Photo via SKY-TOM/Pixabay
June 15, 2021, 12:57 pm
Journalist Madeline Bilis recently published a personal essay about her experience with an anxious and reactive dog after she made the decision to put her down in what is referred to as “behavioral euthanasia”—the practice of euthanizing otherwise healthy animals with behavioral problems.
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In Bilis’ case, the “pandemic dog” she adopted during the long months of social distancing, something many bored and isolated people did in the U.S., had a biting problem, attacking her and others frequently and often without warning.
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After months of working with a trainer, Bilis’ dog only appeared to become worse, and she wrote about how hard it was for her to come to the decision to euthanize the six-year-old beagle and the guilt she felt afterward. The article set off a widespread debate on Twitter where many dog lovers criticized Bilis for her decision, accusing her of giving up too soon or not making the necessary life adjustments to deal with little Bonnie.
Others have offered stories of their own reactive dogs and how they worked for years to train them out of bad behaviors, or how seemingly aggressive dogs have become happy and peaceful after finding new owners.
Though no one but Bilis may ever know exactly how bad the situation with Bonnie was or if the dog could have been rehabilitated, she stressed that no shelters or services would take her after she had built up a history of biting people. Euthanizing physically healthy dogs that bite is not at all an uncommon thing, but has become increasingly taboo in the U.S. where many have pledged never to engage in behavioral euthanasia.
Reactions to Bilis’ story may have also been intensified by the news of shelters being overloaded with returned pandemic pups and other animals who were brought back after being adopted in 2020 because the new owners were not ready for the responsibility. Though animal welfare groups have stressed that most of the people who adopted during the pandemic have kept their pets, there are always those who don’t do the necessary research before adopting.
It’s also unfortunately true that no one can ever know the full history of a shelter animal for sure, and most adopters are not prepared to handle a dog with special needs.
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Still, some dog lovers have accused Bilis and others like her of putting their own convenience ahead of an animal’s life, including those who have been in similar situations, and the tweet announcing her article has been, as they say, ratio’d.
When someone dumped off this 8 year old beagle in 2017 they said she was mean, bit people, hated everyone and couldn’t be near kids.
Turns out, it was just the owner.
My sweet girl is now 12 years old and my toddlers best friend.
Never get a dog again you monster. https://t.co/NoJQuArQXa pic.twitter.com/dd8YUQuHKR
—
Erica, The White Trash Socialist
(@herosnvrdie69) June 14, 2021
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Others, however, were sympathetic to Bilis’ plight and offered her words of comfort.
*First Published: June 15, 2021, 12:57 pm
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