Understanding Behavioral Euthanasia: Breaking the Silence

Jun 3

Unspoken Reality
There are few things more controversial in the companion animal world than behavioral euthanasia. It is one of those subjects that is taboo. It’s almost as if we don’t talk about it, it doesn’t exist. A “he who must not be named” sort of situation.

However, as with most scary things in life, talking about behavioral euthanasia can help educate us on what it is, help us focus on the facts and take away some of the taboo and myths surrounding it. Talking about behavioral euthanasia out in the open can hopefully help someone who is currently struggling with this difficult decision and also shed some light on something that many don’t even know is happening, even right here in our own communities.

Behavioral euthanasia (BE) is defined as humanely ending an animal's life due to behavioral concerns that are dangerous to themselves or others, or that significantly impact their quality of life.

There are a lot of myths surrounding BE. One of them is that the dog must have been a “bad” dog. The heartbreaking truth is that these are good dogs, because all dogs are good dogs, and many of them have a family of people that love them deeply. Dogs, like people, can be behaviorally complex, and that does not mean that they are “bad”. Along with that, many of these dogs are also suffering from high amounts of fear or anxiety. In some cases they are housebound or go into full panic when left alone due to separation anxiety or other fears (of strangers, noises, cars, etc.). In other cases, they have simply been in a shelter environment or other environment that they simply can no longer survive in.

If the dogs aren’t bad, then it must be the people right? Well, no. While there are certainly things a person could do to contribute to a dog's decline, the people that are making this impossible decision are not those people and they are not bad. In fact, they love their dog so much that they are willing to break their own hearts.

Common Myths

Another common myth around BE is that it is an “easy” way out or convenient. It is certainly not either of those things. Animal guardians and shelter and rescue workers love the animals in their care and these decisions are never made lightly.

Those who love and care for animals are all hoping for the same thing, a live outcome in every situation. The truth is, this is not always a possibility, and sometimes it is not even the right answer, as hard as that may be to admit.

This brings me to the last myth we hear a lot, that dogs in our communities, whether that be Green Bay, the Fox Valley, Wisconsin, or simply the Midwest in general, are not at risk of behavioral euthanasia. Unfortunately, this is also not the case. While rescues and shelters in our area want to do the best for every companion animal in our community, the truth of the matter is that we also need to make hard decisions about safety and quality of life. It is for this reason that we want to be transparent with owners that in some cases the decision to euthanize could likely be on the table whether the animal is in our care, or yours. There is not always a unicorn (rare, unique and perfect) family for every situation, even though we wish it were so.

If you are, or ever have been in this difficult situation, please know you are not alone. There are also resources available to help you. Before considering behavioral euthanasia, you should talk to your veterinarian and a trusted, credentialed, trainer. We as a rescue are also here to be a safe space to talk about the difficult decisions of rehoming or euthanizing your pet. Starting at the end of 2024 I was able to earn a certificate as a Companion Animal End of Life Doula. If you would like to know more about that, please check out this video:

To contact Emily or Denise, you can reach us at:

canineclassifieds@lucky7dogrescue.com

emilye@lucky7dogrescue.com