Owner's will states dog is euthanized and ashes buried with her

[JumpQH]

Did anyone else read this article? What are your thoughts?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/18/dog-faces-death-after-owner-will-states-that-be-euthanized-buried-with-her/?intcmp=latestnews

"A healthy German shepherd in Indiana may be euthanized after his owner requested that his ashes be buried with her upon her death, Fox 19 reported.

Connie Lay, who died on Nov. 25, mentioned in her will that she wanted Bela, her beloved dog, to be put down and have his ashes put with her own. The report pointed out that animals are considered possessions and the owner has the legal right to decide its fate.

A veterinarian agreed to put down the dog, but the news did not sit well with animal rights activists. Tri-state effort ensued and a legal loophole spotted.

An alternative to Bela’s fate, as mentioned in the will, would be to send the dog to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, a no-kill sanctuary, the report said. But the attorney said due to financial strains, that is not an option.

Best Friends Animal Society said, in a statement, that it wants Bela to end up at its sanctuary, but “the decision to send him to us to have him put down and cremated is out of our hands.”

The dog is currently held at PAWS of Dearbon County as he awaits his fate. Volunteers have offered to adopt the dog, but that is not in line with Lay’s will. The humane center holding Bela said in a statement that the dog will not be euthanized at its center."

[ElisLove]

It doesn’t mention the dog’s age but it looks fairly old from the picture. It can be pretty traumatic on an old dog to have it’s life completely flipped upside down and put into a new strange place with new owners so the deceased owner may have felt like euthanizing the dog would have been a kindness to the dog. She also gave the option to have the possibly rehomed with the Animal Society that she obviously felt comfortable with to give the dog the best chance to have a good last years of it’s life.
Not the worst option for an old dog who’s likely lived it’s whole life with the one old owner.

[Simkie]

I think it’s incredibly shitty that the animal rights people have stepped into this. How many people here have a will or an understanding with their relatives that certain horses are to be euthanised upon their death?

This poor woman tries to do something responsible for her dog and people are all up in arms about it. Ridiculous.

[Foxtrot_s]

Similar situation with a friend who was dying of cancer. Asked that her horse be put down when she died. She loved that horse and was terrified of it going on the downward spiral from one home to another less suitable home and out of her control.

Nobody who loves their animal would come to that decision lightly and they obviously did what they thought was the best thing for the pet. Her wishes should be respected.

We should not put human emotions on the animals, either.

[Louise]

We don’t know the reason that the woman had this in her will, but the fact that she did would indicate to me that she thought this through and determined that this would be the kindest fate for the dog due to whatever particular circumstances exist. So, right now, the poor thing sits in a shelter, maybe scared to death, while these people try to second guess her. Shame on them.

[Sswor]

If the animal rights people are so upset about it then they could pay for the dog to be sent to Best Friends, like the will states as an option. I agree it is terrible this poor dog now has to sit in a shelter. Clearly this was not what the woman wished happen to her dog.

[RaeHughes]

I have this in my will - one dog is my older BC who has arthritis and my younger BC is “autistic” . BCs are notoriously one person dogs and I want my girls to come with me along with several other small animals. I have particular conditions about my horse photos and tail hair to come with me as well.

[dressagetraks]

Agree with the above. She clearly put thought into her decision.

I know a woman who died last year who actually was buried with her elderly, lifelong-for-the-cat’s-life cat (cat in the casket along with her, including at the service), but that wasn’t planned. The cat died the same night she did, her in the hospital and the cat at home (but the cat had to know something was wrong as she wasn’t home). Her son decided they belonged together. A neat gesture, I thought.

[HannahsMom7]

[QUOTE=JumpQH;7915595]
Did anyone else read this article? What are your thoughts?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/18/dog-faces-death-after-owner-will-states-that-be-euthanized-buried-with-her/?intcmp=latestnews

"A healthy German shepherd in Indiana may be euthanized after his owner requested that his ashes be buried with her upon her death, Fox 19 reported.

Connie Lay, who died on Nov. 25, mentioned in her will that she wanted Bela, her beloved dog, to be put down and have his ashes put with her own. The report pointed out that animals are considered possessions and the owner has the legal right to decide its fate.

A veterinarian agreed to put down the dog, but the news did not sit well with animal rights activists. Tri-state effort ensued and a legal loophole spotted.

An alternative to Bela’s fate, as mentioned in the will, would be to send the dog to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, a no-kill sanctuary, the report said. But the attorney said due to financial strains, that is not an option.

