I just need a reality check. Another member posted about those who put their pets down due to aggression that a behaviorist can fix, and I am pretty upset. I am becoming close to a few members on this forum, but if people feel that I shouldn't be here I will accept that.
The reason we put our Jakey down was that he was very unstable and aggressive. He was trying to kill our other dog. The last episode it took two of us to pull Jake off, and Sher Khan had a four inch gash in his throat. He was also turning on us, but I would probably take the risk of attack personally if it meant I could still have my Jakey with me. The pound had already been out once because my girlfriend had to go to the e.r. with a bite and the e.r. notified the County. They told us if there was another attack they would take Jake.
I consulted with trainers and behaviorists and a vet that suspected a possible brain tumor. They all left me with the conclusion that the behavior was so sudden and unpredictable that it couldn't be trained out of him.
Sometimes I just want to die and go be with my Jake. I have lost a lot of people in my life, but I have never known a grief like this. I cherished my little guy, and I hate life for throwing this at me. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve to grieve because I killed my dog. I need to know if, as you are reading this, you feel the same way.
I felt like there was no ther choice to be made, as hard as it is to live with. I don't know if I will ever get over this. A friend of mine just came home to a dead dog, one dog killed the other, and I couldn't put Sher Khan through that either.
I'm not doing well.
Full Version: Guilt
Dawn,
I'm so sorry you're not doing well. What an awful story. You deserve to grieve every bit as much as everyone else on this site. It isn't as if you put Jake down because he was an inconvenience, and you didn't kill your dog. I hope you don't mind me responding - my grieving situation is different but you've been so helpful to me that it kills me to read your feelings today.
Mo was (up until he got old), and Maisie is, extremely dog aggressive...not with each other, but with anything else on four legs. I paid thousands of dollars in vet bills over the years due to attacks and, as an animal lover, felt awful each time something happened to someone else's baby and was terrified that they would take my dogs from me. The last time it happened I had to literally leave town and move with them. They're the most loving dogs to people and kids, but they were a nightmare to other animals. My biggest fear was that they would either turn on each other or actually kill another animal.
Growing up, my family raised dogs and we had to put a 1 and a half yr old girl down for going after my brother, who was very young at the time. We loved her so much - she was still a baby. But the vet also suspected a brain tumor. They, too said that a sudden onset usually indicated a neurological condition, which you're right - couldn't be resolved with training. Last summer, I helped my parents with their new dog, also under two, who so suddenly turned aggressive & went through the neighbor's window at a small dog with a baby in the room. His personality would just change...my parents are still torn up about putting him down.
Dawn, there was no other choice to be made. Something was terribly wrong. It sounds to me like you left no stone unturned out of true, unconditional love for him. What were your other options? Let him attack someone else and be dragged away from you to a cold, scary pound? Your action protected both Sher Khan AND Jake from further pain. Only a really strong and loving mother does that. It would have been the wrong thing to allow Sher Khan to be hurt again or killed, or to let Jake be dragged away by the County. Your decision was the right thing, but life can be cruel, so even the best decision hurts and feels worng.
I have learned from losing Mo that one's decisions are only as good as one's options at the time. Hope that makes sense.
I don't blame you for being mad at life - I would be, too. And I understand wanting to go be with him, because I feel the same way about MoMo. But in your shoes, I can tell you that I would have done the exact same thing you did. Please don't question whether you should be here or not - you loved him and lost him just the same as the rest of us - maybe the events were different but the pain is certainly no less.
I am thinking of you today..
I'm so sorry you're not doing well. What an awful story. You deserve to grieve every bit as much as everyone else on this site. It isn't as if you put Jake down because he was an inconvenience, and you didn't kill your dog. I hope you don't mind me responding - my grieving situation is different but you've been so helpful to me that it kills me to read your feelings today.
Mo was (up until he got old), and Maisie is, extremely dog aggressive...not with each other, but with anything else on four legs. I paid thousands of dollars in vet bills over the years due to attacks and, as an animal lover, felt awful each time something happened to someone else's baby and was terrified that they would take my dogs from me. The last time it happened I had to literally leave town and move with them. They're the most loving dogs to people and kids, but they were a nightmare to other animals. My biggest fear was that they would either turn on each other or actually kill another animal.
