RIP Duncan
Yesterday, Kourtnei and my brother decided to have Duncan put to sleep. Reason being is his aggressiveness got out of hand. It got to the point where he couldn't be around any dogs because he would attack them on sight. There also was at least one case where he bit a person too. They felt like they couldn't take Duncan outside anymore. Thus became his story.
He wasn't always that way. He was very friendly and hyperactive. Too hyper for my tastes, but nonetheless. He, Luke, and Brody got along way back in the day, until one day he started to go on the attack against Luke. They got involved in several fights. These attacks were terrifying to witness. Duncan would grab on and not let go like a crocodile, but usually Duncan would be the one getting hurt since he was smaller. Duncan being possessive over food and toys was just one part of the problem. Sometimes he would just snap. He could be sweet one day and totally aggressive the next. Night and day. Jekyll and Hyde. At that time, when Kourtnei and my brother were living here, he would only attack Luke. But in the past few years after they moved away, Duncan started turning on Brody and attacking him. The most recent attack is what prompted my brother and his wife to put him to sleep.
They tried training and medication. The medication did seem to help calm him. I don't know if he was still taking it recently, but if he still was then that failed too. The fact is maybe that's just the way Duncan was and he couldn't really be fixed. But my mom also couldn't help but wonder if maybe it was neglect. Before, way back, Duncan had been living at Kourtnei's mom's house until she moved out and he spent his life outdoors. Then after he came to our house and seemed to be fine until the fights started happening. Then after that he had to live a life in apartments with several other animals. He was a high energy dog, and probably didn't get the attention and exercise he needed.
Kourtnei and my brother spent the last day with Duncan by taking him to the beach and then they brought him over here to spend some time in our backyard. Keeping him away from Luke obviously. He was very happy-go-lucky. My brother and Kourtnei had invited my mom to come with them to the vet to say goodbye to Duncan, but she changed her mind at the last minute knowing she probably wouldn't be able to handle it. As they drove off in the car with Duncan, he gave kisses on my mom's face.
It seems weird that I should feel sad about Duncan passing considering how he had viciously attacked Luke over the years (and how Kourtnei would often blame Luke for the attacks when it wasn't his fault) and he wasn't my dog, but he was still an animal and it's tragic. It almost feels like something could have been done to save him, but perhaps not. If I were to have to face the choice of putting down a pet, I don't think I could do it. Not unless they were truly suffering and in pain. But Duncan was fine. He was happy. It rubs me in the wrong way. It really does. He had an uncorrectable behavior problem, but it was their choice to make. It kind of feels like you're killing your own pet. Who wants to make that choice? It's disturbing even to think about. Then just watching them die. I've watched my rats die and that's horrible enough.
Duncan's death has hit my mom hard and it wasn't her dog, but I know she loved him all the same. It's hard to forget those attacks, but I hope Duncan is at peace now.
He wasn't always that way. He was very friendly and hyperactive. Too hyper for my tastes, but nonetheless. He, Luke, and Brody got along way back in the day, until one day he started to go on the attack against Luke. They got involved in several fights. These attacks were terrifying to witness. Duncan would grab on and not let go like a crocodile, but usually Duncan would be the one getting hurt since he was smaller. Duncan being possessive over food and toys was just one part of the problem. Sometimes he would just snap. He could be sweet one day and totally aggressive the next. Night and day. Jekyll and Hyde. At that time, when Kourtnei and my brother were living here, he would only attack Luke. But in the past few years after they moved away, Duncan started turning on Brody and attacking him. The most recent attack is what prompted my brother and his wife to put him to sleep.
They tried training and medication. The medication did seem to help calm him. I don't know if he was still taking it recently, but if he still was then that failed too. The fact is maybe that's just the way Duncan was and he couldn't really be fixed. But my mom also couldn't help but wonder if maybe it was neglect. Before, way back, Duncan had been living at Kourtnei's mom's house until she moved out and he spent his life outdoors. Then after he came to our house and seemed to be fine until the fights started happening. Then after that he had to live a life in apartments with several other animals. He was a high energy dog, and probably didn't get the attention and exercise he needed.
Kourtnei and my brother spent the last day with Duncan by taking him to the beach and then they brought him over here to spend some time in our backyard. Keeping him away from Luke obviously. He was very happy-go-lucky. My brother and Kourtnei had invited my mom to come with them to the vet to say goodbye to Duncan, but she changed her mind at the last minute knowing she probably wouldn't be able to handle it. As they drove off in the car with Duncan, he gave kisses on my mom's face.
It seems weird that I should feel sad about Duncan passing considering how he had viciously attacked Luke over the years (and how Kourtnei would often blame Luke for the attacks when it wasn't his fault) and he wasn't my dog, but he was still an animal and it's tragic. It almost feels like something could have been done to save him, but perhaps not. If I were to have to face the choice of putting down a pet, I don't think I could do it. Not unless they were truly suffering and in pain. But Duncan was fine. He was happy. It rubs me in the wrong way. It really does. He had an uncorrectable behavior problem, but it was their choice to make. It kind of feels like you're killing your own pet. Who wants to make that choice? It's disturbing even to think about. Then just watching them die. I've watched my rats die and that's horrible enough.
Duncan's death has hit my mom hard and it wasn't her dog, but I know she loved him all the same. It's hard to forget those attacks, but I hope Duncan is at peace now.