Best Friends Animal Society said, in a statement, that it wants Bela to end up at its sanctuary, but “the decision to send him to us to have him put down and cremated is out of our hands.”

The dog is currently held at PAWS of Dearbon County as he awaits his fate. Volunteers have offered to adopt the dog, but that is not in line with Lay’s will. The humane center holding Bela said in a statement that the dog will not be euthanized at its center."[/QUOTE]

I didn’t read the whole story, but I believe it is mentioned that the dog is not “safe” for all families, which may be why she wanted the dog to be with her.

[JumpQH]

You guys echo my thoughts.

[HannahsMom7]

[QUOTE=HannahsMom7;7916155]
I didn’t read the whole story, but I believe it is mentioned that the dog is not “safe” for all families, which may be why she wanted the dog to be with her.[/QUOTE]

I found the quote
Denmure said Ley didn’t trust Bela to be around others and the 105-pound dog has a history of aggressive behavior. He told WCPO that a veterinarian recommended Bela be put down. “He could cause damage and inflict bodily harm on strangers, in particular, children.”

[2tempe]

You have to wonder how this whole thing got on the news. Did the lawyer talk? Did the family talk? Did the vet talk? Shame on whoever.
Re-reading: it was probably the humane center. Well shame on them too.

[red_mares]

Why don’t these people ever find a non-aggressive dog to champion for?

They are drawn to aggressive dogs like moths to a flame.

[TBROCKS]

I had a co-worker and friend die unexpectedly a few years ago. Her dogs both had health issues, and she had a will stipulating that both were to be euthed and buried with her if they were alive at the time of her death. I fully supported her decision, but some others in the work place were all kerfluffled about it.

[godiva13]

i would not want my dog to live out there life in an animal sanctuary in a kennel after having been a house there whole life. If my dog had a bite history or agression i would want dog put to sleep if i did not have someone i knew who would take the dog. All of these rescue groups who want to put dogs in a sanctuary for the rest of their lives are not thinking about the dog.

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=godiva13;7916367]
i would not want my dog to live out there life in an animal sanctuary in a kennel after having been a house there whole life. If my dog had a bite history or agression i would want dog put to sleep if i did not have someone i knew who would take the dog. All of these rescue groups who want to put dogs in a sanctuary for the rest of their lives are not thinking about the dog.[/QUOTE]

I FULLY AGREE.

[allintexas]

I wish that everyone claiming to want this dog would go adopt another senior dog from a shelter!

[Foxtrot_s]

In a way, we are preaching to the choir. By and large, all of us are animal lovers, experienced, had all sorts of critters all our lives and understand the cycle of life and death. Not so much some of the holier-than-thou do gooders out there.

That being said, thank goodness for good shelters and volunteers with passion and empathy.

[goodhors]

Guess this kind of thing means that MAYBE when we get old, sick and know the end is near, we put the animals down ourselves. Takes the chance of things going poorly as shown with Bela here. Dog is a poor prospect for any other person to have, they should let the Will be followed.

I want our horses put down should we die, no one else will treat them as we do, including going that extra step in care. I thought we were pretty minimal care until I found others who are LOTS less attentive. And that is common around here. While rehoming is “nice”, I really don’t know any stories that end well for the horses. Usually passed on, sold on, ending in poor condition or places with injuries or uncared for. All were “nice people” but ignorant, unwilling to put in time, money, skill to use, etc., etc. I have no one else that needs that kind of burden thrust on them.

Better to avoid the “chance of things going badly” by putting animals down humanely YOURSELF, to insure they get “a happy ending” with no tribulations.

[Snowflake]

I have a four year old cocker with severe allergies. He needs expensive food - novel protein, no chicken products, no potatoes, no grain. He has bouts of colitis and doesn’t do kids very well. Not to mention, he’s not super affectionate. He’s pretty aloof and standoffish. He doesn’t really play and if he does, it’s on his terms. I would almost prefer he be put down if something happens to me than to have someone take him, feed him regular old dog chow and then wonder why he has explosive bloody diarrhea, patches of hair missing, his ears are oozing pus and he’s miserable. While I believe there are other great dog owners out there, I don’t trust that there would be someone willing to take on a dog that eats $90 of high quality dog food per month and costs $120 every six weeks at the groomer. He’s an expensive dog for one that’s not super cuddly. People wouldn’t get a good return on investment with him.