Regret and guilt

[Val 3 dogs]

It is with great regret, disbelief and shock I need to tell you that about 10 days ago I had my beautiful, gentle Mastin, Bonita, euthanised.
I had her almost a year before a few months ago she began to attack other dogs.
This first happened wben she was loose and off lead resulting in minor injuries to the other dog.After tbat she was muzzled if and when loose.she hated that. (I tried to ensure that she was only loose in deserted areas).
She was perfect with my other two dogs (her sister,Querida, and my border collie, Lass). They had great fun playing, running and swimming after sticks together. She appeared to be good with dogs she knew.

Anyway to shorten a sad story, after five further attacks, each getting more serious, while she was on the lead attached to my mobility scooter, I reluctantly returned her to the shepherd who bred her. (He had witnessed one of her attacks)
I took her back to his farm in the hills and left her happily running loose amongst his assorted dogs, puppies and grand children.
His wife and family were delighted to have her back and made a great fuss of her.
The following day she was out with the shepherd when he brought the goats to the lake to drink.I was out and didnt see them, but laterfound Bonita waiting patiently in tbe shade outside my house.
I phoned him and tbat evening returned her in tbe car.
Two days later whilst loose on the farm, Bonita attacked one of his terriers, ripping it's throat open.(it lived).
I collected her the following morning and took her on her final car ride..

She was a beautiful, quiet and gentle dog, I don't know what went wrong. I know I loved her. RIP Bonnie.

 

[15edward]

Best but brave decision. My sympathy to you

 

[Zoobec]

I’m so sorry you tried everything you could.

 

[gus-lopez]

So sorry to hear that but we both know that you have made the right decision.RIP Bonnie.

 

[Podney]

So sorry,but I’m sure you’ve done the right thing.

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[reckless]

Val 3 dogs I'm crying for you

A few years ago we had to have a beautiful young healthy rescue dog euthanized because he became aggressive towards people including, once, me. Our families including young grandchildren stopped visiting us. It was the most terrible decision I've ever had to make and I don't think I'll ever not feel guilty. But you know you did the right thing.

Forgive yourself. She was a beautiful dog ❤

Karen xx

 

[Debs]

I'm so very sorry to read this Val. I know from other posts of yours that I've seen how much dogs were part of your life and how hard a decision that must have been for you.

I'm relieved that you were able to see the bigger picture and not let your dog be a risk to others. Who knows what was going on in Bonita's head, as much as we love our dogs it's never right to let them be a potential cause of harm.

You did the right thing x

RIP Bonnie

 

[TheBig1]

my dad took in a rescue dog with very similar behaviour. He believed that he could cure him, till one day he attacked an elderly neighbour. Speaking to a vet friend soon after, he believed it was something wrong in the dog's brain. He was sweet and loving one minute and snarling the next for no obvious reason, but could go weeks without incident

You of course did the right thing, so please don't feel bad

 

[125BEER]

Very difficult to-do a sad day for you.
Take care

 

[Granjan]

What an awful decision for you to have to take but sure you did the right thing. Our sincere sympathies.

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[Kirsten]

very sad- but possibly your lovely dog had had an undetectable stroke or was suffering from a brain tumour ? In any case you did do the right thing; no guilt needed here. Be kind to yourself xx

 

[Tombola]

That's the problem when big dogs "turn" it can be fatal. Yorkies "turn" it's a scratch .
You done the right thing.. tough as it may be. You may have just saved a child from serious injury.

 

[Googlebot]

I have seen the results of dogs turning, they cause awful injuries and you could never have put it right once it happened.

It is heartbreaking but you absolutely did the right thing.

 

[maz]

So sorry to hear about Bonnie. A very tough call but you have done the right thing.

 

[Puddleduck]

Such a hard decision to make but you did call it correctly.

I doubt there was any other option and that there was possibly a brain tumour or similar.

I feel your loss.