Growing up, my family raised dogs and we had to put a 1 and a half yr old girl down for going after my brother, who was very young at the time. We loved her so much - she was still a baby. But the vet also suspected a brain tumor. They, too said that a sudden onset usually indicated a neurological condition, which you're right - couldn't be resolved with training. Last summer, I helped my parents with their new dog, also under two, who so suddenly turned aggressive & went through the neighbor's window at a small dog with a baby in the room. His personality would just change...my parents are still torn up about putting him down.
Dawn, there was no other choice to be made. Something was terribly wrong. It sounds to me like you left no stone unturned out of true, unconditional love for him. What were your other options? Let him attack someone else and be dragged away from you to a cold, scary pound? Your action protected both Sher Khan AND Jake from further pain. Only a really strong and loving mother does that. It would have been the wrong thing to allow Sher Khan to be hurt again or killed, or to let Jake be dragged away by the County. Your decision was the right thing, but life can be cruel, so even the best decision hurts and feels worng.
I have learned from losing Mo that one's decisions are only as good as one's options at the time. Hope that makes sense.
I don't blame you for being mad at life - I would be, too. And I understand wanting to go be with him, because I feel the same way about MoMo. But in your shoes, I can tell you that I would have done the exact same thing you did. Please don't question whether you should be here or not - you loved him and lost him just the same as the rest of us - maybe the events were different but the pain is certainly no less.
I am thinking of you today..
Dusk to Dawn, you made the right decision out of love for your poor Jake. None of this was Jake's fault, none of this was yours either. If roles had been reversed and Jake would have been your loving care giver he would have had to do the same to you.Guilt should not be a part of your emotions it has no place in your soul because nothing in all this is your fault and nothing could be changed by you. Even the decision wasn't yours, it was imposed upon you by several professionals who knew best. Forget the ignorant poster whose criticism hurt you, talk is cheap and that remark was the cheapest of them all. Your Jake was put to sleep as humanely as possible. It could have been much worse, in some cases, out of control animals have had to be beaten to death in order to separate them from other animals or humans. Now for the rest of your life, you will be able to remember Jake with beautiful memories because you were able to stop his descent before worse things happened. I know when we are the deciders we don't even feel justified in calling for them in the middle of the night: a nagging little demon tells us that we shouldn't have allowed to put our pet to sleep if we can't live without them now. But in your case, Dusk to Dawn, I can not see any other thing that you could have done. Be proud that you were the best mother Jake could have had. Be proud that you were strong enough to realize that this had to be. And be so proud for Jake that you didn't let him reach the lowest point of the story of his life. I am sure that Jake has just pure unalterable love for you and he thanks you for having enabled him to leave this earth with dignity. The memories of the good times will one day be your treasures. But for now, all the hugs in the world aren't enough. Courage for now, take care of yourself and yours.
I don't think any member would have written that as an attack. It's just a sensitive issue, in a forum where many pets have been euthanised because otherwise they would be in pain and die anyway. Putting a pet down for any other reason can be frowned upon.
My beloved dog Bono passed away in October (it was natural) when he went into heart failure. He'd been on so many drugs to treat his heart disease over the last couple of years of his life, that the side effects sometimes made him aggressive. This is a dog I'd had since I was a child, who had never so much as growled at me in his life. So I'll never forget the pain I felt when he turned on me, and attacked me so badly my thumbnail fell off, and I now have scarring on my arms. Ironically I now look at the scarring with a certain level of poignancy, as though hes left his mark on me, quite literally! It wasn't his fault; it was the fault of the drugs. But he had to stay on them, otherwise he would have deteriorated quicker, and I'd have lost him sooner than I did. He never turned on me again, although growled at my fiancé regularly. I could never have put him down before his time. I'd sooner have let him put me down. And I'm glad I never had to put him down, even when it was his time. My baby slipped away on his own. And a lot of people feel that way about their pets regardless of the situation.
