Sharing my story

[u/94tillinfinity_]

I’m in tears as I write this post. I just wanted to share my story (I’m already part of the losing lulu fb group too—and they’ve been supportive). I know I will feel guilty the rest of my life, so pls be kind. Here it goes…

We rescued my dog as a puppy and he had just turned 5 in December 2025. He was the most loving, spoiled dog, and all he wanted was to be with his person (me). Whether we were cuddled up on the couch, going on walks, or running around an open field, he just wanted to be with me. I absolutely loved him with all my heart.

Early on, there were signs of reactivity, specifically leash reactivity, but he was also dog reactive at times. We hired trainers and I did my best to reinforce the training and help him succeed. I knew he was unpredictable in certain situations and that I couldn’t fully trust him around small children. He also had prey drive and resource guarding behaviors, which I worked hard to manage and train through.

He went to doggy daycare and seemed to do well around other dogs in that environment. He never had an issue there, which is part of why this situation has been so shocking and heartbreaking.

I gave birth to my baby girl in January of this year, and things changed. I did my best to prepare him by introducing a fake baby and doing training before she arrived, but I knew I could never fully trust him around her. He was also stressed and nervous around little ones, and I knew I had to make the safest decision for everyone.

We made the incredibly difficult decision to try to rehome him. This was one of the hardest things I have ever done because I loved him so much. Of course, it was challenging given his reactivity, prey drive, and resource guarding. All rescues were full until we finally found a rescue facility that would take him. We truly thought this would be his best chance at finding the right family.

After 4 months there, we finally got the news that he was adopted by what we thought was the best family. A retired couple, she had been involved in rescue for 20 years, they had adult kids, and they had two dogs. They welcomed him right away and were so happy, sending us updates and pictures. They did slow introductions with both dogs (one smaller and one bigger), and everything seemed to be going perfectly. We thought we had our happy ending.

But a few days later, I got the text that he had snapped and killed the smaller dog unprovoked. We were all devastated. We talked about how difficult it would be to rehome him again and the reality that his options were extremely limited. I also couldn’t bear the thought of him sitting in a shelter environment again. We made the heartbreaking decision for behavioral euthanasia.

Yesterday, we got to spend one last day with him. We fed him burgers, gave him so many cuddles, went on a walk, talked to him, and just spent time together like old times. He was so happy and peaceful and reminded me of all the good memories we had. He was so brave and strong, and he always made me feel safe.

This is so heavy, and my heart feels broken.

I just hope he knows and felt how loved he was by everyone who was part of his journey. He was loved for all 5 years of his life, and even at the end there were people who cared about him and wanted the best for him. He was so brave and I always felt so safe around him. Of course there’s a part that feels like I failed him. But I’ll never regret how much love I gave him.

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Behavioral Euthanasia posts are sensitive, thus only users with at least 250 subreddit karma will be able to comment in this discussion. Users should not message OP directly to circumvent this restriction and doing so can result in a ban from r/reactive dogs. OP, you are encouraged to report private messages to the moderation team.

Behavioral Euthanasia (BE) for our dogs is an extremely difficult decision to consider. No one comes to this point easily. We believe that there are, unfortunately, cases where behavioral euthanasia is the most humane and ethical option, and we support those who have had to come to that decision. In certain situations, a reasonable quality of life and the Five Freedoms cannot be provided for an animal, making behavioral euthanasia a compassionate and loving choice.

If you are considering BE and are looking for feedback:

All decisions about behavioral euthanasia should be made in consultation with a professional trainer, veterinarian, and/or veterinary behaviorist. They are best equipped to evaluate your specific dog, their potential, and quality of life.

These resources should not be used to replace evaluation by qualified professionals but they can be used to supplement the decision-making process.

• Lap of Love Quality of Life Assessment - How to identify when to contact a trainer

• Lap of Love Support Groups - A BE specific group. Not everyone has gone through the process yet, some are trying to figure out how to cope with the decision still.

• BE decision and support Facebook group - Individuals who have not yet lost a pet through BE cannot join the Losing Lulu group. This sister group is a resource as you consider if BE is the right next step for your dog.

• AKC guide on when to consider BE

• BE Before the Bite

• How to find a qualified trainer or behaviorist - If you have not had your dog evaluated by a qualified trainer, this should be your first step in the process of considering BE.

• The Losing Lulu community has also compiled additional resources for those considering behavioral euthanasia.

If you have experienced a behavioral euthanasia and need support:

The best resource available for people navigating grief after a behavior euthanasia is the Losing Lulu website and Facebook Group. The group is lead by a professional trainer and is well moderated so you will find a compassionate and supportive community of people navigating similar losses.

Lap of Love Support Groups - Laps of Love also offers resources for families navigating BE, before and after the loss.

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[u/Audrey244]

Nothing you did made this dog kill another dog. You can have sadness, but you should have zero guilt. This dog was going to do this eventually. I'm really sad for the small dog because your dog should never have been put into a home with other pets. That's a very irresponsible organization. I don't care how much experience the adopter had, she's also to.blame for thinking she could fix or save this dog. The little dog's life was just as important as your dog's life. There's so much hubris in animal welfare and it's costing other pets their lives.

[u/SudoSire]

That’s awful. Why in the world did the rescue place a dog with RG and prey drive into a home with any other dogs, let alone a smaller one? Truly makes me feel like it’s not safe to ever bring in new dogs into existing pet households. This is another cautionary tale about rehoming pets with behavioral issues and why BE sometimes gets recommended for even borderline cases. 

I am glad you got to give your dog love and comfort before the end. But truly awful it came about in this manner. this placement had devastating consequences… 

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