How could anyone kill a four year old doodle?

[Richard Crowe]

We are fostering Sophie who is a beautiful, well-trained and loving labradoodle who will not turn four years old until near the end of July.  Sophie developed bladder stones and her owners dropped her off at a vet and told him to put her down because they dis not want to pay for her surgery.  Doodle rescue Consortium, Inc. paid for the surgery and we are fostering this darling girl until she is well enough to go to her "furever" home.

Sophie is a darling girl in all respects.  She was starved for affection when we picked her up and there were a few times when she snarled at Holly because she thought that Holly was recieving affection that she wanted.  However, the tiff was not serious and Holly and Sophie are doing great together and now that Sophie has just about recovered from her surgery, the two doodles play great together in our yard.

[Phyllis & Duffy]

Our Duffy got very sick in January. Putting him down was never an option for us plus we had no idea how sick he was.  The vet said it was treatable so we gave them permission to do everything they could to save him.  They did and we spent thousands.  He was in ICU and had blood transfusions, feeding tubes, the whole works.  Had we known from day 1 how much it would have been, I don't know which direction we would have gone.  He turned 4 yesterday and we are so lucky to still have him.  If he relapses, would we do it again, I just don't know. I just pray that it NEVER happens again.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

How sad that people think pets are disposable. There are options out there if they put the effort in!

Thanks for helping Sophie-she's precious.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Our beloved Zach, a doodle of sorts (not sure about the sorts just the poodle part) he was a rescue...lived to be a ripe old age of 14-1/2, he had bladder stones at the age of 4 when we had little money or resources, still we loved him so much we made it happen. I can't imagine missing those 10 years over an $800 operation, that is just unthinkable.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I agree Amanda, I think a lot of people just don't know of the options and "putting it to sleep" has been the only solution they have ever heard of. Maybe they were thinking that was kinder than making her go thru treatments, who knows..(Yes ignorant I know, but there is a LOT of ignorance out there with even children, let alone dogs)  Or thinking they would not be able to care for a sick or recovering dog as they work all the time, or have children who are sick or handicapped and can't deal with one more thing. So for the sake of their own and their family's sanity they are desperate to unload yet one more problem that finally broke the camels back.

It is good to know that at least Vets will not put dogs down for convenience and are aware of the rescues available.

And Karen, I feel the same way you do about those people not having pets, but I still am amazed at the people who are parents and who don't give their children the care they deserve. I think you and I both believe in Angels and Unicorns and that in a perfect world there would be no bad or stupid people doing bad or stupid things. Alas, again one can only dream.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No vet worth his degree would put down a perfectly healthy dog for the owners' convenience. There have rescues around for a long long time, and most vets who have any kind of experience will call them when they encounter this kind of thing.

I started volunteering for a local German Shepherd rescue group back in 1998. We got many calls from vets who were asked to put healthy adoptable dogs to sleep for no good reason. My favorite was the middle-aged couple who brought in a gorgeous 8-year-old female, perfectly healthy, and asked the vet to put her to sleep because "she was mainly our daughter's dog, and now that our daughter has gone away to college, we would like to travel."

Of course, you know Tasha lived another 6 years with her adoptive family.

It's very hard for me not to judge someone who asks a vet to kill a dog for a minor curable ailment, regardless of their financial circumstances, and yes, I know what it's like to worry about money, too. It's especially hard when there are people right here on DK who have sacrificed greatly to make sure their doodles had the care they deserved. If someone isn't willing or able to do that, they shouldn't have a pet.

I wonder what kind of breeder Sophie came from, and if he or she was informed of this situation. How many decent breeders who care about their dogs would say "Fine, have her put to sleep" rather than taking her back or helping to find another option? I hope not many.

 

[Adina P]

Valma, I was thinking of sharing that story but couldn't remember where I'd heard it.  Glad you popped in.  I will never forget you sharing that in the past...SO disgusting of those dog owners!

[Val MacQueen and Jasper]

We took our late doodle Rusty to our Vet one day and he was so upset, just before we came in a man, and I use the word well!????, had come in and wanted his two beautiful Labs put down be cause he was going on holidays and didn't want to pay kennel fees. The vet wouldn't say what happened but as he has boarding kennels at the rear of the property I wondered. It depends on whether the "gentleman" stayed to see it done.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Amanda - I also understand how tight money can be. I have been there.  I can't say for sure if this particular family looked for a rescue or not but I can only assume they didn't or they would have found 2 easily just by googling 'doodle rescue'! There are poodle rescues that take doodles. There is no excuse for them asking the vet to put Sophie down because she needed surgery. IMHO - this family did nothing to make sure that she could live!

[Richard Crowe]

The problem with fostering Sophie is that I am falling in love with her more each day.  However, she will get a good home with loving parents (this time) and we will have room for another Doodle in need. 

[Lindsey]

OHHH what a precious dog!! I can't believe someone would ask that she be put to sleep!! THANK YOU for taking her in and loving on her!!!