However, you made a decision which you felt would benefit yourself, your gf, and your other dog. I'll admit, if it were me, I'd have attempted working with an animal behaviouralist first. They can work miracles, and the reason a dog attacks is often due to trying to achieve hierarchy within the pack. A good owner establishes control and good leadership from day one, and so can eliminate fighting immediately. But as my example with Bono indicates, this is not always the case. And drugs can affect a dog's temperament.
You did what you thought was right at the time. You didn't do it maliciously. You did what you thought was best for everyone. Perhaps you would do things differently next time, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. There's so much I'd have done differently for Bono. We can only learn and move on.
As far as I'm concerned you are more than welcome. I know what grief can do. I cry for my Bono every day ...
My beloved dog Bono passed away in October (it was natural) when he went into heart failure. He'd been on so many drugs to treat his heart disease over the last couple of years of his life, that the side effects sometimes made him aggressive. This is a dog I'd had since I was a child, who had never so much as growled at me in his life. So I'll never forget the pain I felt when he turned on me, and attacked me so badly my thumbnail fell off, and I now have scarring on my arms. Ironically I now look at the scarring with a certain level of poignancy, as though hes left his mark on me, quite literally! It wasn't his fault; it was the fault of the drugs. But he had to stay on them, otherwise he would have deteriorated quicker, and I'd have lost him sooner than I did. He never turned on me again, although growled at my fiancé regularly. I could never have put him down before his time. I'd sooner have let him put me down. And I'm glad I never had to put him down, even when it was his time. My baby slipped away on his own. And a lot of people feel that way about their pets regardless of the situation.
However, you made a decision which you felt would benefit yourself, your gf, and your other dog. I'll admit, if it were me, I'd have attempted working with an animal behaviouralist first. They can work miracles, and the reason a dog attacks is often due to trying to achieve hierarchy within the pack. A good owner establishes control and good leadership from day one, and so can eliminate fighting immediately. But as my example with Bono indicates, this is not always the case. And drugs can affect a dog's temperament.
You did what you thought was right at the time. You didn't do it maliciously. You did what you thought was best for everyone. Perhaps you would do things differently next time, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. There's so much I'd have done differently for Bono. We can only learn and move on.
As far as I'm concerned you are more than welcome. I know what grief can do. I cry for my Bono every day ...
I don't know if you did the right thing. I can't make that judgement because I wasn't there and didn't experience what you all were going through at the time. I'm just sorry that you are in pain and sorry that Jake is gone.
we all have reasons as to why or how our animals left or leave us. you deserve to be here as much as the rest of us. we can not judge each person because we have not been in their shoes. you did what was in the best interest for jakes sake. no matter what. you did it for him. who is anyone to tell you different? jake could have been in pain for some reason, he could have had a tumor that made his behavior aggressive, you dont know. for jake and your self you made the best choice you could for him and your self. nobody can tell you differently, mabye a specialist would have worked? dont know ,maybe not. but i know one thing if i was in your shoes i would have done the same thing, so he wouldnt havent hurt himself or anything else. you did your best and he thanks you for it. i'm sure he did not want to behave that way either. you are a sweet loving soul and he knew that. dont beat yourself up about it. i for one think you made your choice out of love for him. you belong with us...
take care michelle
there is another story on this board that i did see somewhere where an animal was put down due to severe aggression, very detailed story..that i think may help you some in dealing with this..if i find it i will link you to it. it was by sara..had to let my best friend go...
take care michelle
there is another story on this board that i did see somewhere where an animal was put down due to severe aggression, very detailed story..that i think may help you some in dealing with this..if i find it i will link you to it. it was by sara..had to let my best friend go...
