Maybe this is a strange question

[Monica4316]

But it’s something I’ve wondered for a while. We know that euthanasia for people is wrong. However, how come it is considered to be alright for animals? (I’m not accusing anyone of sinning by having their pet euthanized. I am just wondering why this difference exists). Or, - most people have their pets sterilized, but human sterilization is wrong also if the intent is not to have children.

I know that there are significant differences between animals and humans. But this is something that’s never really been explained… ? any thoughts?

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

An animal has a “spirit” but not a soul.

A human has a soul and is created in the image and likeness of God.

God set us to be good stewards over the animals. That means we don’t let them suffer unnecessarily. Since an animal has no soul, it has nothing to merit by suffering.

A human who suffers can offer up the suffering either for his own redemption or for others. I have been told that suffering on earth can mitigate some of the suffering of Purgatory. A human has free will, and the right to squeeze out every single second of life, to have more time to be ready for God.

As far as neutering animals, we are allowed to do this for the same reasons–they have no soul and we are their stewards. It would be cruel to allow for more animals to be born than can be cared for by a pet owner or a farmer.

By the same measure, we are allowed to eat animals, but not humans.

This is very simplistic, but I am but a faithful peasant with no letters after my name and it is late at night. I am sure others here can explain this better. It’s a great question.

 

[Berean2]

I can’t improve on Peggy’s excellent answer. Just wanted to add that male pets, if not neutered, can run the risk of getting testicular cancer (I’ve seen this).

 

[purplesunshine]

Except for the fact that animals do have a soul…called a material soul…wheras humans have a immortal soul.

It could be said of plants that they have a spirit of life, however the life they have is different than an aware animal.

That is also why we must be better stewerts of animals than people. If we (even purpously) kill our lawn because it is a nusance God is not grieved. If we kill an animal because it is a nusance I believe God would be sad for both it and us.

The level of our stewardship between a sack of potatoes and a chicken (even if that chicken is dinner) should be acted upon accordingly.

 

[Holly3278]

I can’t improve on Peggy’s excellent answer. Just wanted to add that male pets, if not neutered, can run the risk of getting testicular cancer (I’ve seen this).

I don’t know about dogs but I know that with cats, there is an increased risk of uterine cancer in females if they are not spayed.

 

[Monica4316]

thanks for the replies!

I didn’t think of the argument regarding us being made in God’s image… that is a good point… but then I was also thinking of other arguments. For example, is not euthanasia against Church teaching not only because we can merit by suffering, but also because we can’t decide when someone lives or dies? the first point would not apply to animals I guess, but the second point would…

Regarding neutering animals, - I’m not arguing this is wrong, - but I’m just trying to understand… some people say that people should use contraception, etc, to be “responsible”, but the Catholic argument is that since God is the Creator, He needs to decide when to create… we shouldn’t try to stop Him from creating a new human being. But how is the case different with animals? Maybe I’m just missing something here?

thank you