I returned my dog to rescue org and they put her down

[Anonymous]

Name the rescue group so we know to stay away.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised by this, especially because we adopted a dog last summer as a "forever foster" who we just recently made the decision to euthanize and he was definitely on his last legs. He was 15 years old, suffering from severe arthritis, seizures, dementia -- you name it. We finally felt like he was suffering too much. So some rescues I think will do anything to find a home for an animal. Probably too much in fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened. Please don't feel guilty - you were acting in what you thought were your dog's best interests, in what sounds like a very hard situation.

Just know that there are frequently no clear bright lines when it comes to euthanasia decisions. I am surprised to hear that a rescue group would euthanize a dog in this situation, but their vet may have believed that this was the best option. You and your vet might have come to a different decision. There's no saying which was right.

To me it sounds like your dog could, at the least, have been placed in a "focpice" home, even if her prospects weren't great. Perhaps the rescue group wasn't able to find such a home, though, and without one felt there wasn't any other choice than euthanasia.

I think they should have reached out to you to let you know what was happening. To see if you wanted to take your dog back for however long she had left. I'm sure it wasn't out of bad faith they didn't; they may have thought you couldn't take the dog back, or couldn't help find another home, or whatever reason. I would attribute this to something other than malice, most likely.

I'm sure your heart is hurting, and I am sorry.

OP here, Thank you to everyone trying to be understanding. Yes, I 100% thought I was doing the right thing for her, and wanted a better life for her. She had two professional walks a day, in addition to one with me in the morning, at dinner, and before bed. I took really good care of her, but I didn't believe it was enough. In the end, I only wanted a better life for her, with an owner who wasn't ill, and didn't have any other option of rehoming with a family member or trusted friend.

Your perspectives help, thank you.

I am struggling to understand this. Your dog had five walks a day, if I’m reading correctly, and you thought it wasn’t enough? I’m supportive of you getting another dog, if you feel it’s the right choice for you, but I’m not sure what kind of life you thought would be better for your dog than one with five walks a day and a home she had known for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened. Please don't feel guilty - you were acting in what you thought were your dog's best interests, in what sounds like a very hard situation.

Just know that there are frequently no clear bright lines when it comes to euthanasia decisions. I am surprised to hear that a rescue group would euthanize a dog in this situation, but their vet may have believed that this was the best option. You and your vet might have come to a different decision. There's no saying which was right.

To me it sounds like your dog could, at the least, have been placed in a "focpice" home, even if her prospects weren't great. Perhaps the rescue group wasn't able to find such a home, though, and without one felt there wasn't any other choice than euthanasia.

I think they should have reached out to you to let you know what was happening. To see if you wanted to take your dog back for however long she had left. I'm sure it wasn't out of bad faith they didn't; they may have thought you couldn't take the dog back, or couldn't help find another home, or whatever reason. I would attribute this to something other than malice, most likely.

I'm sure your heart is hurting, and I am sorry.

OP here, Thank you to everyone trying to be understanding. Yes, I 100% thought I was doing the right thing for her, and wanted a better life for her. She had two professional walks a day, in addition to one with me in the morning, at dinner, and before bed. I took really good care of her, but I didn't believe it was enough. In the end, I only wanted a better life for her, with an owner who wasn't ill, and didn't have any other option of rehoming with a family member or trusted friend.

Your perspectives help, thank you.

I am struggling to understand this. Your dog had five walks a day, if I’m reading correctly, and you thought it wasn’t enough? I’m supportive of you getting another dog, if you feel it’s the right choice for you, but I’m not sure what kind of life you thought would be better for your dog than one with five walks a day and a home she had known for years.

np I don't think you should adopt another dog, especially since you gave up your dog for medical reasons. Maybe a cat would be better. On the whole issue I agree with the others. Once you gave up your dogs than you gave up your rights. It sounds like the dog really was sick and they thought they it was the best for him. I don't know why you expected them to contact you when you were no longer the owner.

While I wish every dog and cat was adopted into a loving home, this is not possible. If more people would spay or neuter than we would have less animals. Sometimes putting down an animal is more humane than having them live forever in a shelter or being mistreated.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m sorry but I agree. Your dog is a member a family and probably would have been happier with you.

You don’t send a family member away.

Since you don’t understand that, you aren’t really fit to adopt.

[Anonymous]

I am truly confused as to what OP did and why? This is like parents being ill which happens and then giving their kids to the system to be raised by foster parents, because they can't afford to take them to all after school activities and buy them a car, but are otherwise providing meals and a house and love, and that is not enough?
One of my neighbors has two small dogs, in 3 years I have never seen them walk the dogs at all. My other neighbors walk their small dogs. Yet, they are still million times better with owners who don't walk them than in a dog orphanage them.
What did you think will happen OP? I am sorry, but you are either stupid or selfish person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry but I agree. Your dog is a member a family and probably would have been happier with you.

