Blind Dog Was On A 72-Hour Euthanasia Deadline, What Happens Next Saves His Life
As dogs age, they need their owners’ support more than ever. Unfortunately, many senior dogs like Gandalf, a 14-year-old blind Siberian Husky with multiple health issues, find themselves abandoned when they need help the most. Left at a high-kill shelter in California, Gandalf faced a bleak future until a rescue group intervened, determined to give him a second chance at life.
Rocky Kanaka, a Pet Rescue Advocate said, “These guys [dogs] are family, they’re not a piece of furniture.” But Gandalf was discarded at the Downey Animal Care Center by his owners. On top of being a senior, Gandalf is blind, overweight, has a lump on his arm, and pain in his nerves and joints.
Saved On The Brink Of Euthanasia
Senior dogs like Gandalf (listed as “Xander” at the shelter) don’t get much of a chance at a noisy and overcrowded shelter like Downey. Consequently, he was put on the immediate euthanasia list and given a 72-hour deadline.
FurryTail Endings, a rescue based in Southern California, couldn’t accept that a dog with so much spirit was going to lose his life just because his owner didn’t want him anymore. They posted Gandalf’s story on social media on July 2022, pleading for someone to come forward for urgent adoption or fostering.
Due to the rescue’s efforts, they found a foster to take Gandalf, and they shared this news the next day. However, they still needed funds to rescue the Husky and provide him with proper medical care. So, they appealed to their followers to help them raise the required amount in order to help this innocent animal.
As luck would have it, many Instagrammers came forward to donate and save Gandalf. Due to this, the rescue was able to obtain the necessary amount to take Gandalf out of the shelter on the same day and even book a veterinary appointment for him at a VCA Animal Hospital. (watch the video below)
From Painful History To Hope For A Loving Future
After rescuing Gandalf, the rescue observed that the dog showed signs of abuse. He would become uncomfortable if anyone touched his butt. Also he seemed to have a fear of women. This suggests that he was probably physically abused by a woman in his previous home.
However, even after going through so many hardships, Gandalf remains a sweet dog. The rescue also found that he seemed to be only partially blind since he was able to see his bowl, but he still had moments of falling or slipping.
Despite this, Gandalf has a zest for life as he has a good appetite and loves to go on walks. Thanks to FurryTail Endings and their continuous efforts, Gandalf was saved from unnecessary euthanasia. Additionally, he has a hope for a future where he will receive lots of love and care in his golden years.
Such cases of senior dogs where they have any kind of disability raise a pertinent question of ‘when I should put my dog down?’
When Should I Euthanize My Dog?
Deciding when should I put my senior dog down is probably one of the most difficult decisions in a pet parent’s life. When it comes to Gandalf’s case, he is a partially blind senior dog, and some may argue that perhaps euthanasia is a better option for him than living a hard life.
However, Dr. Matthew Belden, a veterinarian, states, “While sudden vision loss does happen because of trauma and disease, it is usually a slow process, allowing the dog to compensate with other senses.” Due to this, Dr. Belden believes that blindness alone is not a good enough reason to euthanize your dog.
In fact, many dog owners have weighed in on Reddit on the debate of when should i put my dog down. According to user @sgd926, “My dog was blind and deaf toward the “end” of his life, definitely by 15, but wasn’t in any pain, and he lived to be 21. We did have to put him down, but only when he stopped eating and wouldn’t get up. I feel like the barometer for putting a dog down is whether or not they’re in pain and/or whether they’re still eating.”
My Dog Has Cancer When Should I Put Her Down?
If your dog is diagnosed with cancer and you’re wondering whether or not you should put them down in order to ease their suffering, Dr. Elizabeth Benson, a veterinarian, provides a possible solution. She says, “It may be time to euthanize your dog with cancer if there’s unmanageable physical pain, unremovable tumor, and continuous decline of your pet’s quality of life. These may come with lethargy, incontinence, refusal to eat, or difficulty breathing.”
But cancer is not the only disease that can dampen your dog’s quality of life. There are a myriad of other diseases and conditions that may make you question if you are doing your dog a disservice by making them suffer through it.
How do I know when I should euthanize my dog?
If you need a definitive answer to the question, “How do I know when I should euthanize my dog,” a veterinarian from New Zealand, Dr. Melanie might have a solution for you. According to her, “When making the decision if it is time to say goodbye to a loved pet, I suggest making a list of 5 things [your dog] loves to do. If he is no longer able to do at least 3 of them, his quality of life has declined to a point where it may be time to say goodbye. It is never an easy decision to euthanize an animal, but it is in the best interest of that animal to do it when their quality of life declines significantly.”
So, whether your old dog has cancer, lymphoma, kidney disease, arthritis, seizures, or is diabetic, Dr. Melanie’s advice provides a good plan to assess your dog and understand how to know when I should put my dog down, regardless of their ailment.
When Should I Put My Dog Down For Biting?
It’s possible that some pet owners may be considering euthanasia for their beloved pet due to behavioral issues, for instance, biting another pet or a human. “Putting a dog down for behavior should not be a “snap” decision. In most dog aggression cases, there is quite a lot that can be done prior to even considering behavioral euthanasia for the dog,” says Cathy Madson, a certified dog trainer.
Madson asserts that professional guidance using techniques like counterconditioning and differential reinforcement can help modify your dog’s behavior and teach alternative responses.
Pet Rescue Advocate Rocky Kanaka’s opinion on the matter is that “in most cases, a dog showing aggressive behavior isn’t a dangerous dog, but rather fearful and anxious or lacking proper enrichment.”
