Democracy Dies in Darkness

She signed to euthanize her dog last year. Now he’s up for adoption.

Kristie Pereira was looking at adoptable dogs on an animal rescue service’s website when she saw one that looked identical to her Beau.

By
May 24, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. EDT
Kristie Pereira said her former hound mix is up for adoption 14 months after she agreed to euthanize him. (Kristie Pereira)
6 min

Kristie Pereira walked out of an animal services building last year distraught after making one of the toughest decisions of her life.

Moments earlier, she had signed a form to euthanize her puppy, Beau. The 5-month-old hound mix had been crying constantly, had lost control of his bowel movements and couldn’t lift his hind legs. A Maryland veterinarian said Beau might not recover, Pereira said, so she thought her decision would take away the dog’s pain.