Animal Euthanasia

[MontereyMatt]

What is the Church’s teaching on euthanasia for animals? I know and agree that it is wrong to euthanize human beings, but I never considered the morality of this when animals are involved. If a family pet is very sick with a terminal disease, or has been struck by a car, is it wrong to put the animal down to end its suffering?

 

[1ke]

No, it is not wrong to euthanize an animal just as it is not wrong to slaughter them for food. Animals do not have spiritual souls.

 

[Benedictus]

Not only is it not wrong to euthanize animals, it is sometimes wrong not to euthanize animals. Such is the case when they are suffering greatly and there is no other reasonable way of ending their suffering.

 

[Dorothy]

Another thought is that if someone were to pay $2,000. for an operation for their elderly dog or cat, it seems that it would be a sinful thing to do in view of the fact of the great needs of the poor all over the world.

 

[Eileen_T]

I had to have two of our cats euthanised (at separate times) while working on the Euthanasia section of the www.life.org.nz website. It was a bit hard but I agree with 1ke and Benedictus.

Animals are not made in the image and likeness of God and their lives are not sacred for that reason. We have been given stewardship over animals and it would be wrong to allow them to suffer unnecessarily.

 

[Dorothy]

Eileen,

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Very well put.