Little_Grape
Well-Known Member
I have never ventured into this board before but I could really do with some advice as I am not sure what to do.
My partners Dad has just recently been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, although his health has been poor for some time, and I am looking into options for the future for his dog, Susie.
He used to run a shop many years ago and had susie, a big rottie, to patrol the grounds of an evening. She is a big softie and would lick people to death but has that intimidating rottie look. She has only ever lived outside.
He retired from the shop several years ago due to poor health and Susie moved into the garages at the back of his property. She has the run of a smallish paved garden and lots of people coming and going to talk to. Unfortunately poor health (father in law not hers) has meant she has not really been walked and has defintely not been fed the right diet and she is really quite obese. Nevertheless she remains an amenable an content dog and as my father-in-law adores her we have never intervened.
Unfortunately, this diagnosis has also come with the inevitable further decline in his health. Up until now he would not have even considered doing anything with the dog- he lives on his own several hours away and she is his companion. however, he confessed the other evening that he is struggling. He is on oxygen 24/7 and has regular trips to the hospital, transported by ambulance (one of the minibus style ones) as he can't drive. When the ambulance comes up Susie won't let them through to get to the door. The style of the property means all entrances are in the garden that she 'patrols'. She doesn't do anything, just wags her head (literally) and tries to sit on their feet so they talk to her (imagine she wants the attention she is lacking). But due to her size they are scared of her and refuse to come onto the property until she is locked away- something father in law can't do while attached to his oxygen and without his oxygen for even a few seconds he is in a state of collapse
luckily there have been people around to help but my worry is what if there wasn't? What if there was an emergency and the emergency paramedics refused to go onto the property
I really don't know what the options are for this dog. She has always lived alone, spent her whole life outside, no idea what she is like with other dogs. She is obese, fairly old I think (must be at the youngest 9 but no one knows how old she is) I have a feeling I know what you are going to say and that the fairest option will be to pts. My other half is the only child and we can't have a dog as we live in a top floor flat. We don't know anyone to rehome with and as she is a bit of an unknown quantity really I am a little worried about rehoming her with someone who isn't even a little experienced.
I would really appreciate some advice, this is an incredibly sad and stressful time for us- we are currently travelling from Kent to Yorkshire every weekend (5 hours minimum) to see his dad who is inevitably going to die. The thought of pts is something I know will break his dads heart but I am not sure what our options are.
Sorry for the long post, I almost needed to get it all off of my chest. My oh is preoccupied with is dad so the dog is the least of his worries!
My partners Dad has just recently been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, although his health has been poor for some time, and I am looking into options for the future for his dog, Susie.
He used to run a shop many years ago and had susie, a big rottie, to patrol the grounds of an evening. She is a big softie and would lick people to death but has that intimidating rottie look. She has only ever lived outside.
He retired from the shop several years ago due to poor health and Susie moved into the garages at the back of his property. She has the run of a smallish paved garden and lots of people coming and going to talk to. Unfortunately poor health (father in law not hers) has meant she has not really been walked and has defintely not been fed the right diet and she is really quite obese. Nevertheless she remains an amenable an content dog and as my father-in-law adores her we have never intervened.
Unfortunately, this diagnosis has also come with the inevitable further decline in his health. Up until now he would not have even considered doing anything with the dog- he lives on his own several hours away and she is his companion. however, he confessed the other evening that he is struggling. He is on oxygen 24/7 and has regular trips to the hospital, transported by ambulance (one of the minibus style ones) as he can't drive. When the ambulance comes up Susie won't let them through to get to the door. The style of the property means all entrances are in the garden that she 'patrols'. She doesn't do anything, just wags her head (literally) and tries to sit on their feet so they talk to her (imagine she wants the attention she is lacking). But due to her size they are scared of her and refuse to come onto the property until she is locked away- something father in law can't do while attached to his oxygen and without his oxygen for even a few seconds he is in a state of collapse
luckily there have been people around to help but my worry is what if there wasn't? What if there was an emergency and the emergency paramedics refused to go onto the property I really don't know what the options are for this dog. She has always lived alone, spent her whole life outside, no idea what she is like with other dogs. She is obese, fairly old I think (must be at the youngest 9 but no one knows how old she is) I have a feeling I know what you are going to say and that the fairest option will be to pts. My other half is the only child and we can't have a dog as we live in a top floor flat. We don't know anyone to rehome with and as she is a bit of an unknown quantity really I am a little worried about rehoming her with someone who isn't even a little experienced.
I would really appreciate some advice, this is an incredibly sad and stressful time for us- we are currently travelling from Kent to Yorkshire every weekend (5 hours minimum) to see his dad who is inevitably going to die. The thought of pts is something I know will break his dads heart but I am not sure what our options are.
Sorry for the long post, I almost needed to get it all off of my chest. My oh is preoccupied with is dad so the dog is the least of his worries!
