. He has already attacked your Mum's dog and bit your Mum. You need to have this dog PTS. Give him a treat then PTS. If this dog goes on to bite a child you'd wish you'd just PTS when you could.

pinklama · 02/07/2023 19:05

He hasn't randomly attacked a human

Yet- do not let another person take this dog on and be at risk from an attack, it could be a child. He attacks other dogs - this is a start of a downward slope.

It is a hard but responsible decision.

RunningFromInsanity · 02/07/2023 19:06

Sadly rescues are struggling to rehome even perfectly friendly dogs at the moment.
A dog reactive, undesirable breed with a bite history? He will likely spend a long time in kennels, and depending on the rescue could be subject to some harsh ‘training’ techniques.

I think going to sleep surrounded by his family in a calm environment is probably the kindest thing for him.

RudsyFarmer · 02/07/2023 19:06

Do not try and place him with another family. You make the grown up decision to euthanise the dog as he is not safe.

Unsure33 · 02/07/2023 19:09

I understand what you mean by getting bitten when intervening between two dogs fighting . So personally I would try a rescue for the specific breed. Be totally honest about everything that has happened . They will give you an answer . If they can’t help then vets I am afraid . I have seen lots of daschunds who can be very snappy / bitey and agressive rehomed with no children and no other dogs and lived out their lives quite happily .

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 02/07/2023 19:18

Re-homing this dog would be incredibly irresponsible.

It needs to be PTS and that's not something I say lightly. I know that the bite "only" occurred when your mum tried to split a fight up but the consequences of that bite are huge. This dog isn't safe to be re-homed.

Gymmum82 · 02/07/2023 19:25

@Housekeeperbatcocoa tell that to all the people that have been mauled to death by these breeds. Once they bite they do not let go.
A person I know almost lost her arm to one of these. The dog had to be strangled by its lead until it passed out in order for it to release her arm from its mouth

SquirrelFeed · 02/07/2023 19:27

Have you had him checked over at a vets for any injuries or pain?
Ring a few shelters and ask for their opinions. Most people here aren’t experts and lose their minds when you mention any type of bull breed.

StillWantingADog · 02/07/2023 19:30

I’m usually in the anything but PTS camp but I don’t think there is any other reasonable outcome

he might be rehomed but very unlikely to be with a response dog owner like yourself. He could end up in the wrong hands and a tragedy could occur

it all sounds very hard, I admit

Spanielsarepainless · 02/07/2023 19:33

Another vote to pts. No reputable rescue organisation would take the risk of rehoming a dog with that record.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 02/07/2023 19:35

If he’s attacked dogs and has bitten a person he will be incredibly difficult to rehome, very very few rescues will take on a dog with a bite history.
Unfortunately PTS May be your best, and the most ethical option

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 02/07/2023 19:37

Seriously, pts.

Hollyppp · 02/07/2023 19:51

PTS

winterchills · 02/07/2023 19:52

Definitely put to sleep, its the right thing to do unfortunately and I absolutely adore dogs. He will never be fully trusted

HorribleNecktie · 02/07/2023 20:01

A micro bully is just a small, deformed pitbull. Pitbulls are notorious for becoming aggressive at 2 years old to other dogs, livestock, and people. They are from fighting stoic and are thus not suitable for a home with kids or other pets, and given it’s increasing aggression and now bite history the kindest thing you can do to this dog and every living thing it could encounter is have it PTS.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 02/07/2023 20:06

cornere · 02/07/2023 18:18

No, you're incorrect.

He is about 12 inches tall.

Show quote history

Let's be honest - all these new micro/XL/exotic "bully" breeds only exist because Pitbull terriers are illegal in this country and this is a handy way to get around the current (flawed) legislation.

They may be smaller but they're still incredibly similar and, as you've seen, can still inflict a hell of a lot of damage.

I know you didn't pick the dog or choose the breed but that's the reality of these dogs. There's a reason why they're almost impossible to insure and why so many dog/pet businesses won't take them on.

carly2803 · 02/07/2023 20:09

put him to sleep

its safer for the world and for him

these dogs need banning from being bred...xl bullies and micro things. just poorly bred aggressive messes. its so sad

Piebald2 · 02/07/2023 20:10

Please give him a nice day and treats and hold his paw while he is put to sleep, he wont know whats happenining and its way better than what could happen to him.

overthinkersanonnymus · 02/07/2023 20:21

Gymmum82 · 02/07/2023 18:27

@cornere i know what a micro/pocket bully is. Just a small version of an XL bully. Which is essentially a rebranded pit bull. They are lovely dogs....sometimes. But in the wrong hands or if aggressive they are very dangerous dogs. They are a jaw locking breed for a start. Once they lock they don’t let go. They are also extremely strong. Even if they are small.

There's no such thing as a dog that can lock it's jaw.

Ylvamoon · 02/07/2023 20:21

This is the size dog we are talking about.

Despite the size it's still a very powerful dog.

I'd go with specific breed rescue or PTS.
Owning an reactivate dog isn't fun. (Been there, done that!)

How to surrender my dog to a rescue?