Dawn,I just had to respond to your post.You are always welcome in this forum as far as I'm concerned.It was started for anyone going thur the pain of losing an animal that they loved,no matter what the case may be.I really don't think anyone should be making judgements on you because inless they have been in that situation themselves then they can't say what they would do.From what you wrote it sounds like you tried everything and we can tell that you really loved your dog Jake.Please don't ever feel guilty about the choice you had to make.We all know you would have done anything to make him better.You can't have a situation where one of your dogs might injure or even possibly kill your other dog or even worse your girlfriend.Why do you feel like someone was targeting you for the choice you made? Did you read a post where that was intended? I'm sure that whom ever wrote that post did not mean it to sound like that.From my first day here I have only met the nicest and most compasionate people who would never say something to hurt the feelings of another.We are all in different stages of grief and we come here to find comfort from others that have gone thur the same pain as we have.Don't let the writings of one person deter you from coming here and feeling welcome.Your always welcome here.Sincerely,Renee (Sox's mom)
Dear Dawn ~~
Please don't walk away from here. I can tell you that I smiled the first time I saw Jake's picture here at this site. That's thanks to you for coming here and posting that absolutely gorgeous picture of him, and the one of him taking down the pool. Since we sent Caesar on his journey, I know each and every instance where I genuinely smiled, and the times are preciously few. For those smiles, I can't thank you enough, not to mention this lovely banner you made in honor of my boy. I don't know what to say to make you feel better, but I wish I could help, even if just a bit. I know what this pain is like, in it's many different facets, one terrible part of which you're feeling, now. Don't leave the site, Dawn... Please stay. I have lashed out so many times since December 8, sometimes, I have felt like a mad person, so I know how fragile we are at this time. I don't have any answers, anymore. My best answer to life is gone from me now. But I do know one thing... I do know that you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. You did the best you could, with the situation you and Jakey were in. After doing all you did, what else could you do. What else could any human do, in order to ensure that no one would get hurt, again. Jake loved you. That darling, look at him... He wouldn't want you to allow him to hurt anyone. Most of all, hurting you, his mistress and mommy. You have nothing to feel guilty about. I could never judge you on what you did, and if I did, it would only be to say how courageous you were, to do what you knew was best, in the most difficult of times. Don't leave us. Don't take Jakey away from us. Please stay...
Blessed be
Please don't walk away from here. I can tell you that I smiled the first time I saw Jake's picture here at this site. That's thanks to you for coming here and posting that absolutely gorgeous picture of him, and the one of him taking down the pool. Since we sent Caesar on his journey, I know each and every instance where I genuinely smiled, and the times are preciously few. For those smiles, I can't thank you enough, not to mention this lovely banner you made in honor of my boy. I don't know what to say to make you feel better, but I wish I could help, even if just a bit. I know what this pain is like, in it's many different facets, one terrible part of which you're feeling, now. Don't leave the site, Dawn... Please stay. I have lashed out so many times since December 8, sometimes, I have felt like a mad person, so I know how fragile we are at this time. I don't have any answers, anymore. My best answer to life is gone from me now. But I do know one thing... I do know that you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. You did the best you could, with the situation you and Jakey were in. After doing all you did, what else could you do. What else could any human do, in order to ensure that no one would get hurt, again. Jake loved you. That darling, look at him... He wouldn't want you to allow him to hurt anyone. Most of all, hurting you, his mistress and mommy. You have nothing to feel guilty about. I could never judge you on what you did, and if I did, it would only be to say how courageous you were, to do what you knew was best, in the most difficult of times. Don't leave us. Don't take Jakey away from us. Please stay...
Blessed be
Dawn
Oh honey, I'm so sorry you feel this way. Of course you belong here. I really don't know what was said, but we all need to be careful posting. Everyone here is very fragile from their loss.
Not one of us here has walked in your shoes. We simply don't know the situation and we really have no right to judge. I'm sure you did your very best in a terrible situation. I know you are full of love and that you loved Jake. You did your best and no one, not even you, can ask more of you.
Some situations are hard to read about, we are so sure we could have done better, but the truth is we just don't know. I have made decisions in my life I'd not like others to judge, and maybe I was wrong, but I did the best I could at the time with what I knew. You acted from good information and the best for all concerned.
You loved Jake and you morn him, what else is needed to be here? You are very welcome here, you have been a big help to me and others, thank you.
Blessed Be
Oh honey, I'm so sorry you feel this way. Of course you belong here. I really don't know what was said, but we all need to be careful posting. Everyone here is very fragile from their loss.
Not one of us here has walked in your shoes. We simply don't know the situation and we really have no right to judge. I'm sure you did your very best in a terrible situation. I know you are full of love and that you loved Jake. You did your best and no one, not even you, can ask more of you.
Some situations are hard to read about, we are so sure we could have done better, but the truth is we just don't know. I have made decisions in my life I'd not like others to judge, and maybe I was wrong, but I did the best I could at the time with what I knew. You acted from good information and the best for all concerned.
