[Jake_]

I adopted my dog Jake from a rescue when he was four months old (he is now fourteen pounds, five years old). Jake has always displayed strange signs of aggression ever since he was just a puppy, but with intensive training I thought those tendencies would go away.

Jake bites people ALL the time for completely unprovoked reasons. He has his entire life. I have had him examined by the vet and behavior dog trainer. My vet said that in his twenty years of practice he has never suggested putting a dog to sleep because of behavioral issues, but he believes that Jake was “wired” wrong. That no matter how hard we try we won’t be able to fix him. I have been trying for four years. My dog trainer said the same thing. Both the vet and the trainer do not think any amount of training will correct his aggressiveness. He has bitten people of ALL ages. I always thought Jake’s aggressive tendencies was something I could teach him to control, that is until the day that he bit me in the face. He and I were sitting in the grass at the park, I looked down at him when he jumped up and bit me in the face. It broke the skin, and my face swelled up. I was in complete and total shock! I felt really hurt and betrayed, but I am so mad at myself because I feel all of this is my fault. He has bitten me twice since then.

Jake started having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy at around two, the cause of which is unknown. Jake has really serious cluster seizures that are capable of lasting for hours. I’m always worried that if I am away from the house for to long that he might start having seizures. His longest seizure ever happened on a road trip. We were a little over an hour away from the closest emergency vet when he started seizing. He seized the entire car ride. He is on medication, but the medication hasn’t stopped the seizures. Just lessened the frequency of their occurrence. The only option for Jake is to rush him to the vet every time he starts having a seizure. Rushing him to the vet has never been an issue financially for me, but I’m always afraid I might not be home when he starts having a seizure. I would feel so guilty if I was away from home for more than a few hours and he started having seizures and no one was home to help him. Jake also can’t get light exercise for more than thirty minutes a day or he is at high risk of seizing.


I could never imagine giving Jake away and making him another persons problem. I love him so much. He is a bite-risk, but he is my family. I feel like such a monster, like if I put him to sleep that I am failing him. My vet and dog trainer have both said that something isn’t right with Jake, and that his aggressive tendencies will never go away. Both professionals have told me that to keep Jake alive and safe, I will just have to make sure that I never leave him alone. I work tirelessly to keep Jake away from children and people he doesn’t know. I feel like Jake completely controls my life now. I feel really trapped. I can’t hardly ever leave the house in fear that he might have a seizure or might attack someone. The most terrifying part is that a premature baby is moving into my house next week, my nephew. I’m so terrified that Jake will snap at the infant. The guilt I am feeling about putting Jake to sleep because of his bahavioral issues is debilitating, but the fear I have about him hurting a baby is just as great.


The most difficult part I am having is that friends and family that don’t know of Jake’s aggressive nature have told me that I shouldn’t be allowed to own dogs. They have told me I am a bad pet parent for even considering putting Jake to sleep, but nobody understands the constant stress I have about making sure Jake does not bite anyone. I feel like I have no support or guidance from anyone... and I am not sure what decision I should be making. I am only 17 ... I graduated high school early, but I’m so afraid of starting college with Jake having all of these issues. My parents have left the choice up to me because he is my dog, but I don't know what to do.

I'm not looking for judgement.. I'm just looking for advice in this really stressful time. This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my entire life.