Pet Euthanasia?

[stacymay]

I know this is a much smaller issue than the more controversial human euthanasia, but after working as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic I've seen lots of people make the difficult decision of putting their beloved pet to sleep and the emotional result is often very deep. What's your stance on this? Is it humane or unfair to end a pet's life? If it depends, which situations call for it and which do not?

 

[Tiberius]

I believe that it's a glorious gift to take the pain of a loved one and make it your own so they don't have to suffer it.

 

[JadeTigress]

If the animal is going to die and is clearly suffering, it would be cruel to let it continue suffering.

However, when I worked in a vet's office, that wasn't always the case. A couple that stick out to me were the couple that brought their pit bull in to be put down because they said he was starting to bite (the same dog that licked my hand and was as sweet as could be when I walked in the room), without putting him through any training to try to correct the problem. And the big fat yellow cat who was being put down because his owner was moving and didn't want to bring him along. So instead of finding him another home, she had him killed.

There are very few things that I find so horribly, offensively wrong, but that's one of them. I wanted to beat those people senseless.

 

[Nanopants]

That's messed up. Why even get a pet if you don't care enough to keep it alive?

I had a dog though that I had to put down once. It was the saddest thing ever but it felt like the right thing to do since he was in so much pain.

 

[Tiberius]

If the animal is going to die and is clearly suffering, it would be cruel to let it continue suffering.

However, when I worked in a vet's office, that wasn't always the case. A couple that stick out to me were the couple that brought their pit bull in to be put down because they said he was starting to bite (the same dog that licked my hand and was as sweet as could be when I walked in the room), without putting him through any training to try to correct the problem. And the big fat yellow cat who was being put down because his owner was moving and didn't want to bring him along. So instead of finding him another home, she had him killed.

There are very few things that I find so horribly, offensively wrong, but that's one of them. I wanted to beat those people senseless.

I fully agree. To have such a casual disregard for life is sickening. To destroy a life just because you are lazy is repulsive.

 

[solarwave]

I have no problem with it and I think it proves we sometimes treat animals more humanely than we treat people.

 

[citizenthom]

One of my pets is a ball python. Right now I keep her at my office, with my landlord's blessing. Before I bought her, I had to accept the fact that it is nearly impossible to find new homes for full-grown snakes. As such I have accepted that if somethings happens that I am unable to keep her at my office anymore, I will have to have her euthanized.

I consider that far more humane and responsible than releasing her into the wild as many snake owners do.

I also own two rabbits. They are "mated." It is well-documented that when one of a mated pair of rabbits dies, the other will experience extreme grief, often losing their fur, starving themselves, refusing to groom, etc. Again, I have had to make peace with the fact that if one of them dies or has to be euthanized, I will likely have to euthanize the other.

Animals are not intended to survive beyond their natural health and well-being, and pet owners must be willing to allow them to pass peacefully when they fall into such a condition that they would not normally survive. It is extremely cruel--and financially unwise--to keep an animal alive just so you can have "more time" to watch them suffer.

 

[yasic]

If the animal is going to die and is clearly suffering, it would be cruel to let it continue suffering.

However, when I worked in a vet's office, that wasn't always the case. A couple that stick out to me were the couple that brought their pit bull in to be put down because they said he was starting to bite (the same dog that licked my hand and was as sweet as could be when I walked in the room), without putting him through any training to try to correct the problem. And the big fat yellow cat who was being put down because his owner was moving and didn't want to bring him along. So instead of finding him another home, she had him killed.

There are very few things that I find so horribly, offensively wrong, but that's one of them. I wanted to beat those people senseless.

Emphasis Mine

In my area there animal shelters are so full of stray cats including kittens that they literally refuse to take in any more of them. I would be very surprised if you did not have a similar situation around your area.

Why should a man force his particular cat onto someone when there are literally millions more around the country that could use a home to go to? What if none of his friends want the cat? Would he have to just release it into the wild so it dies of starvation after a week or two since it does not know how to live?


I once had a very similar issue. I had a beloved cat that my father developed a serious allergy too. We went to our friends but nobody needed an extra cat, and not even a single shelter would accept him. We were forced to keep the cat outside in below 0 degree weather as we saw no alternative. (Though I did rig up a portable heating system next to the bed we made him.) I could tell though that this cat was suffering and spent literally every minute day and night (I swear he did not sleep) mewing right outside our door wondering what he did wrong. In short he was miserable.

We tried finally after a week of this to have him put down but all the vets and animal shelters refused to put down our cat as they felt it is wrong to put down a healthy cat and I should just give him away to someone.

