We had an Alaskan Malamute with behavior problems and were forced to put her to sleep. We loved her dearly but she started growling at our kids for no reason. We cried for days when knew it was going to happen. We told the kids that we gave her to a doctor that can help with her mental problems. My daughter had been asking for a new puppy for years and we've been telling her we'd get her one for her birthday. It really excited her and she said she knew it wouldn't be the same and she would still miss Angel. So we bought a completely different looking dog (A GoldenDoodle) and my daughter is so happy. My husband and I know the truth and we feel like horrible people. Are we so wrong?
2006-07-24 10:33:30 · 17 answers · asked by Heidi J 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
In response to SillyGoose: We didn't find her a new home because she was gradually becoming aggressive to everyone. This is how it started: We had to take her to the vet because of a skin problem she was shedding and getting bald spots. She'd been to the vet before with no adverse effects. This time the vet put her on Prednezone (sp?). That's when the behavior problems started. The vet said it was a rare side effect of the drug and to gradually take her off of it. Which I did. Her behavior didn't improve at all a month later. It only got worse. She use to be so sweet to everyone before this. If strangers would come over she would greet them excitedly, never growl or snarl. She would even bare her teeth toward the end! I just knew with this behavior, she would have sat, scared and alone in the shelter and no one would have adopted her. I know how shelters works, they make sure the dogs are social before placing them for adoption. I just couldn't do that to her.
2006-07-24 11:02:22 · update #1
Because you protected your children? No, you're not horrible people.
Just as long as you love this dog for who it is, and didnt do it out of guilt. Of course, if you did buy it out of guilt, you can still love this dog, just love it for being it, not as a replacement for the other dog.
I'm glad you protected your children. I had a dog that had mental problems, and she started tearing the house up, and went kinda crazy, she had a baaaaad case of separation anxiety.
We loved her so much, but couldnt take care of her anymore, there was nothing to do for her. (took her to the vet.)
2006-07-24 10:37:57 · answer #1 · answered by D'oh! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you're wrong to hide the truth right now from your daughter. My parents did the same for me when I was a child. I hold no ill will towards them for keeping pain from me as a child.
I understand how you feel having to put an aggressive dog down. I had a dog like that too. It broke my heart.
I think it sounds like a good idea that you got a different kind of dog. Everyone deals with these situations differently. You have to do what's best for you and your family.
2006-07-24 10:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not morally wrong to put your dog down when it is agressive with your kids and get another one. Congratulations on your puppy! What I do disagree with is lying to your kids. Why can't you tell them the truth? They are already sad. Is it because you don't want them to be mad at you? That is not a good reason. As long as they are old enough to understand, you should explain to them what happened, explain that it was not their fault and why not (the dog is an animal, not a person and the dog had a problem that was dangerous), and help them to move past it. Sure they might be mad at you at first, but they will get over it, and will understand that it was the right thing (they wouldn't want the dog to hurt their mom or dad just like you didn't want her to hurt the kids). I bet they will hold it against you much more to find out years down the road. As much as we want to protect children, hard lessons like this are important to their growth and help them in dealing with problems later in life.
2006-07-24 10:51:47 · answer #3 · answered by M L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all no one forced you to put your dog to sleep. This should have been a last resort. You could have found another home for the dog or taken it to obidience classes.
Second of all, you should have never had lied to your kids about it. The dog died plain and simple because of you. Children need to learn about death.
You are wrong for getting a new pup when you didn't do all you could to try to remedy your current problem.
A dog is a lifetime commitment. Not one that you end just whenever you want to.
2006-07-24 10:54:42 · answer #4 · answered by sparkles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
two thoughts: first is why wouldn't you try to find her a home with one owner/no kids? second i think you are right to get her away from your children. you have to place this kind of dog your self b/c shelters cant take responsibility. and some times you just run out of time before you have to remove the danger from your house, im sorry this happened to you. you picked a very HAPPY breed this time you will not have that prob. again. this behavior is normal for the malamute.
2006-07-24 10:50:42 · answer #5 · answered by sillygoose 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Youy probably should have waited until you were ready for a new dog, but you didn't. It's not horrible. It made your daughter happy and probably your other kids too. Many people get new dogs "too soon" to help with the pain of losing a dog who was like a family member. It's not morally wrong.
2006-07-24 10:41:34 · answer #6 · answered by erin7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People mourn things in different ways. Some people can go out and get another pet the same day as they put one down. Some people can't get another pet for 6 months, or even a year after wards. It doesn't make either one wrong. It just depends on the person.
2006-07-24 10:44:34 · answer #7 · answered by venus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it makes you and the family happy to go out and get another member of the family, then how can that be wrong? Sure, it's a little quick. but so what?! There is no Archangel in charge of mourning for a dog, so you do not get tagged for wanting to add a member back to you family "pack!"
Good luck with the new kid!
2006-07-24 10:37:41 · answer #8 · answered by Mike R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. there is nothing wrong with that and it will help your children feel better about your other dog. u did the right thing
by putting your other dog asleep instead of shooting her or
something like that when a dog becomes a menace to people for
no reason whatsoever it's time to put them to sleep.don't feel like
horrible people would u rather your other dog bite your daughter and have her scarred for life? no. just train the dog u have now
so it will be a respectable canine citizen.
2006-07-24 13:24:07 · answer #9 · answered by ariel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people get animals right after their animal dies. I don't think that anything you described as morally wrong, it sounds like you were doing the right thing for yourself and your family. It may feel bad right now but as soon as you get use to the new dog, everything will be fine.
2006-07-24 10:55:25 · answer #10 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