Dog Owner Defends Controversial Decision to Use ‘Behavioral Euthanasia’ 

A woman is opening up about the heartbreaking decision that led her to put down her beloved dog, following multiple violent attacks.

In a post shared to her TikTok page, Connecticut-based influencer Molly Ann wrote candidly about deciding on “behavioral euthanasia” for her pet, Cooper, after nearly three years with her family due to his aggressive, reactionary behavior.

According to the influencer, she and her family adopted Cooper from a rescue when he was three months old and transported him from Tennessee to his new home in New England.

“The rescue had no information on where he came from or what the conditions were like,” Molly wrote, sharing that the shelter severely underestimated how large he would grow, as they were told he would weigh 50 pounds and ended up growing to 140 pounds — “which is fine but a lot harder to support when he was aggressive.”

“He started to show food aggression within the first week of being home,” she continued.

The family immediately sought out help, hiring an in-home trainer — but they quickly realized this trainer was in over their head, and Cooper needed someone who specialized in aggressive dogs.

“Cooper learned obedience but never was able to lower his aggression,” she noted.

“We provided a safe and stable environment, we did the work, but it just got worse,” she recounted. “We also noticed he was constantly anxious, so we talked to our vet about medication. Our vet had advised against it due to the fact that it may make him more aggressive.”

“At this point, I had gotten attacked many times, had many scars,” the influencer wrote. “Cooper wasn’t living a good life. He couldn’t be out of the cage when I was home, I couldn’t take him outside (because I couldn’t touch him).”

After a difficult discussion, the family eventually began looking into rescue organizations that would accept or re-home Cooper. As Molly shared, “This was our hope as an alternative to euthanasia.”

But all the rescues Molly’s family contacted declined to take Cooper in, as many organizations consider it unethical to put potential new owners in harm’s way.

“We talked to the rescue where we got him, and they couldn’t help either. Many rescues advised us to put him down,” Molly shared on TikTok.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Things came to a head when Cooper was three years old, and Molly had an encounter with him that left her bitten and scarred.

“One day, he had trapped me in a corner and attacked me from behind, in which I was not posing a threat to him,” she wrote. “At this point, he was three years old, he had attacked me multiple times and had bitten many of our family and friends.”

Collectively, the family, Cooper’s trainer, and a veterinarian agreed that the only way forward for Cooper was to euthanize him.

“He was loved and cared for tremendously for the three years he was with us. He got all the toys, treats, and all the love,” she wrote. “It wasn’t his fault. It was genetics, or he was just sick. Either way, Cooper is at peace now.”

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), behavioral euthanasia is the term used for humanely ending a dog’s life due to severe behavioral issues.

“These dogs aren’t necessarily snapping and growling all the time. In fact, they might be quite loving with their owners and behave appropriately most of the time,” the organization states. “And in fact, any dog is capable of biting, given the right circumstances. But the key issue is that these dogs aren’t trustworthy. They might have clear aggression triggers, or they might be completely unpredictable. But they are dangerous.”

The AKC states that vets often consider a few factors when advising pet owners on voluntary euthanasia — such as the dog’s quality of life (if it always has to be in a cage or muzzle), the mental and physical toll on its owners and the number of bite incidents a dog has had (if a dog has bitten someone several times, the animal is more likely to do it again).

Ultimately, the organization states, the decision to perform behavioral euthanasia is a rare one — but in some cases, it’s “the only responsible and ethical decision.”

As for Molly and her late pup Cooper, sharing his story online has helped her cope with the loss of a dog she loved dearly.

“I know people have their opinions… but at the end of the day it’s what’s safest and in the best interest for your family and your puppy,” the influencer finished her candid post. “This is one of the hardest things to go through, but posting about him has made me realize we aren’t alone.”