Cynology: The Study of Dogs

Artist: Tim Brierley

Sometimes behavioral euthanasia is your only option.

Maybe someone else could help your dog. Maybe the right trainer could turn everything around. Maybe you haven't found the med that works for your dog yet. Maybe a different or more experienced owner wouldn't have made the same choices. Maybe if there weren't kids involved. Maybe if you weren't married. Maybe if you were married. Maybe if you live out in the country. Maybe if you were more diligent. Maybe if you didn't hover so much. Maybe. Maybe. Maybemaybemaybemaybe.

Maybe.

But none of that happened. And you're here now. And it was the right choice.

It was you. In the home you have. With whoever you had to help you. Or without any support. Handling your dog to the best of your ability at that moment in time.

That includes having limited mental and emotional bandwidth. There may have been more things you were physically capable of doing, but that doesn't mean you had the emotional and mental resources to do them. You would've done them if you could have. If you knew that you should.

But i know for sure that you didn't pay a few hundred dollars so that someone would kill your friend for no reason.

You did it because you were unsafe. Or because someone else was. Or because your dog was so overwhelmed by the world that they couldn't cope.

You certainly didn't walk into a vet appointment where every choice you'd ever made regarding the dog was questioned and you were told about all the local and breed specific rescues because you didn't try.

You made that appointment and walked in and suffered through the interrogation because you loved your dog enough to know that putting them through being rehomed or institutionalized in a shelter would lower their quality of life so significantly that it wouldn't be worth living for them. Or because you knew that no one would ever be safe living with them.

You did it because you cared. Because you loved them. Because you trusted that it was the best option. Because you tried.

And it still hurt. Even if you were angry and relieved. It still hurt.

So, let me encourage you to let go of "maybe". You loved them. You tried. You cared. It was and wasn't enough all at the same time. You made the right choice.

the death of a dog

Martin and Bosco Day Button Giveaway

Life can feel a bit bleak in 2026, so I decided my Tumblr community could use a bit of fun. I'll be giving away Martin and Bosco Day buttons! The awesome design is by @stinkybrowndogs.

I'll be covering the shipping costs, so the final number of winners will depend on postage, which I'm still working out. I'm doing my best. XD

To Enter: Reblog this post. That's it. You do not need to follow me and be subjected to my weird posts.

The fine print:

One entry per blog.

Winners will be randomly selected on June 21, 2026 at noon (Toronto time).

If you're selected, I'll contact you through Tumblr Messages to arrange shipping.

Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is limited to residents of Canada and the United States. I apologize to my international friends!

If you're selected, you'll need to share your name and mailing address with me so I can mail your button.

I'm eternally delighted that Martin and Bosco have their own Tumblr holiday.

#hello again martin and bosco!! sending you boys round for another go :)

#Martin and Bosco is literally the most valid use of Tumblr blaze ever i love this post to bits #THEY’RE SO JOYOUS WOWA #joyous reblogs