Sad Louise

[Myrina]

Some of you know I am a foster mom for a beagle rescue.

Last week, I took in Louise, an 11+ year old. She’s apparently had a tough life – she’s got a frayed ear, some scars on her face, no teeth and is completely deaf. Her tongue sticks out the side of her mouth since she has no teeth to hold it in, and whenever she gets a chance she licks up dirt and/or poo she finds outside.

She’s also got a funny gait and will randomly poop while she’s walking around. And walk she does. Jogs, actually, in continual circles around the island between my kitchen and dining room. Sunday, I finally stopped her after 14 laps.

I have 3 other dogs in the house and she’s not shown any kind of interest in them at all, nor does she approach me to be petted.

Her choices are to spend the rest of her days in a crate, or running in circles looking for something that’s not there (she may not even know what it is she’s looking for, anymore).

The rescue director and I have talked it over and we both feel that euthanizing is the best thing for her. She’s obviously not adoptable - has some obvious mental scars from whatever happened during her previous years in combination with probable canine dementia.

Still, making this decision bothers me. I don’t like being G*d.

Send some light Louise's way, please?

[MiniMe]

1. I work in rescue too, and sometimes it is just kinder

I had one foster that I got when he was about 6 months old. I don't know what went on in the first 6 months of life, but he was absolutely terrified of men. It took him a few days with me (I am a woman), and he absolutely loved me, and loved my dog. I actually had to ignore him completely for a few days. But he definitely had problems. A pillow fell off the couch, and he just couldn't handle it. He barked at it and stayed out of the room until I put the pillow back on the couch. He wasn't adopted for a few months, and as he got older, he started growling at men. The rescue ended up putting him down, and I can't say I disagreed with it. He was a wonderful boy for me, and he loved me, but there were things he just couldn't deal with. The poor boy lived in fear, and that can be dangerous to other people as he got older. It had to be horrible to be scared so much of the time. I loved that boy, but it really was kinder. I tried to socialize him, but he just couldn't handle it. Sometimes it is just kinder to end their pain, and it can be mental pain not just physical pain.

[ginnyinWI]

8. my daughter has a cat who has been scared like that,

She and her husband found him as a stray at their door--a dirty, starving, flea-ridden Maine Coon mix. He cleaned up beautifully and they've had him several years now. But one thing: they cannot pick up a pillow or a dishtowel or anything like that without him cringing in fear. Poor baby was tormented by somebody in his former life. As long as they remember not to wave cloth around, he's fine.

Here's pretty Charlie in his summer coat (gets a lot thicker in winter):



And another glam shot:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. Sending hugs & light to you & Louise.

:hug:

[david13]

3. I think the mental pain and scars are worse. And when they are

etched so deep, it really is the more humane thing. It's better to end the torment. You are just doing your job.
dc

[japple]

4. Poor Louise. Sending light to her and to you. It's so hard to make

a decision like this, but it sounds like Louise has no quality of life. Her scars are too deep to be healed in this lifetime. She needs to be released from her suffering. You're doing a good thing. Blessings and peace to you as you help this poor, sad doggie.

[Myrina]

5. Update: I am PISSED.

After all the drama and trauma, the vet didn't put Louise down. One of the tech's took her home last evening, because she was 'cute'. Same tech called me this afternoon and said 'I can't keep her' (translation: she's really as senile as you said she was, but she's cute so we don't want to euthanize. Please come get her.)

I can't believe they went outside our wishes/orders and did some shit like that, and now *we* are the bad guy when we had agonized and discussed for 2 days before making the decision. Meanwhile, Louise - who is toothless, deaf, incontinent, senile and half blind - still doesn't know where the hell she is or what's going on. Poor girl.


:mad:

[mopinko]

6. oh, that vet needs a double barreled load of pissed off.

wtf?

[ginnyinWI]

7. I wouldn't blame you for a second.

This is a dog who just can't be rehabilitated. Best if she goes to her rest.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. That's always a tough call ...... but it sounds like it may well be the best option for the dog

You know you're not a god. But surely you're a saint for doing what you do.