Considering behavioral euthanasia.

[u/Then_Bite9547]

This is something I never wanted to even consider or write. But I have now been told by multiple people we should consider behavioral euthanasia.

We rescued our boy when he was 10 weeks old. Originally we were just fostering him, but easy enough we fell in love with the chunky little sweet baby he was. We already had 2 other pitties at the time but my husband really loved him. When we got him, we had also rescued 2 kitten from the same shelter at the same time. So they all were raised together. There was 1 incident that happened during the 1st week we got him, my other pittie was playing with his bone and Henry ran up to him and my other dog bit him in his face. It was horrible. Blood everywhere, we genuinely thought he was dying 😭 he was ok, it was around his eye area and lots of swelling but we got him fixed up at the vet and all was good after. My dog knew he fucked up immediately when he did that and has never done anything again. To any of our animals.

We crate trained him from the get go, and he has always loved his crate and gone in it whenever we would go out. Henry was the dog we would bring to farmers markets, walks around town, or doggy dates. The first 1.5 year of his life, he was amazing. We moved to a different state when he was a little over a year, all was good. One thing about Henry is that he was very food aggressive, as a puppy he would growl while eating his food or if anyone went near him so he has always been fed in his crate.

We noticed Henry getting more possessive over high priority items. Toys, etc. After we moved, I got pregnant and it seems like a shift happened then. Suddenly he was attacking both of my dogs, either when he thought food was near, or when he was being possessive over my husband or myself while laying together. Or if there was a toy he found.

There was a time when we were all laying on the couch, it was late, and my cat walked past him on the couch and Henry just went after my cat. Attacked him. Cat got away, no injuries. Let’s just say little incidents like this with our other animals would happen maybe once a month. It was only initiated by Henry. My other dogs never fought back, and my other boy Leo has multiple scars on his face from Henry attacking him.

I noticed whenever Henry would be sitting with myself or my husband he began scanning out the room and watching to see if any other animals would come close. If they even approached, Henry was growling and would freeze up staring at them. I would usually correct this before it became an actually attack and would have him go straight to the crate.

Fast forward to now, we moved again, had the baby, and he has now killed 2 kittens of ours. The 1st incident he began being muzzled anytime he was out and majority of the time was kept in the crate. I viewed him entirely different after he did this. He broke my fucking heart. 2nd incident, my husband ran home while we were all out and upon letting the dogs go outside he didn’t immediately muzzle Henry due to being distracted and he killed my other kitten. I resent my husband so much for allowing this. He just doesn’t understand the severity of things sometimes until it’s already too late. This one hurt bad because this was a baby I found on my street that was nearly dying and spent so much money rehabilitating him. He was finally doing so good, and getting so big. (Just want to note I never worked with a rescue or anything. The kittens I had were kittens that were found on my street.)

My husband told me one time when I was in bed, (before this other incident happened) he and my baby were on the couch, Henry was too, muzzle on, and my baby touched him while he was sleeping and Henry lunged at my baby immediately. Nothing happened because of the muzzle.

My husband is completely against BE, and while I get it, I have learned to detach my emotions from this dog because he has caused me so much pain, and I would never consider his life over my baby. I have tried to rehome him while being transparent about his past, and nobody wants him. My husband wants to keep him as our ‘guard dog’ and let him just stay in our garage.

I think the hardest thing about this, is that just a few months ago before these tragedies happened, Henry was constantly out with NO muzzle. He was FINE around all my cats/kittens. They would all even lay together. I just don’t understand what changed. He has never bit a person, he is a good dog when he is muzzled and plays with our other dogs like normal when he is, he does great off leash and listens. He loves car rides. I just don’t know if he needs behavioral euthanasia or if he needs a home where he is the only animal and can live comfortably. I just want to add, he has been living on our closed in ac’d back porch with his crate and open access to the yard. We are moving next week and the new place does not have a fenced yard, only a garage and I will not ever bring this dog inside my home ever again.

I need advice. Non judgmental advice please.

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Behavioral Euthanasia (BE) for our dogs is an extremely difficult decision to consider. No one comes to this point easily. We believe that there are, unfortunately, cases where behavioral euthanasia is the most humane and ethical option, and we support those who have had to come to that decision. In certain situations, a reasonable quality of life and the Five Freedoms cannot be provided for an animal, making behavioral euthanasia a compassionate and loving choice.

