RIP Jolene :(

[JoZ]

I had my farm dog put to sleep last night.

I fell in love with her in January of 2006 when I saw her picture on PetFinder. She was billed as a Border Collie/Red Heeler cross, but when my friend and I drove all the way to Yakima (2+ hours) to see her, it was fairly obvious she was a Pit cross. I didn't care at that point.

I'll skip all the details of the heartache I have gone through and just say that Jolene proved too dangerous to keep or rehome. She turned on (and in fact KILLED) dogs that were her friends -- no overt aggression when meeting other animals or hanging out with them, but then something would "snap".

She couldn't be at the barn (cats), inside the house (cats) or in the kennels (dogs). That is no life for a farm dog. I explored some alternatives but since her behavior was not typical aggression, I never would have been comfortable rehoming her for fear of what might happen.

She was stuffed full of peanut butter treats and smothered with hugs, and then I let her go. I hope that wherever she is now, she is at peace.

She was my first-ever dog, and I miss her... :cry:

[Oakstable]

You made the right decision. Very brave of you to do that.

[jen-s]

What a hard decision to make but the kindest one for all involved. Bless you for loving her and trying everything that you could. [[[[[[((((HUGS))))]]]]]]

[Laurierace]

I am sure she is eternally grateful for the kindness you showed her while she was with you as well as your bravery to make the hard yet absolutely correct decision to free her from herself. I hope she sends you the perfect dog to be her replacement to do her job the way she wishes she had been able to do it.

[dmalbone]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. RIP. :( Absolutely SHAME ON the rescue, shelter, person, etc. who didn't have the balls to do it and to risk other lives. You are a much better person than they are.

[MrWinston]

That was a very tough decision, although the right one. If she had sudden aggressive behaviors that were that violent, she was a serious danger. Very sorry for your loss. :-(

[JoZ]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. RIP. :( Absolutely SHAME ON the rescue, shelter, person, etc. who didn't have the balls to do it and to risk other lives. You are a much better person than they are.

Oh she was a wee pup when I got her. Granted she had been found in a dumpster, and granted they probably knew there was Pit in her and decided she had a better chance of getting a home if they didn't disclose that... but I don't think there was any deception about behavior or even attitude. It had to have been something faulty in her wiring.

[monstrpony]

So sorry; it was what you had to do. :(

[dmalbone]

Oh ok. :( I was thinking she was adopted as an adult. I'm sorry again.

[harveyhorses]

I'm sorry you had to go through that, but sometimes there is just faulty wireing. I am glad you made the right decision.
Hugs.

[BasqueMom]

So sorry for your loss! Sometimes the wiring is just not right--I've got a foster cat like
that. Not mean but after 3 years, still can't walk up to him and pet him. Sigh!

[ASB Stars]

Bless you for your loving heart- I am so sorry to hear of your loss. She knows you went the extra mile for her...and so do we....:cry:

[li'l bit]

I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Jolene.

[MunchkinsMom]

May I offer my deepest sympathies to you. Such a difficult decision, but the right one.

[MistyBlue]

My condolences...it's always heart breaking to have to destroy a physically healthy animal. I agree that you did the right thing, and it's the right thing for her also. That type of aggression isn't normally from a happy content dog. :no:
Few shelters will admit to pups/dogs being pit crosses. :no: It does expand their pool of adopters and many do turn out to be fine. But even with pups there's no way to know what type of breeding the pups have and they could easily have had very aggressive parents. That does carry to the pups in some cases and despite all the correct handling, training and socializing you can't stop what's bred into some of them. I'm sure you did all you could, and kudos to you for doing what was right in the end.
And my sympathy for your loss. :cry:

[Marshfield]

Bless you for doing the right thing for your girl. I'm sure it was a horrid decision to have to make. We say good bye to our friends because their bodies have failed them but it's also valid for those who are mentally unwell as she was.

[dawglover]

((Hugs)) Bless you for giving her a good life while you could.

I too went through the almost exact scenario, adopting, sight unseen a "Catahoula" from a high kill shelter in GA. They shipped me a Pit cross.

She was sweet most of the time, adored people, but could kill a cat in a split second. She was great with my dogs for about 6 months, but then one day got into a fight with one of the Jack Russells. I was close by so was able to break it up almost immediately, with only minor injury to the terrier. I gave her the benefit of the doubt that time, knowing that JRT's can be evil themselves.
Then not long after that she tried to kill my elderly beagle for no reason whatsoever. I made the call to the vet. It broke my heart but I hugged her and held her as she passed into the next world.

[JSwan]

I'm very sorry for your loss.. but from the description it sounds like you made the right decision.

My condolences.

[starrysky]

That is such a hard decision to make, but kudos to you for making it. It sounds like the right decision. *hugs*!