You loved Jake and you morn him, what else is needed to be here? You are very welcome here, you have been a big help to me and others, thank you.
Blessed Be
You were placed in a tough spot and had to make a very hard decision. Putting a pet down is never an easy choice. No one can judge because they were not there and were not in your place. You have just as much right to grieve, maybe even more considering the situation, as anyone else. We are here for you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers this evening.
Steve
You are in my thoughts and prayers this evening.
Steve
Dawn,
I agree with what everyone else has said. You are absolutely welcome here, you, and Jakey. I'm sorry if what someone said on here hurt your feelings or came across sounding judgemental in any way. I am sure that whoever it was, did not intend it that way, especially not towards you and Jakey. We are all here for one reason. To share out pain with those who understand. Whether we lost our baby to illness or an accident or whether we had to choose to let them go, it all amounts to the same thing. Sorrow. Missing them with every fiber of our being.
I know that Jakey didn't want to hurt anyone. Animals don't think that way. There was something causing him to be so aggressive and I would bet anything it was a brain tumor or other neurological disease or injury. Jakey loves you, and above all else, HE knows you did the right thing. He knows you did it to spare him any future pain and suffering and he loves you for it.
Myself, I feel such awful guilt that I moved and left Alley for what was only supposed to be a year, until I could bring her to me, and ended up being for eternity. I wasn't there for her at the end, and I will never forgive myself. Being there for Jakey was a precious gift you gave to him, and yourself.
I agree with what everyone else has said. You are absolutely welcome here, you, and Jakey. I'm sorry if what someone said on here hurt your feelings or came across sounding judgemental in any way. I am sure that whoever it was, did not intend it that way, especially not towards you and Jakey. We are all here for one reason. To share out pain with those who understand. Whether we lost our baby to illness or an accident or whether we had to choose to let them go, it all amounts to the same thing. Sorrow. Missing them with every fiber of our being.
I know that Jakey didn't want to hurt anyone. Animals don't think that way. There was something causing him to be so aggressive and I would bet anything it was a brain tumor or other neurological disease or injury. Jakey loves you, and above all else, HE knows you did the right thing. He knows you did it to spare him any future pain and suffering and he loves you for it.
Myself, I feel such awful guilt that I moved and left Alley for what was only supposed to be a year, until I could bring her to me, and ended up being for eternity. I wasn't there for her at the end, and I will never forgive myself. Being there for Jakey was a precious gift you gave to him, and yourself.
Please don't feel the guilt you are feeling. May be your baby was hurting and the aggression was his way of dealing with the pain. It is always hard to make the decision of letting a beloved pet go - no matter what the cir%%stances. As with people, animals deal with pain in different ways. You did what you flet was the right thing to do. We are all here to help one another through this rough time no matter what the cir%%stances. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone - I bet there would not be one stone thrown. God bless you!
gosh, there is so much love here..i bet if we all piled into a big room it would just burst from all the love thats here....sending pink and rose colored hearts all the way to the sky... i know coming here for comfort has helped me so much..i pray that we have comforted you in some way.. 
I'm reading these posts with tears streaming down my face. Thank you all so much. Somehow or another you make me feel closer to my Jakey. I'm just having such a hard time right now.