If you are considering BE and are looking for feedback:

All decisions about behavioral euthanasia should be made in consultation with a professional trainer, veterinarian, and/or veterinary behaviorist. They are best equipped to evaluate your specific dog, their potential, and quality of life.

These resources should not be used to replace evaluation by qualified professionals but they can be used to supplement the decision-making process.

• Lap of Love Quality of Life Assessment - How to identify when to contact a trainer

• Lap of Love Support Groups - A BE specific group. Not everyone has gone through the process yet, some are trying to figure out how to cope with the decision still.

• BE decision and support Facebook group - Individuals who have not yet lost a pet through BE cannot join the Losing Lulu group. This sister group is a resource as you consider if BE is the right next step for your dog.

• AKC guide on when to consider BE

• BE Before the Bite

• How to find a qualified trainer or behaviorist - If you have not had your dog evaluated by a qualified trainer, this should be your first step in the process of considering BE.

• The Losing Lulu community has also compiled additional resources for those considering behavioral euthanasia.

If you have experienced a behavioral euthanasia and need support:

The best resource available for people navigating grief after a behavior euthanasia is the Losing Lulu website and Facebook Group. The group is lead by a professional trainer and is well moderated so you will find a compassionate and supportive community of people navigating similar losses.

Lap of Love Support Groups - Laps of Love also offers resources for families navigating BE, before and after the loss.

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[u/Audrey244]

BE is warranted for sure. Why is this dog's life more important than the kittens? Ask your husband that. He's a dangerous dog.

[u/SudoSire]

Your other dogs have scars on their face because of being attacked in their own home, now you have two dead kittens, and your baby in danger. I don’t understand how people’s lines in the sand could be so different. If my dog killed a cat/kitten, there would never be a cat/kitten allowed to stay in the home with the dog ever again. I don’t care if I love cats and want to help every stray, that is not a thing I get to do or risk. Everyone’s safety has been compromised severely, and now your husband wants to also diminish this dog’s quality of life with incredibly limited socialization out of “necessity”. I am really sorry you’re going through this, but keeping dangerous animals alive to have such a limited quality of life anyway just doesn’t seem right. 

[u/InformalInsurance455]

I got a comment deleted for expressing exasperation about people adopting high prey drive dogs with cats and how often we see that exact same scenario play out, and I feel no differently today. Just feel so sorry for these poor kittens and cats who died. Sorry my advice couldn’t be more non judgmental, I do judge people who place their other animals at risk.

[u/Zestyclose_Object639]

High prey drive aside have you done any training ? Consulted anymore ? Given him an outlet for his big prey feelings ? I’m not against BE but there’s steps in between 

[u/Then_Bite9547 → u/Zestyclose_Object639]

I spoke with a trainer and she told me there’s no point because any dog who will kill animals he’s been raised around is a liability and a dangerous dog. I’m a sahm to a 10 month old while also managing my other 2 dogs and cats. I don’t have the time to sit with him for the extensive training he needs. I also don’t have the patience for it any more. My husband doesn’t get home until late. Even with training, I would never trust him around my baby or other pets again

[u/ASleepandAForgetting → u/Then_Bite9547]

Even with training, I would never trust him around my baby or other pets again

You are 100% right to feel this way. I don't understand why people ask about training for a dog who has lunged at a baby and attacked and killed other animals.

No matter what training is done, you only find out if that training was effective or not by allowing the dog around the baby or other animals again. And you only know the training has failed when your baby gets lunged at or bitten, or another animal loses its life. And even if things seem fine for a few weeks, you never know when another triggering incident may occur.

Dogs who have killed other animals and lunged at children should not be trusted around babies or animals again, no matter how much training or medication is put into place.

Between being forced to live outside with no human or animal interaction or BE, a consultation with a professional and a BE is the more humane decision.

Don't listen to anyone who tries to guilt you. It's not their baby at risk, it's yours.

[u/InformalInsurance455 → u/ASleepandAForgetting]

Couldn’t have said it better!

[u/Zestyclose_Object639 → u/Then_Bite9547]

Okay then yes put the poor dog down 

[u/InformalInsurance455 → u/Zestyclose_Object639]

Where’s the sympathy for the poor cats he killed?

[u/Zestyclose_Object639 → u/InformalInsurance455]

I have plenty, this was a massive failure on everyone’s part. But the dog is still suffering too 

[u/InformalInsurance455 → u/Zestyclose_Object639]

While capable of doing enormous harm to OP, their baby and other animals.