My own dog killed my chick

[robinaggie]

I'm sorry to do this to y'all, but I need to vent.

My brother's "psycho-spaniel" is a very sickly dog, and I took her in nine years ago. She is now 11. The dog goes after anything that moves, and I knew she was after my chicks. I have the brooder on the back patio, on a table, pushed up against the wall. It has been like that for a month without incident. Well, this morning I put last night's hatched chicks in the brooder with the chicks born the day before, and as soon as I closed the back door I heard a crash. The dog had managed to knock the brooder to the ground, and she killed a chick.

I sent an email to her vet last Wednesday saying that I can no longer care for this dog, and that I was bringing her in for euthanasia before the end of the month, so it isn't as if I'm doing this out of anger. The dog has chronic medical problems and I have gone into debt trying to maintain her health. She's at a point where nothing works anymore, because she has been on meds for the past nine years and no longer responds to treatment.

I know I will feel badly about having her put down, so maybe I'm just using the chick incident as an excuse, but I just can't take it anymore.

 

[DuckLady]

We never k now what will push us over the limit.

It sounds to me that you have given your best to this dog. I would be feeling the same as you.

I am sorry about your chick.

 

[ibpboo]

You have done plenty good for that dog. 11 years is getting up there in age, be at peace with your decision.

 

[smpezzi]

I am so sorry that you are in this whole mess with the dog. As hard as it is to have to have a dog euthanized (we have had to have 2 of our golden's euthanized) if the dog is that ill and has that many problems it is the kindest thing you can do. Best of luck

 

[chickens4jojo]

I am so sorry about your little chick.

I don't think you are being"revengeful" at all. The dog is suffering medically and you have been so very kind to it by trying to help it out. It sounds like it may "its time to go" especially if nothing works for the dog & it is suffering??

Best wishes on the rest of your sweet chicks....

 

[robinaggie]

Thank you all for your kind words. I think the chick incident just moved the date forward. I've known for a long time that I need to put her down. I couldn't do it before because she was such a happy dog in spite of her illnesses. She isn't happy anymore, and I'm not either. I appreciate your support.

 

[sred98]

I think you are doing the right thing. We had to have a dog we really really loved, put down a few years back. This dog was amazing. He was a rescue, and I had to nurse him back to health, and he never forgot it. He would do anything you asked, and was just one of those "Dream dogs". I had him for 11 years, and I got him as a grown dog. The pound was putting him to sleep because he was a BBD (Big Black Dog), and older, to boot!

He started doing the standing in a corner, forgetting what he was doing thing. We were worrying about him, but the day he lunged at DH (whom he LOVED) and snapped at me(something he had never done), we knew we had to put him down. We had 4 small kids, and 2 were under 3yrs old. If he was having something like Alzheimer's, a 130 pound dog wouldn't take much to seriously hurt or kill a kid.

Those moments were few and far between, but we couldn't take a chance.

It broke our heart, and we've never had another dog come close, but we knew it would end badly if nothing was done. The next year they came out with the medicine for doggy dementia. Made our oldest really upset.

Once the dog knows they're there, they won't give up. The dog sounds like he's not a great dog, and is bent on killing all your chickens. He's old, and you've given him the best you could. Take him in and feel good knowing that.

Shelly

 

[robinaggie]

Thanks Shelly. And I want you to know that you did the right thing. You can't predict the behavior of a senile dog, and you can't take a chance with the kids.

We can console ourselves with the thought that we gave these dogs many happy years they wouldn't have had if not for us. I've been told lots of times that nobody in their right mind would put up with this crazy dog!

 

[chick4chicks]

I am so sorry about your chick. You have done so much for the dog and it is suffering so it is it's time to end it's journey here. Just know that you gave the dog the best life you could for 9 yrs. that is great. I just hope you can forgive the dog and let it all end on a better note. Sorry for all that has happened.

 

[LuannKeller]

Applaud the good you have done for her and that your are being merciful to the inevitable end.

I am sorry that your chick died in the accident. Those little fuzzies have our hearts from their first peep and we feel so awful when they die. Enjoy your other chickies and they can take a bit more of the budget without the extra vet bills.