Pet euthanasia has always been a controversial topic.
Our stand has always been that we do not see it as right or wrong, but rather, as a choice or option. The human gives the order – it’s his/her choice.
Our choice is that we would avoid it at all costs. We would opt for palliative care and use pain-killers, if need be, and allow the animal to pass on naturally. This is an alternative to euthanasia. So, we do have a choice.
This is the reason we do not subsidise euthanasia in our medical subsidy. The other reason is that our donors come from various religions and in many religions, killing is wrong. We need to respect this.
But let it be clear here that we do not judge any pet owner (or rescuer) harshly if he or she chooses to opt for euthanasia for his or her rescues/pets. It is his/her personal choice which we shall respect.
Here are two articles about pet euthanasia:
http://www.care2.com/causes/why-environmentalists-should-care-about-pet-euthanasia.html
http://www.care2.com/causes/why-environmentalists-should-care-about-pet-euthanasia.html?page=2
An excerpt from the first article:
This suggests that if sufficient resources were allocated for finding new homes for pets, advocating for municipal and state policies that would better enable people to retain their pets (through the increased availability of pet-friendly housing and affordable vet care for low income pet owners), and encouraging adoption over breeding, we could end (or at least minimize) the cycle of suffering and death that takes place in thousands of shelters in the US every day.
An excerpt from the second article:
Many people may argue that there are many worse, more pressing problems than the pet overpopulation and euthanasia crisis. But if we cannot properly take care of those animals with whom we live with and love, then I doubt there is any hope for us that we will make any real effort to address more distant ecological concerns.
Pet euthanasia is the ultimate symbol of our selfishness, wastefulness, and lack of foresight and compassion that is contributing to so many of our environmental ills. Our ability to be empathetic and responsible pet owners is one of the biggest tests as to whether we are capable stewards of this planet.
Right now we are failing that test.
We have two comments to this issue:
1. Neuter, neuter, neuter.
2. What would you opt for if that animal is your child? Would you opt to have your child euthanised? If your answer is YES, you are probably not wrong. If your answer is NO, you are also probably not wrong. What matters is that you are acting out of compassion and you are doing the best you can.
For many things in life, there is no clear-cut RIGHT or WRONG, only the BEST possible option, chosen from our hearts.
Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.” – Kahlil Gibran
Comments
5 responses to “A (re)look at pet euthanasia”
If euthanasia for animals was illegal, people would have no choice but to look after their pets for life until they pass away naturally. I know of vets who refuse to perform euthanasia due to their own principles of respecting and preserving life.
I volunteered in a small village in Indonesia many years ago where euthanasia was unheard of. The vet taught everyone how to nurse terminal and badly injured animals until the end. Nobody requested euthanasia and nobody abandoned their animals. People just accepted that as a way of life and coped with it. Why can’t modern people do it too? Maybe they are too busy?
Most people I know feels it is ok to euthanise very sick animals but not okay for shelters to euthanise due to over-crowding. Some people feel it is “compassionate” to euthanise to end the suffering and pain.
Yes, many religions say killing is wrong, but how many humans practise it? Some do, but only on humans. They think it is ok to kill animals because animals are lower creatures. Those who talk so much about religion but do not practise it are hypocrites.
Once I was at the vet and a young couples came with their cats. They wanted the vet to put their cat to sleep because he dirty the place. The vet refused on ground that there was nothing wrong with the cat EXCEPT behavoural problems.
I always wonder what happened to that cat. DUMPED?
I do believe shelters do not ‘select’ and kill. We do not have the right. I understand overcrowding. BUT killing does not solve the fundamental problems.
I also believe GOVERNMENTs of any country should not allowed breeding cats and dogs for profit. I do not see why the life of any special breed is more important that a cat or dog in a shelter. The worse thing is, there are so many special breed dogs or cats, once they are grown and no longer cute, they were DUMPED by their owner.