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Posted 9/1/2010 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
My poor dog is 12.  She's an akita.  I have no children, she is my child.  I honestly don't know if I'll be able to have one.  Anyway you may have heard my crazy stories how she gets crazy with my neighbors noise.  Well its official she's certifiable.  We'll have to put her down soon.  Not a matter of if, but when at this point.  She has destroyed all of my blinds, sliding glass door, front door, cabinets, etc.  Yesterday I came home and found her bleeding.  I found the blinds on my second story condo ruined, and she nearly busted through the glass.  She is on prozac and it aint workin.  Vet says if it doesn't work she'll need to be put down. Problem is, if she's out of my house, she's fine.  But no one will take a 90 pound akita and I can't move.  We will have to put her down soon.  Just sux cry
Posted 9/1/2010 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry to hear about your dog. Sounds like she was a good dog for many years. thoughts and prayers to you.
Posted 9/1/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thx. Just needed an outlet. She has stayed by my side while I was sick and in need. We both have survived crazy illnesses and hurricanes. I use to just hold her and cry when I didn't feel good and just wanted to give up. She was the only one there for me on the dark and lonely days. Now she's sick and there's nothing I can do but watch and try to be there for her. Nothing has made me sadder.
Posted 9/1/2010 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
{{{{HUGS}}}}
Posted 9/1/2010 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
thx. needed the hugs.
Posted 9/1/2010 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for what you are going through. Yes she is sick but there is something that you are doing for her. You are there for her as she was there for you and that, she will understand. If/when the time comes you will be releasing her not condeming her and tbh as she has been with you for so many years I do not believe that re-homing would really be the best thing for her(if someone was to come forward)
My own dog(GSD) is 6 months younger than yours and health issues are beginning to kick in and I know that one day I am going to have to make that decision but for now we will enjoy each day.
((((hugs)))))
Posted 9/1/2010 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
akita rescue group? there has to be one
Posted 9/1/2010 10:17 AM (GMT 0)
:-( I'm so sorry.
Posted 9/1/2010 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I know it is a very hard decision and you want only the best for your friend. I had to put my dog down this summer because his stomach had flipped and created massive internal damage. But he was in such pain that I knew it was the right thing to do. I loved him too much to make him suffer.
Elizabeth
Posted 9/1/2010 10:59 AM (GMT 0)
Awe, so sorry. My daughter has a 12-year-old cocker spaniel who I consider my first furry grandchild. We are saddened to see this once lively little girl starting to show her age. I now have two young granddaughters who would be so devestated to lose her.

(((Hugs))) and prayers are with you.

Potty Pooper
Posted 9/1/2010 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Is it too late to crate train her for the times you're not home?

Large crate, quiet spot, perhaps a blanket covering most of the crate, it worked for a friend of mine and his old, easily agitated dog.

Posted 9/1/2010 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
(((HUGS))) I'm so sorry. Is it possible your dog has a thyroid problem? My mom's lab got all crazy and started destroying things. Turns out it was his thyroid. I know your girl is old, so maybe it's just changes that come with age. Either way, I'm sorry for you and it's awful when you're in that spot. Hang in there!
Posted 9/1/2010 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of dogs become destructive when bored. If you can or can get someone to take it for walks that might help. Or give it toys to keep itself busy with
Posted 9/1/2010 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Our pets give us so much. I adopted a 13-yr old cat and 3 years later had to put him down. He had an intestinal blockage which might have been cancer and he couldn't eat. I was told that a cat of that age probably wouldn't make it through the surgery. We might have had him for just 3 years, but I became so attached, it was hard to let go. If your dog is suffering, know that you are doing the right thing.
Posted 9/1/2010 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry:( Hugs!
Posted 9/1/2010 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I second Randy. Google akita rescue and see if there is one out there.
Posted 9/1/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to send hugs along to you. Pets are a part of my family too - like my kids. (I was finally able to have one daughter, not I was lucky to get her the way my body - doesn't - work.) Even with kids it's so hard to lose your pet. So hard to have to consider the choices... My heart goes out to you.
Posted 9/1/2010 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I had 2 cats, one who was always by my side and the other who really "belongs" to my daughters. Once my younger daughter left for college we had to put the cat on prozac and that isn't quite enough, the cat still wasn't happy. We thought we were going to have to do something more permanent because she is just so unhappy and soiling the house to show her displeasure. She was hissing at everyone, hiding from the world, just miserable and letting everyone know how unhappy she is. about 6 weeks ago, my cat disappeared, most likely the victim of a fisher cat. Of course I am devastated, she was my 3rd baby. But now, my daughters cat is happy as can be. Its like she was given a new lease on life and is telling us every day "I always wanted to be an only cat".