Dusktodawn,
I have not been to the forum for awhile I lost my 16yr old Bichon Raggs in july and as much as I miss him I am doing well, he was so pitiful blind and cancer. the reason I am writing you is about 17yrs ago I had a beautiful red Min poodle Rusty that I loved very much . He was never a very friendly dog and quite aloof but that was ok ,but when he was 1yr he started to be very aggressive and nothing we did helped ans as time went by he would attack unprovoked and would get a glazed look in his eyes after the attack and sulk off and no one could get near him this went on for 3 yrs with us dodging bites and even if we walked by him he would attack us. The vet said he was very sure he must have some brain disorder and we could not keep him like this as he was going to really hurt someone some time ( even though he was a little dog) and he felt we must put him down . This was the hardest thing I have ever done and the grief and depression were horrible. I felt I had let him down he was a young and looked to be healthy but mentally he was very unstable and life was really a trial and I know it was not pleasent for him either. Losing My Raggs has been devastating but he had a good long life and I have missed him but the awful pain I had from Rusty will never leave me. Unless someone has been in this spot it is hard to understand. I have had dogs all my life and I never experienced anything like Rusty. None of us would be here if we we not hurting. Dusktodawn time will make it better but it does hurt but you had to do what was right at the time, maybe some behaviorist might feel any dog can be saved but that is not always the case. I read everything I could find on aggression actually became obsessed with it trying to find why he was like he was and the closest I got was Rage Aggression but I don't know, all I wanted to do was love him. My thoughts are with you because I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL
Joanne
I have not been to the forum for awhile I lost my 16yr old Bichon Raggs in july and as much as I miss him I am doing well, he was so pitiful blind and cancer. the reason I am writing you is about 17yrs ago I had a beautiful red Min poodle Rusty that I loved very much . He was never a very friendly dog and quite aloof but that was ok ,but when he was 1yr he started to be very aggressive and nothing we did helped ans as time went by he would attack unprovoked and would get a glazed look in his eyes after the attack and sulk off and no one could get near him this went on for 3 yrs with us dodging bites and even if we walked by him he would attack us. The vet said he was very sure he must have some brain disorder and we could not keep him like this as he was going to really hurt someone some time ( even though he was a little dog) and he felt we must put him down . This was the hardest thing I have ever done and the grief and depression were horrible. I felt I had let him down he was a young and looked to be healthy but mentally he was very unstable and life was really a trial and I know it was not pleasent for him either. Losing My Raggs has been devastating but he had a good long life and I have missed him but the awful pain I had from Rusty will never leave me. Unless someone has been in this spot it is hard to understand. I have had dogs all my life and I never experienced anything like Rusty. None of us would be here if we we not hurting. Dusktodawn time will make it better but it does hurt but you had to do what was right at the time, maybe some behaviorist might feel any dog can be saved but that is not always the case. I read everything I could find on aggression actually became obsessed with it trying to find why he was like he was and the closest I got was Rage Aggression but I don't know, all I wanted to do was love him. My thoughts are with you because I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL
Joanne
Thank you so much for telling your story, Joanne. I've never experienced grief or depression like I am now. It is definately not the clean grief of losing a dog who has lived out his days. I am sorry that it happened to you and Rusty, but it helps hearing from someone who has gone through it. You ache to make it different, but you can't.
Thanks all, for helping me get through this.
Thanks all, for helping me get through this.
Dusktodawn,
You are most welcome, you will need all the support you can get and anyone that has not been through a loss like this does not know how much it hurts to lose your furbaby like this. You love them so much but cannot make them better, like a wayward child and you just feel like you let them down. It hurts so much more than at least having the knowledge they lived a long life, however Dusktodawn time will make it better and you will eventually accept it but you will never forget this special dog like a special child. I read the post and I do understand where they are coming from and I would never put a dog down for behavior problems like house soiling ,barking etc but for this severe aggression you have to do what is right as hard as it may be. I have recently read the "Dog Whisperer" and it is a wonderful book it did tell me things about dogs I did not understand but it would not have made a difference in Rusty's or Jackey's situation, Yu take care of yourself and love your other pet and try to forgive yourself and if needed seek professional help for depression because for me it was profound .
Thinking of you
Joanne (raggs Mom)
You are most welcome, you will need all the support you can get and anyone that has not been through a loss like this does not know how much it hurts to lose your furbaby like this. You love them so much but cannot make them better, like a wayward child and you just feel like you let them down. It hurts so much more than at least having the knowledge they lived a long life, however Dusktodawn time will make it better and you will eventually accept it but you will never forget this special dog like a special child. I read the post and I do understand where they are coming from and I would never put a dog down for behavior problems like house soiling ,barking etc but for this severe aggression you have to do what is right as hard as it may be. I have recently read the "Dog Whisperer" and it is a wonderful book it did tell me things about dogs I did not understand but it would not have made a difference in Rusty's or Jackey's situation, Yu take care of yourself and love your other pet and try to forgive yourself and if needed seek professional help for depression because for me it was profound .
