Three weeks ago, Cedric was euthanized. We had adopted him through a rescue group six months before, knowing that he had been abused. During his brief stay with us, he bonded with me. He liked my husband, but wanted to protect me. He bit my husband once in December (punctures from top and bottom teeth), but we decided that he'd been startled and just went out of our way to keep helping him feel secure. Long story short, he attacked my husband on 4/15. It was a vicious attack with three lunges as my husband turned away and tried to get in another room. The rescue group would take him back but would have to euthanize him, so I decided to have it done myself so I could be with him.

I miss him so much. This is made more difficult because I can't really share it with my husband. He has a very different reaction to the situation. Most of the grief/loss support I've seen had to do with dogs that are elderly or in poor health. Cedric was the picture of perfect physical health. He was only 3. I could use some advice from people who've been in similar situations if possible.

its stretching it a bit maybe but when i was young we had an Alsatian and my friend and i were playing, lady thought she was attacking me and bit her shoulder, she also bit my brother because he copied her barking at the door when the post man came.

You know you did the right thing although a very hard decision you may have saved someone, a stranger a child from an attack in the future.

Try talking to your husband, i know sometimes its easier said than done, we try to talk and our throats tighten and become squeaky, you cant help having loved Cedric and having a pet you loved euthanized is not something that is easy to live with.

Love Sue

To society's standard, Cedric might be vicious. But because he's your baby, he's just an angel. Continue loving him, don't stop loving him. You have bonded with him in spite of everything. You have seen a side of Cedric which made you love him like you do. Don't expect anybody to understand you, as long as you know that you love each other, that's all that matters.

God bless you and rest be assured, Cedric is waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

My baby's love and mine to you and Cedric

LuckyNono's mom

Many "vicious" dogs with professional obedience training and an environment that fits them (such as a one adult home) can be rehabilitated. You must feel devastated that this could not be for your dog.

How painful for you to try to save a rescued dog and to have such a sad ending!


Daisy's Mommy

I had a dog, Nathan, who I adopted from a shelter. For nearly a year, he would lunge at my throat on a daily basis. I tried training, vets, specialists, a dog psychologist. Eventually, the choice was to keep him drugged and caged, or put him to sleep. When the medicines stopped working for him, and I could no longer control him physically, I had to put him down. He was a little over a year old.

It is impossibly hard when you commit to caring for a dog to go through what you are experiencing. I share your sorrow and hope that you can come to see that there are times when we are powerless to help a dog we love. It is the most terrible thing that can happen to us, I think.

Your husband is also in a terrible situation. Perhaps the best thing you could try to ease both your pain is to foster dogs for a time. It will help you both to have to care for a dog who needs you both. At least, it worked for my husband and myself. I'm not suggesting that this is a magic cure -- it just helps as does the passage of time.

Hang in there and know that you did the best anyone could do for your beloved dog. No one could have done more and you put his interests before your own.