Euthanasia for a family pet?

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SACREDHEART

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I could not find an answer to my question doing a search here so I will ask in the forum. I am a new Catholic and I know the stance we hold on euthanasia but I don’t know what to do in my sitiuation with our dog who is getting very ill and he is suffering. Will it be a sin to have him put down by a vet? I know others have probably already had to make this decision that could give advice. Thanks.
 
No, it is not a sin.

Animals are (no matter how much beloved a family pet is) not people. They cannot comprehend why they are suffering.

It certainly is not easy to do, however.
 
SACREDHEART said:
I could not find an answer to my question doing a search here so I will ask in the forum. I am a new Catholic and I know the stance we hold on euthanasia but I don’t know what to do in my sitiuation with our dog who is getting very ill and he is suffering. Will it be a sin to have him put down by a vet? I know others have probably already had to make this decision that could give advice. Thanks.
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Euthanasia of a pet is one of the hardest decisions one will have to make. But just remember that in the case of an aged, hurting pet, it is the last kindness you can do for your friend.
 
The vet will first give an anesthetic which will make the animal drowsy. After about five minutes, he will increase the dose so the animal gently falls asleep. Then he will administer a much higher dose of another anesthetic which will immediately cause death. It is a very peaceful process, no pain is involved, and you can be present at all stages.
 
Church has no moral objections to this that I know of. Objections to human euthanasia are all based on the sanctity and dignity of human life, which don’t apply to animals.

No eternal soul? No problem with Euthanasia.
 
As others have noted this is not sinful. I would further maintain that it is obligatory.

I don’t have a link or source for this. However, I spent much time on my grandparents farm when I was young. It was impressed on me that one of our duties as stewards of God’s creation is to care for the animals He gives us. This includes euthanizing those which are suffering.
 
Thank you to all that replied to my question and put my mind to ease, still a very hard thing to have to do but at least thats one thing less I have to worry about.
 
Your pet’s life is precious to you but it’s not a human life. Be merciful and end its suffering when the time comes.
 
Gen.1


  1. *]26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them havedominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
    To have dominion means you have to sometimes make the tough choice of whether an animal lives or dies. Try to avoid humanizing animals in this regard. They do not have eternal souls, but they are God’s gift to us. We should treat them with mercy and compassion, which means ending their suffering.
 
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