still feel terrible

Re: still feel terrible

Sarah Cahill — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:04:28 GMT

I think you should be proud of yourself for giving the little guy a chance when a lot of people wouldn't, unfortunately it just seems it wasn't meant to be. It must be horrible for you, but try not to beat yourself up about it, it was lovely of you to care enough to try :)

Re: still feel terrible

Rachel Jayne — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:07:11 GMT

I agree with the others, you gave him a chance, above & beyond what most people would do, but it just didn't work out.

Hope you feel better soon x

Re: still feel terrible

gobbolino — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:18:21 GMT

Thats a nasty horror story Katy...you people are definitely helping me to feel like I made the right decision even if i'll never be completely 'ok' with it...

Re: still feel terrible

Katy — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:57:58 GMT

Having had riding lessons and worked at a riding school i've seen the other side where an unscrupulous dealer sold a horse to the riding school.

I rode him, and my friend rode him (both quite competent riders) and he was dead to the leg, and didn't even respond to a riding crop....

Bit fishy really.....

Well an inexperienced lady rode him a few weeks later and he just flipped. He threw her off and broke her back (not severely) thank god. But he got sent back to the dealer....

After talking to a horsey friend, it turns out that this horse broke his pelvis a good few years ago and should have been euthanised it was that bad. He also went a bit loopy after the accident.

His owner sold him and he ended up at the dealers eventually who doped him up before he went to the riding school.

God knows what happened to him after that

Re: still feel terrible

funkyfish — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:26:13 GMT

Well done you, it can be so hard to do the right thing (been there my self), some animals ( like some people) are too emotionally damaged to be helped. A friend works in a secure manual facility. She says it's heart braking to work with severly ill (and very dangerous) people who exist there until they die. Atleast we can euthenase animals to set them free. I hate to think of all the damaged, unhomeable pets in kennels, some in hands free systems, as they are too aggressive, for the end of their days, with out the social love and care they deserve. It's bloody hard but the kindest thing you can do for them. He had a damn good chance, thank god he had someone good to let him go when he needed it. Dont feel bad, feel good that you were fair to him and did what was right for him.

Re: still feel terrible

hobbits — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:53:24 GMT

I have always believed that once all has been tried with little to no effect euthanasia is the best we can offer them. Human safety aside: physical pain is bad and not something we would tolerate for them long tee , why should psychological pain be different? Obviously we have to be careful not to over impose our emotions on to them, but a dog or any animal who lives in constant fear etc IS suffering. That it isn't physical doesn't make it any less of a suffering. You did all you could in the circumstances and more than many and you didn't shy away of giving him a good end. Of that you should be proud xx

Re: still feel terrible

Vicky RVN — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:41:25 GMT

That little dog was very lucky to have you try your hardest to help him, I have no doubt that you made the right decision because like you say he could have caused real harm. Never an easy decision but none the less the right one.

Re: still feel terrible

gobbolino — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:10:55 GMT

I am amazed at some of the responses I have had in such a short period. Makes me feel that this is unfortunately more common then I thought. I guess some creatures were not made for this world/ domestic lifestyle. I will remember him forever and never forget the lessens he taught me . Thank you for all your heartfelt posts. Just nice to hear from some people who understand that it isn't as black and white as 'he was nasty' or ' he was a horrible dog', sometimes these aniamls are so seriously screwed they seem to try as hard as we do but there's some cog just not working properly. Thank you xxxxx

Re: still feel terrible

Sandra McLeary — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:17:59 GMT

I know how you feel, I worked in rescue and when I left took on a wee dog that had been 6mths old when she was handed in by the time I left and took her with me she had been there for 12mths or so, she had aggression problems also and a variety of other insecurites, she lived with me, my husband and daughter in the house you could not get a better dog with her family, but with visitors that was another story, we would inroduce her to them muzzled and eventually if they'd been in a while the muzzle could come off but if they got up to go the loo and tried to come back into the room you had to start all over again, she eventually started to fight with one of my other bitches, to the extent that one day I couldn't separate them, it was this time that made me decide that the kindest thing was to put her to sleep, I wasn't going to return her to the rescue, if she'd only had problems with this particular bitch I could have rehomed her but with the other aggression problem I didn't want her passed from pillar to post, so did the same as you, I felt terrible for a long time and remember saying to my friend but she was a healthy dog, my friend said physically yes but mentally no, and as time has passed I know I did the right thing for her, so the pain will get better but you wil never forget the memories of the good times

Re: still feel terrible

Mac Feather — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:45:46 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

The hurt does get better with time. And sometimes it helps a lot to get your thoughts out in the open rather than keeping them back

[/quote] I agree. You did all you could, just sometimes in life for whatever reason it isnt enough and it isnt your fault.. V. glad you have good times to look back on, think of them often and with fondness.

Take care.

Re: still feel terrible

nicola severs RVN cert exotics — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:08:47 GMT

Dont feel guilty you gave him a chance , I would have made the same decision that you did at thet point because he was dangerous , just think if he was rehomed to some scroates they may have taken it upon themselfes to end his life without taking him to the vets for eutanasia they could have done terrible things to him so you trued your best and gave him a dignified end , you should be proud not guilty xx

Re: still feel terrible

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:30:58 GMT

I've been there, but with a cat, a huge beautiful tabby named Hagar. I tried to give him a second chance but after 3 stitch ups on my own wee cat after he mauled her, and several trips to A and E for myself, on one occaision he very calmly sat beside me on the sofa purring and settled, i made a move to change the channel on the TV and he bit me, managing to bite through my thumb nail.

He was my nan's cat and she wanted him euthanased when she passed away knowing all too well how unpredictable and volatile his behaviour could be. I had Hagar for less than 3 months and had to make the painful decision to let him go. I was with him through the whole process and cuddled him as he left, but it still hurts.

Its never easy making the call to euthanase, even with all the knowledge in the world, even when its the kindest thing, it is still making the decision to end a life.

Re: still feel terrible

Sal the 1st — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:29:15 GMT

Yes you arent alone - mine was a horse that I bought at a sale. This was in the mid 80's and I still think about it. I later found this horse had 'history' (7 owners in 5 yrs), ex racer absolutely stunning to look at but bloody lethal to ride (I used to be quite an experienced rider and was using him for ptp). I was convinced I could make a difference to this horse and calm his temper a bit, even tho some days I have to admit i was scared to go in the loose box with him - a # hip and skull a couple of broken ribs and some really hard bites later and my dad said get rid before it kills you. I couldnt bear to have him shot and eventually found somebody who promised that they wouldnt ride him but had a huge field with other horses that he could run with. I now know this was very wrong. Basically the new owner lent him to a friend for hacking ( inspite of all the warnings) and this lady was just like me - she was convinced she could manage him. The long and the short of it is he took off while they were out, jumped a hedge and landed on the bonnet of a car travelling along the Barton Street. The rider sustained some broken bones, the driver of the car was also injured and the car written off, Riley probably came out of it better than anyone else but new owner said enough was enough and had him shot which is what I should have done in the first place. I felt really bad about it this - was still a relatively young horse (he was only either 9 or 10yrs old) but I feel worse that my mistake caused two other people to be injured, I am in no doubts that had he lived longer he would have killed somebody.

The hurt does get better with time. And sometimes it helps a lot to get your thoughts out in the open rather than keeping them back