Adopter had a young and healthy dog from a rescue euthanized.

Question

The rescue's contract stated that dog should be returned if the adopter was having any considerations to rehome or euthanize. Their vet euthanized the dog due to behavior; with no bite history, no animal control report, no reports from 3rd party on aggression - and the dog had been reduced to "foster" status by the rescue, who stated they would get the dog as soon as the the rescue owner had recovered from surgery. The dog was chopped (to the rescue) and was never checked.

Connecticut, USA

Answer

I am sorry to hear about this dog. How tragic. There are a bunch of things to unpack from your question/comment. Without reviewing the adoption agreement, it is difficult to provide much input, but first, the right of a rescue to reduce an adoption to a foster is not common. It is usually the other way around (foster changed to adoption). Second, rescues that require adopters to return animals who they no longer want should be available to take the animal back and that should not be subject to a “rescue owner’s” availability. Rescues are typically not-for-profit corporations and there is no owner. There should be a board and staff or volunteers who are willing and able to perform services.

Complaints about veterinarians may be made to the Connecticut State Board of Veterinary Medicine. Rescues that believe they suffered damages and are due money from an adopter/foster “parent” and/or veterinarian can also sue (although it is questionable whether the rescue suffered damages in the scenario described). If only the dog could sue those who let him/her down!