A Disastrous Adoption

What follows below is a correspondence between myself and a friend of mine who has given many years to finding homes for dogs.  I have lightly edited the original communications in order to omit  any mention  of  breeds or specific rescue groups.  I abhor bias against either.  I post this account of experience partly to balance my usual rhapsodic effusions about canines, but also to show the kindness that supported my dilemma and actions in this disastrous adoption.  It haunts me still.

From: Michael Casey

To: Head of the Rescue Group

Subject: As Bad As It Gets
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My Friend,

    I write to let you know how my situation has changed in regard to adoption/fostering.  The adoption from the out-of-state rescue group turned out as badly as any adoption could.  The dog was aggressive toward other dogs, wary and growling toward visitors in the house--even family members--and difficult to handle on walks. (Even my vet said later that she was worried if they could continue to treat him because he was so strong it took multiple people to manage him).  Nonetheless, I worked with him over 6-7 weeks, and I thought he was making some improvement.

   A week ago on a Saturday I was in the backyard with him.  He was not on a lead.  A woman was outside our fence with her greyhound.  From a sitting position, my rescue dog jumped our four foot section of the fence, attacked the greyhound, and inflicted a serious bite that required over $1000 of treatment which, of course, I paid for.  (The greyhound has since recovered well.)

   I called the rescue group, explained the incident and the overall situation and requested to return him.  The director said I could do that but that they would put him down--or I could.  We talked the issue through and I finally concurred with her that risks of further unprovoked attacks--even possibly next time on a child--were too great to take.  They arranged for euthanasia at a vet they have a relationship with in my area. I delivered him there and the rescue group paid the cost.

   I feel terrible about this.  I have never in my life euthanized a dog that was not dying.  In retrospect I don't know if I made an understandable decision or an awful one.  

   If you have any observations or counsel, I would be interested in hearing your view.  For the immediate future, I am stepping back from adoption and/or fostering.

   I appreciate your taking the time to read this overly long email.

 

                                                                                            All the best,

                                                                                            Mike Casey

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Michael,

For starters, I want to say how very sorry I am to hear of your experience. I want you to know that you made the right decision in choosing to have this dog euthanized, however, I don't feel it was your responsibility.

As I mentioned before, the out-of-state group  is not part of our Foundation and I do not know what their criteria is for placing dogs, how long they keep them in rescue before placing them up for adoption, what they do to test them for behavior.

I keep dogs in rescue a minimum of 4 weeks before they can be released to a new home. Generally, a dog's personality can be fully assessed in this period of time. We introduce them to a variety of situations from meetings with other dogs, cats, public settings, and children. Generally, if a dog is aggressive towards other animals, this is seen rather immediately and will escalate in a short period of time. Sometimes reactions towards strangers can be delayed because the dog is acclimating to a new environment and has not settled in and is not in a comfort zone to establish a pack. Once the dog gains its confidence, the people aggression will show its ugly head.

The behaviors you observed should have been caught prior to your adoption and this dog should not have been put up for adoption. This dog was highly dangerous. You are only lucky that the attack inflicted was on another animal and not a small child or adult. You could have lost everything you own over this. I think that if you reported these behaviors to the group over this 6-7 week period, they should have taken this dog back. I would have demanded you return the dog to me. If the only report you made was after the attack on the greyhound, and you asked for its return, they should have accepted the return and euthanized the dog themselves. I feel bad for you that you had to become attached and then have to make that decision.

It was not a wrong decision. It was the best possible decision for this dog and the community.

Please do not let this experience ruin you from adopting. As you know from previous experiences, not everything turns out like this and is horrific. However, experiences like this can give rescue a bad name. I am really, really sorry this happened to you.

Please let me know if you need anything or want to talk further. Please feel free to email as well.

When things settle down and if you decide to pursue adoption again, please contact me. I have every confidence you will not have a bad experience and find a forever friend.