Euthanizing a pet

[severus68]

By now it’s already done- if you listened to the Vet-and I’m sorry for your loss of this 14 year old very special member of the family… if you can say you did what you believed to be best for your furbaby,best friend,confidante,babysitter,playmate and beacon of love in your family’s life -then be at peace with this… your beloved pet understands and will meet you in Heaven- trust that- they share with us the closest thing to unconditional love this side of Heaven-they are teachers for us-… I saw a beautiful prayer message not too long ago…“God please let me be the person my dear old dog believes me to be”…

Love your post.

 

[nute]

If an animal is cognizant of itself and self aware and able to ask questions like is there
a God and how should I relate to God??? That animal is on another level. I’ve wondered
a few times if God created another creature like man with a supernatural nature, commonly referred to as an immortal soul. If He didn’t, and we alone in the known Universe are the only creature made in the image and likeness of God, then perhaps that will help people accept in the long run that they need God. I’m ignoring angels for the moment.

God said these are good to eat and revealed animals. I find it highly unlikely that God would recommend eating sentient beings that are aware of him. So perhaps none of the animals are sentient like man is sentient on our planet. Still, some animals are incredibly intelligent.

As to the question of do our pets go to some kind of heaven. Perhaps they are there for us in some form if we need them to be happy. Chances are, we are so happy being in the presence of God that we don’t need them. What about plants for that matter?

There is some room for supposing when the Bible talks about a new heaven and a new earth that the earth as we know it will exist in some perfected form. Maybe I’m misunderstanding scripture though.

Suffering by a human who offers that up in union with Jesus is valuable. The suffering of an animal though is possibly of no value and worse than that an example of poor stewardship. Don’t let a pet suffer needlessly, ease the pain and if appropriate have the pet, animal, put down.

Pets have some emotional capacity and some can relate to people more than others, but they are not a valuable substitute for people. People spend a lot on pets and some consider them to be their children. This is wrong no matter what animal it is that you are talking about. Treat a pet well and care for that pet, but don’t let the pet suffer because you are unable to let go.

 

[maizey75]

Thank you JCnMe; That post really helped heal my heart which
is totally broken at the moment after losing a beloved pet too.

I know we’re not to ‘make God’s’ out of our pets but they are so very special & important to us.
Recently I read a story in the newspaper of a man who actually died from a broken heart
after losing his pet & due to my recent experience I could understand how that could happen. It was & still can be absolutely devastating & an extremely painful experience to lose them & their love from our lives! :bighanky:

I think of the animals who are dealt with so cruelly on this earth by humans; in particular
I’m thinking of the rhino’s who get their horns hacked off & I truly believe that they’ll have to answer to God for that. God is a God of justice after-all & this is another reason why I adore him!

I really believe also that Jesus reassured me that he’s got my pet in safe keeping for the time being.
Animals have their own unique characters & can also be extremely loving & noble creatures in so many ways! God created our pets & notices when even a small sparrow
falls from the ground. They are all his creatures after all.

1 John 4:8 :The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

[JCnMe]

Animals are teachers for us- they bring out the best or the worst in us- to face ourselves… I mentioned them sharing the closest thing to unconditional love this side of Heaven- in this case they make us better humans and “animal people” just aren’t complete without that love in their lives-if you know that kind of love,you know having that animal in your life was a blessing from God as their place in your heart is all their own… someone who has not connected with an animal this way will have no idea why anyone would consider them as anything more than chattel and that’s why there is a debate-it would be a much better world if everyone loved an animal and felt the love returned-sadly that’s not the case… but thankfully it’s God who decides who goes where-and I know He gave them such perfect hearts that respond in kind 10 times or more the love given them and if you know love you know God(it’s Biblical- look it up:thumbsup… that’s why it shouldn’t surprise anyone when they see their pets waiting for them when they go home- to the love of God… Pope JohnPaul II said animals are our brothers-I know them as family-… and St Francis knew that love and connection well…

 

[marylauravicuna]

God said these are good to eat and revealed animals. I find it highly unlikely that God would recommend eating sentient beings that are aware of him. So perhaps none of the animals are sentient like man is sentient on our planet. Still, some animals are incredibly intelligent.