My point is that I know how hard it is to live with unhappy animals. And maybe a new environment would be good for your baby. It certainly isn't worse than the alternative. So maybe you can find a rescue group. I hope you can find a resolution that works for you both.

((((HUGS))))
Posted 9/1/2010 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
That's really sad :-/

The last dog we had was a Jack Russell terrier who lived to 16, but was senile for the last three of those years. He didn't go crazy though; he just became totally blank and didn't recognise us any longer. He also became incontinent and would do things like walk around and around in a circle. It was heartbreaking to see, really.

You could see if there's an akita rescue organisation out there, as suggested. My widowed aunt rehoused her boxer dog through a charity called Boxer Rescue, when she couldn't cope with looking after him on her own. He was lovely-natured but disobedient and difficult to handle. His story ended happily; he ended up with a couple who lived in the country and could give him tons of outdoor exercise.

I'm actually a bit curious though. Do you have any ideas about what is making your dog so crazy indoors? I presume she hasn't been like that all her life and that it's something which has started relatively recently.
Posted 9/2/2010 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Akitas are famous for their loyalty. She probably just misses you. Have you tried a dog sitter or doggy day-care?
Posted 9/2/2010 8:22 AM (GMT 0)
If they are as loyal as GSDs that is why I would not recommend re-homing at her age, some breeds can quite happily trot off to a new home but others with such intense loyalty/protectivenesss etc will not do well. My life has been severly(dare I say it,) hampered by mine, will not go into kennels, has to be 'knocked out' at vets before I leave etc. Don't get me wrong love her to bits and would not want to be without her and she is the best in every way so long as I am there and she is at home!!
Posted 9/2/2010 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Re-homing at 12 years of age for many, if not most, dogs is NOT an answer. At that age re-homing can be way too much of an adjustment even for the most outgoing and friendly of dogs.

Most Akitas would not be candidates for rehoming at 12 years of age due to the breed's tendencies to be very loyal to their family, and I would think that the intensely close relationship SickOfItAll and her 12 year old Akita have had would add to the unlikelihood of a successful re-homing.

Is there any thing that can be done about the neighbor's noise? Are they excessively noisy where it is a problem for any other neighbors? Are they tenants of long standing? How long have you been here as oppposed to how long they have been there? Can noise complaints be filed and action taken by a landlord, the city, township or county?

It wouldn't do any harm to have her thyroid checked. Its been years since I was well-informed about the breed but at one time the breed did tend to have some thyroid problems and her thyroid may not be holding up as well as some. Obviously, at her advanced age any thyroid problem would be more likely due to age than a hereditary thyroid problem. Human thyroids often go to heck in a handbasket as we age. Why not a dog's?

Posted 9/2/2010 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
You guys are so sweet. I thank you for all of your support. This site is incredible. Anyway I hope I can answer everybody... She does not have a thyroid problem. Vet tested nothing showed up. He said she has developed noise phobia and needs to go to a behavior specialist. In the interim we are giving her xanax and prozac. The father next door is a screamer with four teenage to 8 yr old boys. He definitely has an anger problem, this I know for sure. Our household of me and my husband, is very tranquil and quiet. We are both very low key. I have spoken to the neighbors about this as they have had to rescue my dog after she ran away after their "fits". That is when she developed the noise phobia, so now its whenever they make any noise she freaks (shaking, drooling, clawing, destroying, etc) I don't think re-homing is an option as we are extremely close. Whenever I go out of town, she stares at the window waiting and won't eat for days on end until I get home. So thats not an option. I bought a very expensive crate and every time I came home, she was out and severely injured, even though she was fine in it when we were home. She is houdini- too smart for a crate, sliding glass door, fence, etc. When she wants out, she gets out, theres no stopping her. She will kill herself trying to escape. I have searched akita rescue but they only take abandoned dogs and I can't do that to her. We will continue to work with the vet as he now says we shouldn't put her to sleep. However, akitas are dangerous. Especially in that state. And she has figured out the kids next door are responsible for the noises and now hates them and will bite them if she has the chance. So now I feel personally responsible to take care of this.
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