 

[jayem]

Euthanizing a terminally ill and suffering pet is absolutely correct and proper. My wife and I have also planned for the reverse situation. We have a 21 year old African Grey parrot. If she stays healthy, Gracie could live to be 50 or more, and might outlive us. In our living trusts, we've named a guardian for her, and will fund a special trust account that the guardian can use to provide her a good and loving home.

 

[Cuddles333]

If a pet is terminally ill then of course the decision to have him/her put to sleep would be the correct one. I have found that if there is love between you and your beloved one, you will find that they too have a spirit or something that also lives on.

I also find that we humans need to be more careful in how we view and treat our animal friends because evidently God hold's them in much more esteem than we tend to:




2 Samual 12:1-14

1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

 

[Nanopants]

I have no problem with it and I think it proves we sometimes treat animals more humanely than we treat people.

You have a point. But imo, animals are often such better friends.

 

[disciple2011]

It is disgusting to put a per down due to illness and suffering and not have the same choice to ourselves.

 

[FreeSpirit74]

If the animal is going to die and is clearly suffering, it would be cruel to let it continue suffering.

However, when I worked in a vet's office, that wasn't always the case. A couple that stick out to me were the couple that brought their pit bull in to be put down because they said he was starting to bite (the same dog that licked my hand and was as sweet as could be when I walked in the room), without putting him through any training to try to correct the problem. And the big fat yellow cat who was being put down because his owner was moving and didn't want to bring him along. So instead of finding him another home, she had him killed.

There are very few things that I find so horribly, offensively wrong, but that's one of them. I wanted to beat those people senseless.

^^^This, all the way. Putting a pet down should only be done in cases of terminal illness that is only going to get worse. Putting an animal down for behavioral issues that can be worked on is sheer nonsense. I think that couple with the pit bull was in way over their collective head, because pits require very consistant training, and it needs to be made clear to the dog that the human is the alpha in the relationship (and that is not taught through beatings or isolation).

 

[solarwave]

You have a point. But imo, animals are often such better friends.

Better friends in every way? They can be loyal and kind, but they can't empathise and understand you as much as a human friend.

 

[NoelAsa]

I know this is a much smaller issue than the more controversial human euthanasia, but after working as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic I've seen lots of people make the difficult decision of putting their beloved pet to sleep and the emotional result is often very deep. What's your stance on this? Is it humane or unfair to end a pet's life? If it depends, which situations call for it and which do not?

I had a dog that I loved very much. He would follow me every where I went. When he was 18 1/2 years old I had to have him put to sleep. I would have preferred he die peacefully at home, but the last six months of his life he got sick. Took him to the vet a number of times but as my husband pointed he was rather old for a dog and I could not keep him alive forever. I finally had to have him put to sleep when it got so bad that I could tell that he was in pain. My husband convinced me that it was the humane thing to do. That I was being selfish to want to hang on to him. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done. My husband and I both took him to the vet and was with him when he died. I cried for months. In the end I believe the right choice was made.

 

[Tiberius]

I had a dog that I loved very much. He would follow me every where I went. When he was 18 1/2 years old I had to have him put to sleep. I would have preferred he die peacefully at home, but the last six months of his life he got sick. Took him to the vet a number of times but as my husband pointed he was rather old for a dog and I could not keep him alive forever. I finally had to have him put to sleep when it got so bad that I could tell that he was in pain. My husband convinced me that it was the humane thing to do. That I was being selfish to want to hang on to him. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done. My husband and I both took him to the vet and was with him when he died. I cried for months. In the end I believe the right choice was made.

This is exactly what I was talking about earlier, that it's a gift to take your pets pain and make it your own. I've had to do it myself. Hugs for you!

 

[mpok1519]

One of my pets is a ball python. Right now I keep her at my office, with my landlord's blessing. Before I bought her, I had to accept the fact that it is nearly impossible to find new homes for full-grown snakes. As such I have accepted that if somethings happens that I am unable to keep her at my office anymore, I will have to have her euthanized.

Why not just keep it somewhere else thats safe?

 

[FreeSpirit74]

Better friends in every way? They can be loyal and kind, but they can't empathise and understand you as much as a human friend.

They also don't stab you in the back, lie to you, or betray you the way a human person can. Take care of them, and treat them well, and you will have their devotion until the day they (or you) die.

 

[solarwave]

They also don't stab you in the back, lie to you, or betray you the way a human person can. Take care of them, and treat them well, and you will have their devotion until the day they (or you) die.

I don't have a problem with pets, I'm just saying that its not the same kind of friendship.

 

[Tiberius]

I don't have a problem with pets, I'm just saying that its not the same kind of friendship.

A relationship with a pet of course is going to be different to a relationship with a person, but it doesn't mean any less for that.