Is it OK to have your friends dog put down while they are on holiday, even though it was very ill?

Answer 1

hmmmm.........maybe.

Answer 2

How long are friends gone? I would think with Cell phones etc - should be some way to call and explain situation - no matter how ill the dog is - the owner needs to make the decision.. I think it would be held against you (right or wrong) forever - because people always second guess and think they could have done something themselves. I still second guess myself when our dog was over 15 years old was having ministrokes and couldn't eat or drink and could tell he was gone because eyes were vacant- but the minute they give that shot - you feel like you have done the worst thing in the world no matter how hopeless and maybe if you waited they would be alright -
So - leave it to the owner as much as possible - plus there is the whole saying goodbye at the last moment (I'm just a big sentimental dork)

Answer 3

No, I really dont think it is. It is their dog which Im sure they love very much. It is their decision to make, and if they decide to put it to sleep, they at least deserve the chance to say goodbye before doing so. However, if the dog is extremely ill, and you are concerned, then try contacting them. If you cant get a hold of them, I would ask the vet's advice and see what his advice is. Maybe he can give the dog some medication to keep it comfortable until your friends come back. If not and if he thinks the dog would suffer greatly, then you have a decision to make. Only you know your fiends and what they may want you to do. Another thing you could do is maybe try to contact the family of your friends if you know their phone number. This is a tough one, but Im sure you will make the right decision.

Answer 4

That's a very difficult question to answer. Does the owner know the dog is ill? Will the dog get better with treatment? Is there any way to reach the owner? Before they left did they expect this to happen? What is the quality of the dogs life now? How will this affect your friendship with them, they obviously trust you to do the right thing for the dog. What does the Vet say, maybe with separative care in the hospital they can keep him alive until the owners get back and they can make the decision god luck

Answer 5

Since you've already done it its too late to check.
The dog was not legally your property and you could be in for a rough ride. I'm not certain where you stand legally; if you were left in charge of the dog and euthanasia was carried out by a vet and on vets recommendation to prevent further suffereng then you should be o.k.
But socially you have goofed. Unless it was genuinely impossible for you to contact the owner, thats what you should have done, and you should have let them talk to the vet. That way they would have been reassured and maybe even grateful that their dog didn't suffer, if at the same time feeling guilty for not being there.
Expect fireworks when they get back, they're going to be upset and they'll ask questions. Theres no easy way to tell them what happened, try to get a letter from the vet to back you up and don't be evasive or bluster.

Answer 6

You say WAS very ill....I am assuming you already did have it put down. I would like to know if you took it to the vet and what the vet said. If you have already put it to sleep, I would be sure to have proof of what the vet said. Was there no other option for recovery? If this dog was suffering and there was no other option that may have been the most humane act. If there were options, you didn't have the right to make the decision and definitely were in the wrong. I hope this works out for you all.

Answer 7

This is a hard one. I would try and contact your friend many times. If you just can't get ahold of your friend then I would take the vet's advice. Hopefully the vet will say that the dog could wait it out til your friend gets back because if I were your friend I would understand if you had to do it but I would be upset (not at you) that I wasn't able to be there with the dog while they put him down and to say goodbye. So if it was so serious that it couldn't just wait til the weekend was over and your friend got back, then listen to the vet. Just so you know if I were your friend I would understand and I wouldn't be mad at you. I would just be really sad because the dog had to be put down and I couldnt be there for him. But weigh your desicion wisely, think about whether your friend would get mad at you or not becuase everyone would react differently.

Answer 8

Contact the owner - if you can't get ahold of them at all, try contacting them through other relatives you know the numbers of. If all fails - I hope it is their regular vet you have taken the dog to? If the dog is ill and the vet says it has to be done - can't wait until they get back, then you have an authority they trust telling you that it has to be done. If not - if there is any way to wait - wait for them to come home! You could really hurt someone forever putting their animal down when they were gone - and maybe ruin your friendship (or get legal charges) if the dog could have been saved!

Answer 9

My Daughter and her friend worked together in the local bar , my Daughter agreed to look after her friends dog while her friend went on holiday, on condition this friend looked after her canary when it was my Daughters turn to go away on holiday!
The little fluffy dog was duly delivered and the friend drove away, within a couple of minutes the little dog shot away from the house and disappeared.
All the bar customers were put on 'red alert' and a search was started.
The little fluffy dog was eventually found in a disused acid pit, it was rushed to the vet and treated, the only real damage was the loss of most of its fluff ! It now resembled a little skinned rabbit!
The owner was not at all happy when she returned from holiday to see the end result, the fluff eventually grew back but my Daughter didn't get her canary looked after, and she got quite a lot of 'stick' from the bar regulars! One of the regulars brought a plastic bird in complete with cage and asked my Daughter if she could look after it for him!! She still hasn't been able to live the event down yet!

Answer 10

If an animal is really in pain, and the vet advised that this was best then yes, but, you would have to understand that dogs are family members and they missed the chanced to say goodbye, how would you feel if it was someone you loved and you missed the chance to say goodbye. Suggest they contact the vet and get a professional opinion that you acted in the best interest of the dog. Did you try and contact them, or did they leave any contact numbers for you?

Answer 11

Yes, if the dog is suffering. It happened to me, went away on holiday, friend was looking after my dog, it became very ill, and he took it to my usual vet, who knew me and how I felt about dogs suffering, his advice was that the dog should be put down, so my friend agreed and the vet took care of it all. I was very sad, but even sadder that my friend had had to go through the ordeal.