Steve

My family and I are reaching out with heavy hearts regarding our dog, Steve, a 10-year-old, 90-pound shepherd mix. We adopted Steve about nine years ago from a shelter that estimated his age at one to two years old at the time. Since then, he has been a beloved member of our family—but one who has always struggled with severe anxiety.

Steve’s anxiety is most often triggered by fireworks and weather—especially storms, overcast skies, or even light rain. When he becomes anxious, his behavior can escalate quickly. He has been destructive during panic episodes, including ripping up carpeting or damaging doors and furniture in attempts to escape or seek shelter. While we have used a crate in the past, getting him into it can be extremely difficult during anxiety episodes due to his size and state of distress. On occasion, while trying to leash or guide him during these moments, he has snapped—not out of aggression, but out of fear. He has unintentionally injured us during these incidents, though it’s clear he doesn’t mean to harm anyone. In fact, he often looks guilty or withdrawn afterward, as if he knows he reacted badly but couldn’t help himself.

Despite this, Steve is a deeply loving and intelligent dog. He’s exceptionally gentle with children—he has calmly laid beside toddlers as they played, and even taken food from a toddler’s hand so delicately that the child didn’t notice. He’s also incredibly patient and affectionate with cats. He often lets them share his bed or nibble his food first. However, his anxiety is heightened in the presence of small dogs, which we’ve learned to avoid.

Steve is remarkably smart and learns quickly, even in his older years. He has responded well to training and is not aggressive by nature. His struggles are not behavioral as much as they are emotional—deep-seated anxiety that we have tried every method to manage, including medication, supplements, behavioral training, calming products, and consistent routines. Unfortunately, nothing has worked long-term.

As his anxiety has worsened with age, our family has become emotionally and logistically overwhelmed. We live in constant worry about the weather, and even an afternoon outing requires monitoring home cameras or weather apps. We haven’t traveled in years due to the difficulty of finding anyone capable of safely caring for him in our absence. Despite our love for Steve, this situation has become unsustainable.

We do not want to euthanize Steve—he deserves so much more. We are seeking a rescue, sanctuary, or individual experienced with anxious dogs who might be able to provide Steve with the understanding, safety, and peace he needs. We are more than willing to assist with any transition costs, travel, or information needed to help place Steve where he can live his remaining years with dignity and comfort.

If you are unable to help directly, we would be grateful for any recommendations or referrals.

Thank you for considering Steve. We love him dearly and want to do what’s best for him, even though this is the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.