Animal Euthanasia?

[onegreenclover]

I’ll be a vet in two years.

I know about people and euthanasia but what about animals?

 

[Holly3278]

I’ll be a vet in two years.

I know about people and euthanasia but what about animals?

While the euthanasia of people is totally unacceptable, the euthanasia of animals is acceptable. Of course, if I were a vet, I would only agree to euthanize an animal if the animal were suffering tremendously or was in some sort of similar predicament. I would never euthanize an animal just because the person could no longer afford to take care of the animal or had to move and could no longer keep the animal. Instead, I would refer the person to their local humane society and ask them to put the animal up for adoption.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

When young I spent a lot of time on my grandparents’ farm. I was always taught that we are responsible to spare our animals unnecessary pain, and that it was sinful not to do so.

 

[Newbie2]

While the euthanasia of people is totally unacceptable, the euthanasia of animals is acceptable. Of course, if I were a vet, I would only agree to euthanize an animal if the animal were suffering tremendously or was in some sort of similar predicament. I would never euthanize an animal just because the person could no longer afford to take care of the animal or had to move and could no longer keep the animal. Instead, I would refer the person to their local humane society and ask them to put the animal up for adoption.

I’ve been a veterinarian for 23 years, and am currently working on my Master’s Degree (Theology) on the Catholic moral perspective on animals.

Unfortunately, Holly, it’s not always that simple. Humane societies are stretched to the limit and cannot always accept animals for adoption. Sometimes it’s sadly a matter of euthanasia vs. getting dumpted out on the stree. Rarely, but it sometimes happens…most people that either cannot afford or cannot for other reasons keep their pets don’t often seek out euthanasia as an option, in my experience.

OP, you will be faced with a variety of situations in your career ranging from being asked to euthanize otherwise healthy animals to having to “strongly suggest” to an owner who is unwilling to give up on a pet undergoing a slow, agonizing death that euthanasia is the right thing to do.

Feel free to PM me and we can chat.

 

[Godscre]

Catholic Concern for Animals is a great place to learn about all of God’s creatures and theology (our General Secretary and Editor has a PhD in theology). She’ll be in the States (from England) in June and July (to speak at a Catholic theological conference).
Thank you for discussing this important topic. I agree, that if the animal’s prognosis is very poor, the merciful thing to do is to euthanize.
Jan
Chairman, Catholic Concern for Animals-USA
Hebrews 4:13