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[Bessy765]

You have to make hard choices when you have pets, we have suffered the what’s best for the dog situation quite a few times its is a very hard thing to do, whilst you had the dog and everything was ok you have given your dog a good loving home, unfortunately if the dogs behaviour changes you have to act accordingly. Apart from attacking smaller animals there is the possibility that your dog may come off worst and suffer accordingly. Our last three dogs all rescues have suffered strokes of varying degrees and whilst you want to have your pet with you forever you have to act in the best interests of the pet. We are still grieving and we lost our last one over a year ago. But he had a great life, he was a rescue dog as all ours have been with quite a lot of problems at first, how he had been treated remains a mystery but it was over a year before he would eat in the same room as us or lay by our feet. He had a stroke whilst we were in Portugal and we drove straight back to our cottage in France as our vet who is brilliant lives opposite. Having had he seen by a Portuguese vet first. Scans were arranged for the next morning, luckily he had not suffered a bleed and went on for another 15 months until the final day. So I can honestly say we know how you feel but remember the good times, I am sure she is running free in dog heaven with fond memories of her time with you.

 

[jumartoo]

That must have been an awful decision for you to make but, it was probably the only decision you could make. What was in her head? No one knows and she had a good, if short, life with you.

Well done for making the right decision

 

[pappajohn]

Such a shame.
Having yesterday having Jack euthenised I know what you're feeling.

 

[monzer]

Sorry to hear about your situation Val 3 dogs so sad.

 

[The Lb’s]

Oh this is awful for you, I'm so sorry, but you know deep down it was the right decision. You have enough on your plate right now with grief, please let the guilt go. As always, there is nothing that can be said to relieve your pain, just hug your other dogs and wait for time to help. Sending best wishes to you, she's running free xxx

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[AJM2]

You should not feel guilty, it was the only option. A very brave but correct decision, a selfish person would have put it off and a lot more suffering could have resulted. You did the right thing.

 

[pampam]

Wow val3dogs you have my greatest sympathy,i will tell you that a few years ago my friends border collie started acting very aggressive ,on odd occasions for no apparent reason she eventually had to take her to the vets, after the dog was put to sleep,it turned out she had a brain tumour,which was unoperable, and was thought to be the reason the dog would suddenly be vicious .im sure you have acted in the most humane way in heartbreaking circumstances,take care best regards pampam

 

[Langtoftlad]

Sometimes they're just wrong'uns despite every best care...
...as are some humans...

 

[Val 3 dogs]

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and support. Thanks also to those of you that have shared personal experiences.
I have lost many pets and been involved with the euthanisation of various species over the years, mostly through old age/ ill health, some as the result of accidents (horses with broken legs and other horrendous injuries), thankfully not all have belonged to me, I just "happen to have been around at tbe time".
I have always felt that no living creature should die alone and if the owners have been unable to be present or been too traumatised to cope emotionally I have always stood in and offered the animal calm love,support and human contact in it's time of need.
I have felt grateful and privileged to be able to do this. Usually once the animal has 'passed' I can move on without feeling too much sorrow, even with my own animals knowing for whatever reason their time had come.
Bonnie has been different.I know in time the grief will be less acute, even now I can visualise her and Querida bounding through the woods playing tag.
She was just such a big, gentle creature, her time came too soon.

 

[Carol]

Val so sorry you have had to make such a difficult decision your posts always shine through your love of dogs, but you had no choice.
Run free Bonnie.

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[Parrot Face]

Don't doubt yourself, what you did was for the best.

 

[Shrimp]

I’m so sorry to hear that.
You will be upset but it was the right thing to do, she obviously wasn’t happy!
Hug your other dogs as they will be feeling the lose too!

 

[jdk62]

Awful but very brave decision

Our thoughts are with you.

 

[movan]

Heartbreaking for you darling, but the right thing to do.

Easy to say don't feel guilty, but it's a human condition. You will never know whether you have saved another dog, dog owner or child from suffering but there is a high posibility. You have been brave in making this decision.

Hurting for you.