Did her editor never hear of the words "difficult decision", "no choice but to euthanize the dog"? And I would like to know who thought shooting a "PUPPY" in the face had a reassuring feel to it. Everyone involved in this is an idiot.
It's not a puppy. It is at least to be considered an adolescent dog....In every case another mere 6 months and it would be 'full grown'. When passing judgement on a chicken murdering hand-biter, being tried as an adult is not remarkable.
And his character is well defied by that point - You know what that dog is by the time he's a year old, with the exception of a bitch pup who has never passed a litter. The mothering instinct and the protections that come with it often come late.
But as a rule, a dog is what he is going to be (character-wise) at a year.
And there is nothing wrong with shooting a dog 'in the face', if the dog requires shooting. In fact, it would be a mercy.