Thinking of you
Joanne (raggs Mom)
I couldn't have imagined coming home to a wounded or dead dog, and I think it would rip my heart out if animal control seized my dog.
I work for a vet, and see animals that can't be helped, and owners torn.
I think you made a decision that was right for you. What would have happened if you thought Jake was having a good day and he bit an innocent child, or if he accidently got loose and killed someone elses dog, or bit them?
If people can lose their minds due to brain tumors, and mental disease like schizophrenia, why can't animals suffer the same diseases? I'm sure they do, and Jake might not have been able to tell you about those doggy voices in his head.
No, I don't really know what he had, but I do believe animals have mental and physical problems that cause them to lash out with rage. Springer Spaniels can suffer "rage syndrome" and I've seen it happen!
Where I used to work as a teen a woman brought her dog in for grooming, The dog was charming, and a fake ##oo clock went off above a doorway close to the dog. The dogs eyes glazed over, and she attacked her own owner!
The woman had bites on both hands as she pushed the dog away. The events occurred over and over, but the woman didn't put the dog to sleep until she ate through a gate and attacked her grandson (a toddler, and she bit him down the back of his head and back while he layed on the floor on his stomach) THEN she put her to sleep.
The dog was obviously in some form of distress, but behaviorists, and specialists (she took the dog to a neurologist) could find nothing physically wrong with the dog and ruled it "mental"
I'm sure where your Jakey is he is no longer plagued with whatever afflicted him.
You lost your Jake, and that pain is just as real. It may be harder for you, because you had to take the responsible path and handle a problem.
It would have been irresponsible to not have tackled the situation. I can't imagine the terrible consequences if you hadn't taken some action (only because I've seen some of the consequences)
I'm so sorry about your Jake. Yes, your situation may be different, but your pain is only too real. Again, I'm sorry about your loss.
I work for a vet, and see animals that can't be helped, and owners torn.
I think you made a decision that was right for you. What would have happened if you thought Jake was having a good day and he bit an innocent child, or if he accidently got loose and killed someone elses dog, or bit them?
If people can lose their minds due to brain tumors, and mental disease like schizophrenia, why can't animals suffer the same diseases? I'm sure they do, and Jake might not have been able to tell you about those doggy voices in his head.
No, I don't really know what he had, but I do believe animals have mental and physical problems that cause them to lash out with rage. Springer Spaniels can suffer "rage syndrome" and I've seen it happen!
Where I used to work as a teen a woman brought her dog in for grooming, The dog was charming, and a fake ##oo clock went off above a doorway close to the dog. The dogs eyes glazed over, and she attacked her own owner!
The woman had bites on both hands as she pushed the dog away. The events occurred over and over, but the woman didn't put the dog to sleep until she ate through a gate and attacked her grandson (a toddler, and she bit him down the back of his head and back while he layed on the floor on his stomach) THEN she put her to sleep.
The dog was obviously in some form of distress, but behaviorists, and specialists (she took the dog to a neurologist) could find nothing physically wrong with the dog and ruled it "mental"
I'm sure where your Jakey is he is no longer plagued with whatever afflicted him.
You lost your Jake, and that pain is just as real. It may be harder for you, because you had to take the responsible path and handle a problem.
It would have been irresponsible to not have tackled the situation. I can't imagine the terrible consequences if you hadn't taken some action (only because I've seen some of the consequences)
I'm so sorry about your Jake. Yes, your situation may be different, but your pain is only too real. Again, I'm sorry about your loss.
Thank you, Beaglegirl, and everyone else. Jakey had to have had something off in his head, it kills me that I couldn't fix it. I have had to let go of old dogs before, and I have never felt anything this intense.
You and the others on this forum have helped with my feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and guilt...thank you.
I treasured my boy, and I know that he is at peace now and not finding the need to bite anyone.
You and the others on this forum have helped with my feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and guilt...thank you.
I treasured my boy, and I know that he is at peace now and not finding the need to bite anyone.
Beaglegirl said it all re to Jakey and applys to my Rusty. I thank her for that even about 18yrs later I feel badly but hearing those post help me and I hope anyone else that has to deal with illness like this.
Joanne
Joanne
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