Sometimes Life Is Messy--Putting Down a Beloved Dog

This day did not end the way we had planned. We have been at a crossroads of these two verses for quite some time. Now we will be moving on.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal...

Matthew 7:11-12 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

  To say this day did not end the way we had planned is only partially true. We've been planning something for a long time. I guess I should say that I didn't expect that today we finally would take action on something we have put off for so long. (This is only a glimpse with few details, and not enough information to accurately judge the outcome. It is meant to just be a glimpse.)

  As we have raised our children, we have tried to always discuss the truth with them.

 Sometimes the truth is that the facts show a simple consequence to an action. 

  But life is messy and sometimes even when we lay out the facts, we can't find a 'simple' anything in it. 

  I should mention that the first place we look for direction is in the Word of God. In this situation the verses that best demonstrate why we landed where we did are the two quoted here. After that, we do the best we can, pray hard and follow through on what we think we should do; just as soon as we can tell what that is.

  Tonight we put down Gracie, our black lab mix. We have known for years that it needed doing and if we were good and responsible farmers this would have been done after she killed the first, or maybe the second, or third chicken. But we delayed because we aren't yet good farmers, and also because we want to be good and responsible parents, as well as good and responsible pet owners. And we love our dogs. It has taken time and many clear and difficult situations for the facts to overcome our reluctance and the feelings of our children in this matter.

  During the last year the dog has grown increasingly untrustworthy. She has started numerous fights with Lil, the Yellow Lab and her best pal, and Bella the new Pyrenees. Frequently these were at my feet when she just didn't want to share me, or sometimes over food, or sometimes for no apparent reason at all. People said she looked like a pitbull mix. We didn't give it much thought until she became vicious and unyielding during the fighting. When we finally pulled up a picture of a black pit bull online we were all stunned at the resemblance, but even without that possibility we were realizing that to act responsibly with this dog was critical and simultaneously she was painting us into a smaller and smaller corner of possible outcomes.

  In the beginning, a few stinky chickens were not as valuable to the kids as the dog. We knew we couldn't give her to a family with young children, but then other animals became an issue, too. And there were other problems, also. Though her faults began to pile up it didn't seem right to put a dog down if perhaps we could find it a new home. It took months of discussing the what if's and the realities of her issues and temperament before we all could accept a no-win scenario; even so no one was rushing to act. This week she's been charging the fence, scaring the new goats and confusing the Pyr if she should guard the goats or chase them. We worried what would happen if she ever got through the fence.

  So for a long time we've talked about the need to get this over with while trying desperately to come up with some as-of-yet-unimagined situation that would make it unnecessary. Sunday night I determined to try one last time to find her a home by putting the word out in all my circles and online as soon as I came in from getting the goats settled. As I finished up in the barn I was hit with the stench of skunk closer than I had ever experienced it--I can only describe it as instantaneous toxic head pain. It was Gracie. She was drenched in skunk. My heart sank.

 At feeding time tonight when the dogs and all but one of us were on or near the porch, Gracie went after Lil at G's feet. It was terrifying and vicious. He couldn't stop her and now Lil is injured. Time will tell if her leg heals up as we hope and expect it will, but for the time being she can't walk on it. I cleaned the leg and she spent the evening resting inside the house, which was proper even for an outside dog. The boys and I stayed at home making dinner and keeping ourselves busy. Gracie was put down and will forever rest on our hillside overlooking the valley, which is proper, too, because that's where we have put all our beloved pets when their time came.

  Tonight we moved past the crossroads. It has been sad and hard, but it is our responsibility to have regard for the life of all of our animals, to be good to our children not only in giving them good gifts, but more importantly in teaching them what is true and right. And in this case it meant doing something very hard to protect someone else's animal or possibly children and not leaving it to someone else when it is our responsibility.


Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal...
Matthew 7:11-12 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."