We do eat the “lamb of God” every week in communion.

 

[cheezey]

… then why is she a Doctor of the Church?

(As an aside, This is regarding Hildegard, correct? Have I been memorizing the wrong list? This name is not on mine …Or did I miss something here?)

Sorry for the interruption…

crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/128/Doctors_of_the_Church.html

 

[marylauravicuna]

(As an aside, This is regarding Hildegard, correct? Have I been memorizing the wrong list? This name is not on mine …Or did I miss something here?)

Sorry for the interruption…

crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/128/Doctors_of_the_Church.html

APOSTOLIC LETTER

Proclaiming Saint Hildegard of Bingen,
professed nun of the Order of Saint Benedict,
a Doctor of the Universal Church

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
FOR PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_letters/documents/hf_ben-xvi_apl_20121007_ildegarda-bingen_en.html

 

[Shirtless]

Maybe you could just tell them the dog is sleeping. I guess it depends on the age of the daughters. If they are 10-12 and older, they can probably understand the dog is dead. Younger than that, I a little white lie couldn’t hurt. It couldn’t be more than venial.

Heavens no, do not tell the child that the pet is being “put to sleep.” Later on, if she needs to have a surgical operation, and the nurse tells her that they need to “put her to sleep” for the operation, she will be frightened out of her wits.

 

[JCnMe]

You tell them Jesus called their beloved pet home and it will be loved and cared for and healthy again like when it was young-and they need to trust (grandma grandpa or anyone who has passed they knew-) and the angels at the Rainbow Bridge will take good care of their pet now-you can read the poem about the Rainbow Bridge to them… they really do leave in the arms of an angel-trust that…

 

[Shirtless]

Yes. Not explicitly so, of course – you’re not going to find a paragraph in the catechism that says “animals do not have immortal souls,” but what you will find in there is that humans are unique in the order of creation, made in the image and likeness of their creator, endowed with an immortal soul.

What that means is that Deo Gratias42 is half right. Animals do not go to heaven by virtue of having an immortal soul. On the other hand, we do not know what everything that will make up the “new heavens and new earth” will be. In the realm of speculative theology, we might ask the question, “might God choose to re-create creatures in the new heavens and new earth who were present in our current order of creation?” It would seem that the answer could be, “yes, He is able to do that.” Will God do such a thing? We don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see. It seems that it’s possible, though…

Umm… and the ‘near-death experience’ of a four-year-old (non-Catholic) Christian boy trumps the teaching of the Catholic Church?

There is no reason why God could not choose to speak to us through a four-year old Protestant. The Virgin Mary chose Bernadette, who did not speak proper French, to communicate a message to the world. But let’s stay on point. Please cite the specific church teaching which states that animals do not have souls and that we will not see them in heaven.

 

[JCnMe]

You won’t find such a teaching- the Church is open on this one some Protestant churches however cannot fathom it and say absolutely no… there’s a very funny banter between a Catholic Church and a Protestant Church across the street-about this issue- via their outdoor announcements … I don’t have the link- but you can probably do a search and find it

 

[libbeylu]

Wow…we have so many who try to be an “expert” or give their “expert” advice and/or knowledge on euthanizing a pet.

Eight months ago my vet advised and scheduled an appointment to have my beloved Ms. Lib euthanized! Just the actual word “euthanize” had hit me so hard with emotion. I have never felt so lost and finally realized the vet had “given up” on her treatment, and I had to agree that Ms. Lib’s life was coming to an end. She suffered about a year, and in my heart I knew the suffering could not last. I had a day to spend with her and prayed. I LOVED her and I had a choice to make, but felt in my heart that I did not have the *right *to make THAT decision! I canceled the appointment and prepared for the last days, hours, minutes, and seconds of Ms. Lib’s life. Her death came in the late evening…I placed her body on a table, placed a crucifix and a candle next to her, prayed, wrapped her in a knitted blanket I made for her, and buried her in my flower bed. She was a little chihuahua but the Love she had given me…I miss most of all! :hug1:

 

[JCnMe]

Bless your heart… I don’t know why so many people feel a need to play God in this… death is the culmination of a life that should be lived out to the end in God’s time- not ours… I understand if the animal is in serious pain or delirium etc- then euthanizing may be the only option to help…but most animals should be thought of as any elderly member of the family-you do what is necessary to accommodate them- knowing all they want to do is be by your side until God calls them home-we owe them that much ((hugs))) for anyone who has lost a dear furbaby and understands what I just said

 

[acseawell]

Not saying you are wrong, just wondering how do we know that pets do not have souls? Is it in the bible or cathechism? There’s this book: Heaven is For Real heavenisforreal.net/ where a four year old boy goes to “heaven” during emergency surgery and he sees dogs, cats, elephants, horses, and kangaroos in heaven.

All living creations have a soul. This is what makes to tulip know when to grow, a pup knows about finding nourishment even when it cannot open its eyes, a fish knows to seek shelter when a hawk’s shadow appears, etc.

I am a veterinarian with over 40 years experience, and euthanizing an animal is always difficult. I try to stay out of the family’s discussion, but gently remind them that this is the last kind thing they can do for their friend.

 

[Nelka]

All living creations have a soul. This is what makes to tulip know when to grow, a pup knows about finding nourishment even when it cannot open its eyes, a fish knows to seek shelter when a hawk’s shadow appears, etc.

I am a veterinarian with over 40 years experience, and euthanizing an animal is always difficult. I try to stay out of the family’s discussion, but gently remind them that this is the last kind thing they can do for their friend.

Are you getting spirit and soul muddled up?

 

[Gorgias]

marylauravicuna:

Not saying you are wrong, just wondering how do we know that pets do not have souls?

All living creations have a soul.

True. The question could have been asked more precisely. The question to ask, of course, is “do animals have eternal souls?” The Church replies that only humans are made in the image and likeness of God, and have the opportunity to choose Him and spend eternity with Him in heaven…

 

[JCnMe]

… this post was started by someone going through a heart wrenching decision… please don’t try to turn this into an animals in Heaven debate- if you’ve loved an animal as family- you know that love between you was a gift from God and you will see them again… however-if when you get there and decide animals have no place there- I’m sure you will be allowed to go elsewhere

 

[Gorgias]

… this post was started by someone going through a heart wrenching decision… please don’t try to turn this into an animals in Heaven debate

Umm… you read the OP’s post, didn’t you? the very first question asked was, “why is it ok to euthanize a pet?” The answer, of course, is because pets – although we love them dearly – don’t have immortal souls.

So… please don’t try to turn this into an “animals have immortal souls” debate.

• if you’ve loved an animal as family- you know that love between you was a gift from God and you will see them again

Yes, I know the former. No, I don’t know the latter. I would hope that I might, but that’s a different debate…

… however-if when you get there and decide animals have no place there

I never said “they have no place there”, but thanks for making me out to be a pet-hater.

I’m sure you will be allowed to go elsewhere

And, as much as I’ve loved my family pets, if it were a choice between heaven and them… well, at least I know that I understand which is the greater good…

 

[JCnMe]

You must have missed the “why” of the post-it was a real situation…not something to debate or turn into a personal forum of your issues- euthanizing a beloved pet should only be done if there are no more options to their suffering-…not because YOU have decided play God and say they are expendable because YOU decided they won’t be going to Heaven… and for the record- your lack of empathy to the situation is what makes you look bad-not me

 

[Gorgias]

not because YOU have decided play God and say they are expendable

Wait… where in the world did i ever say that pets are ‘expendable’?

because YOU decided they won’t be going to Heaven

And the fact that you decided that they do, isn’t ‘playing God’?

your lack of empathy

Empathy doesn’t mean “tell someone lies”, though, especially when they ask the question straight-up…