A woman faced with the difficult decision of having to put one of her dogs down after Christmas has created a bucket list of activities to make sure her rescue dog's final few weeks are the most enjoyable.

When Rose Mizak, 25, found a rescue dog chained to a tree earlier this year and took her home, she never could have imagined what they'd go through together. Around three weeks after Mizak, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, adopted Rue, who is a foxhound and beagle mix, she witnessed her "first episode" where she woke abruptly and started growling.

These aggressive tendencies continued over time, as Mizak told Newsweek that Rue would "go for anything she could and bite it." It was devastating to see, and she spent months trying different medications and seeking advice from numerous veterinarians.

Unfortunately, Rue was diagnosed with REM (rapid eye movement) disorder and a trauma response problem. As a result, Mizak was advised that behavioral euthanasia would be the best thing for her. She's made the heartbreaking decision to go through with the procedure after Christmas, meaning she has just a few weeks left to give Rue the best life possible.

"I was super sad when they told me because when I took her off that chain, I thought we would have years together. I thought her suffering was over. But now I have to save her from the thoughts inside her head," Mizak said.

"We started Rue's End of Life Stuffies where her supporters have sent her stuffies to destroy. She absolutely loves them, and has become a professional at ripping packages open. We've been going to the park every day, hiking, getting pup cups every time we leave the house, and we made paw prints," she continued.

She isn't just stopping there, as Mizak has planned a trip to Florida with her other two dogs, Bear and Jack, as well as a friend and her dog. After that, she's scheduled an end-of-life photoshoot at the beach so she can always cherish Rue's memory.

Mizak shared Rue's story on TikTok (@bear_the_brittany_beagle) and revealed all the things they've done since receiving the diagnosis and planning her euthanasia. The post went viral with 676,800 views and more than 48,000 likes at the time of writing.

So far, her favorite bucket list activity has been seeing how happy Rue gets with all her new stuffed toys.

What Is REM Disorder?

The website PetMD explains that REM sleep behavior disorder occurs when dogs display a violent motion and odd behaviors in their sleep. Their eyes will often dart around, and their brain is active, and the signs include violent limb movements, howling, barking, growling, and even biting. It doesn't just occur when they're sleeping at night, as it can happen during daytime naps too.

According to PetMD, there's no known breed or sex disposition, and dogs rarely recover from the disorder. They usually require lifelong management, such as medication.

Mizak tried everything she could to help Rue through this, including eight different medications, CBD oil, behavioral training, tests, and seeing four different vets. Her aggressive episodes started once or twice a day, but over time and with some of the medications, she was experiencing five a day instead.

"Most episodes occur when she's resting or sleeping, but recently she has lashed out over nothing while awake," Mizak said. "She has punctured my dogs once, and that's when I bought her the muzzle.

"I feel sad for her every day, and I hate to see her suffering. I struggle with the fact that four vets recommended euthanasia. Most people see the happy dog she is, but that's because most of her episodes are when she's asleep."

Behavioral euthanasia is the process of humanely ending a dog's life due to severe behavioral issues that put people or other animals in danger, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

It certainly hasn't been an easy decision, but a veterinarian warned Mizak that if the problem continues, she might be forced into it at a later date. "The vets advised I should let her go while she is still fully with me and doesn't see me as something else," Mizak added.

The Social Media Response

After sharing Rue's devastating story online, Mizak has been amazed by all the support that she's received. By speaking out about this experience, she hopes to raise awareness for behavioral euthanasia and REM disorder so people know what to look for, and don't feel so alone.

Mizak told Newsweek: "I'm so shocked by all the support we've received. But obviously, we've also gotten negative comments too. Behavioral euthanasia along with REM disorder is tricky, and vets have said you can't train a sleeping dog. I don't let the negative comments get to me because my goal is to raise awareness for this disorder and for behavioral euthanasia.

"I'm glad I have the support system that I do. This isn't easy because my dogs are like my kids, so facing this decision has not been easy."

With over 1,000 comments on the viral TikTok post, many people thanked Mizak for sharing this story and for lavishing Rue with so much joy in her final weeks.

One comment reads: "I'm so sorry, as a vet tech I know this decision is a hard one. Thank you for loving her."

Another TikToker wrote: "You are so incredibly strong, thank you for loving her enough to make the right decision."

While another person added: "What an absolutely beautiful way to honor her and make her last days in this life full of happiness."

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