Buzzword for euthanasia: aggressive
I remember a young family coming in the shelter several years ago and asking to look at dogs. There were two young girls with a father and the father wanted to find a pet for the girls. He began before we ever made it back to the kennels in stressing he didn't want an aggressive dog. Every 2 or 3 minutes he reiterated that fact. "I want a family dog, no aggression." "Make sure you only show us dogs which are not aggressive."
Finally, as we reached the final row of animals, I turned to him and ask him exactly what he meant. We didn't adopt out aggressive dogs and knew enough about the animals to send home a dog who would be good with the children. "Oh, you know. "I don't want a dog who jumps," he said. I politely explained that jumping was a normal dog behavior but we would continue on and see if we could find the perfect pet. We didn't that day, but he returned several weeks later, found a dog which fit his family and left happy.
When people want to explain the reasons for euthanizing a dog, aggression is the most common reason the animal is killed. Aggression is a highly acceptable reason, when it is true. The problem is, many dogs are labeled aggressive and unadoptable, when the truth is just the opposite. This is the reason many shelters are now employing behavior specialists to work with the animals and not depending on the uneducated to make these life and death decisions.
Unfortunately, many animals still slip through the cracks. Given the time and instruction with a behavior specialist, following protocol and standards set by them, many of these animals could be saved.
The sad part of this is, the easier route is simply to label the animal aggressive, euthanize it, and move on. I had hoped we had moved beyond that.
Finally, as we reached the final row of animals, I turned to him and ask him exactly what he meant. We didn't adopt out aggressive dogs and knew enough about the animals to send home a dog who would be good with the children. "Oh, you know. "I don't want a dog who jumps," he said. I politely explained that jumping was a normal dog behavior but we would continue on and see if we could find the perfect pet. We didn't that day, but he returned several weeks later, found a dog which fit his family and left happy.
When people want to explain the reasons for euthanizing a dog, aggression is the most common reason the animal is killed. Aggression is a highly acceptable reason, when it is true. The problem is, many dogs are labeled aggressive and unadoptable, when the truth is just the opposite. This is the reason many shelters are now employing behavior specialists to work with the animals and not depending on the uneducated to make these life and death decisions.
Unfortunately, many animals still slip through the cracks. Given the time and instruction with a behavior specialist, following protocol and standards set by them, many of these animals could be saved.
The sad part of this is, the easier route is simply to label the animal aggressive, euthanize it, and move on. I had hoped we had moved beyond that.
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