You don’t send a family member away.

Since you don’t understand that, you aren’t really fit to adopt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think that you should have tried (very very hard) to personally re home her. If that wasn't possible I would have kept her even if it meant compromising my health. I would have kept her until I personally found a suitable home.

Me too. I get that not everyone feels the same but after five years? There’s not a chance I won’t do everything I can to keep my dog, even if it’s at the expense of my own comfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened. Please don't feel guilty - you were acting in what you thought were your dog's best interests, in what sounds like a very hard situation.

Just know that there are frequently no clear bright lines when it comes to euthanasia decisions. I am surprised to hear that a rescue group would euthanize a dog in this situation, but their vet may have believed that this was the best option. You and your vet might have come to a different decision. There's no saying which was right.

To me it sounds like your dog could, at the least, have been placed in a "focpice" home, even if her prospects weren't great. Perhaps the rescue group wasn't able to find such a home, though, and without one felt there wasn't any other choice than euthanasia.

I think they should have reached out to you to let you know what was happening. To see if you wanted to take your dog back for however long she had left. I'm sure it wasn't out of bad faith they didn't; they may have thought you couldn't take the dog back, or couldn't help find another home, or whatever reason. I would attribute this to something other than malice, most likely.

I'm sure your heart is hurting, and I am sorry.

OP here, Thank you to everyone trying to be understanding. Yes, I 100% thought I was doing the right thing for her, and wanted a better life for her. She had two professional walks a day, in addition to one with me in the morning, at dinner, and before bed. I took really good care of her, but I didn't believe it was enough. In the end, I only wanted a better life for her, with an owner who wasn't ill, and didn't have any other option of rehoming with a family member or trusted friend.

Your perspectives help, thank you.

I am struggling to understand this. Your dog had five walks a day, if I’m reading correctly, and you thought it wasn’t enough? I’m supportive of you getting another dog, if you feel it’s the right choice for you, but I’m not sure what kind of life you thought would be better for your dog than one with five walks a day and a home she had known for years.

+1 What in the world? Sounds like the dog had a pretty good life before she went back to the rescue group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry but I agree. Your dog is a member a family and probably would have been happier with you.

You don’t send a family member away.

Since you don’t understand that, you aren’t really fit to adopt.

This. +1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're required by contract to return the rescue dog to the organization if re-homing is necessary.

Oh, yeah, they all say that when you adopt, but really - that's in a hope that you won't just toss the dog (or other pet) on the street and move on. You really can find a new, wonderful, home for your dog/pet and nobody from the rescue will come and put you in jail. (also, they won't know you rehomed the dog/cat/guinea pig/rabbit/horse/other pet)

I'm sad for you, OP, but for others - learn from this OP and just find a great home for your pet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m sorry but I agree. Your dog is a member a family and probably would have been happier with you.

You don’t send a family member away.

Since you don’t understand that, you aren’t really fit to adopt.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

This thread gave me nightmares

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know that Animal Rescue organizations actually put animals down.
I just assumed they were all “no-kill.”

Anyway OP, you did the right thing by returning the dog.
When adopting from a rescue, you likely signed paperwork that obligated you to return the animal back if you could no longer care for him/her.

Was there ANY way that you could have kept the dog??
Did you know it was sick prior to returning him/her?

It’s all water under the bridge now, but I am hoping these questions will help another pet owner in the future.

So sorry for the loss of your beloved pet.
You had no idea what would happen so don’t feel an ounce of responsibility for what occurred.

Sounds like a really unfortunate situation.
(((((( Hugs ))))))

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i think that you should have tried (very very hard) to personally re home her. If that wasn't possible I would have kept her even if it meant compromising my health. I would have kept her until I personally found a suitable home.

Me too. I get that not everyone feels the same but after five years? There’s not a chance I won’t do everything I can to keep my dog, even if it’s at the expense of my own comfort.

PP, I hope you've been in OP's shoes, because until you have, you don't actually know what kind of decision you'd make, and it's neither fair nor kind to judge someone else's choice. It's very easy to truly believe that you would never, under any circumstances, consider re-homing your pet. Then there's reality, which can be cruel and unforgiving. Deciding that the best thing for a dog you've adopted is to be returned to a rescue is an incredibly difficult decision, which it sounds like OP did not make lightly. Judging someone for doing what they thought was in the best interests of an animal when you do not truly know or understand the circumstances is just mean. I hope if you are ever faced with having to make such a difficult decision you won't be met by criticism and contempt from strangers.