Euthanasia Policy

Bulldog Rescue adopt the policy that it is irresponsible to re-home a dog that is known to be people aggressive or that has already bitten a person and subsequently will advise euthanasia for dogs we are asked to rehome due to a biting incident. We draw this conclusion on the basis that if those that know him the best don’t trust him then we cannot responsibly place the dog with a stranger who would be subsequently put at known risk. This is in line with the current Dangerous Dog Laws which specify a dog is considered as dangerous if it has knowingly bitten or been aggressive to people (both on private and public property) within the previous 6 month period.

We will advise the current owner to ensure a veterinary surgeon thoroughly examines the dog and rules out illness or pain induced aggression but in the case where euthanasia is advised it is preferred that the owner is the one that takes the dog to the vet as this is considered to be much kinder for the dog who will subsequently be in the company of his family as opposed to strangers. However, Bulldog Rescue will sometimes collect a dog with the sole intention of putting him to sleep if it is felt the current owner will allow the dog to be sold or rehomed privately and subsequently put members of the public at risk. A record of all “first contact” is kept on the AniLog system in the hope we can identify dogs coming through via a different owner which we are already aware are aggressive to people.

Rescue will not rehome any dog a second time that has been returned to them because of a biting incident and will instead euthanise the dog as quickly as possible, we consider it to be irresponsible to rehome a known biter especially as it could open the charity up to legal proceedings.

Dogs are only considered aggressive enough to require euthanasia if the behaviour is aimed towards humans, dog aggressive bulldogs are not uncommon and therefore homes may be sought where there are no other dogs residing. In the event that we have unknowingly rehomed an aggressive dog, the nearest volunteer shall be asked to remove the dog from the premises as soon as is practically possible. The volunteer is then responsible for undertaking any subsequent euthanasia which will be paid for by bulldog rescue.

It is not usual practice to inform the original owner that the dog has been destroyed.

In the event the owner cannot or will not euthanise their own dog, rescue may, in certain circumstances, collect and euthanise for them.