As part of my job I have had to euthanize well over 1000 animals that people decided they didn't want. I worked out of a shelter in NC. While my primary job was to investigate cases of animal cruelty, many times I had to put down animals using various methods. I will tell you I don't believe in the gas chamber, although I was certified to use it. I was wondering how everyone felt about euthanasia. The most common method is an injection. We used Ketamine first to reduce any effects and then something called Fatal Plus (like there is a "Plus" to anything that begins with "Fatal".). Xylazine was used on wildlife. NC law states that a single bullet to the brain is also a humane form of euthanasia, although unless an emergency, I can't see the benefits.

How does everyone feel about euthanasia. Is this something you would do for your animal to ease suffering?

You hit home for me. I feel differently on a day to day bases, I can see benefits but I also wonder how "pain free" it really is. We had to euthanize our 18 year old poodle 9 years ago, he had no eyes (for the last 2 months of his life) couldn't hear, couldn't walk, he was miserable. We kept waiting for him to pass on but he didn't, he couldn't even go to the bathroom by himself. Euthanizing him was a hard decision but I think it was the right one.

To bring this issue to a more human level, when my mom was dying of cancer she said "I wish I was a dog or a cat, I know I'm dying but instead of giving me peace and freeing me from the pain I have to suffer through every day until God decides to take me, I'm so glad Silver (our poodle) didn't have to go through this."

Having said that, I don't agree with euthanizing healthy animals because of overcrowding in shelters and the like. I would however like to get my hands on the people who hurt animals, I must say that euthanasia is too good for those people, the bullet to the brain sounds better.

Though I wouldn't want to be the one doing it (because I'm a big sissy and would cry), I understand it's use and think it's a good thing, at least in the case of animals who are suffering. We had to put a cat of ours down when I was a teenager; she had a tumor under her tongue, couldn't wash herself, couldn't eat and could barely drink. To keep her alive would have been cruel, and in my opinion, would have been for us. My cousin recently put her dog down (he was very old and ill); she said they gave him an injection and he just drifted off, very peaceful.

I think it's sad when healthy animals are put down because of overcrowding in shelters. I understand it is necessary because there is only so much room, but it's still sad. I wish more people would spay and neuter their pets to prevent unwanted puppies and kittens from ending up in the shelters in the first place!

I dread the day my animals get old and that I might be faced with making this sort of decision... I hope, like most people do, that my pets just lay down in the sun one day and don't wake up...

Fallen I can't see the point in a bullet to the brain either, except, as you say in an emergency. I can see this technique being used on large animals perhaps? Like horses who have broken limbs?

I feel that euthanasia is black and white. Some people have to put down life long pets because they have come down with a disease or old age has kicked in and they are in so much pain and misery, that it just feels like the best decision you can make for your best friend. I would expect the same if someone saw me suffering enough that the decision came down to euthanasia.
On the other hand there are those people in this world that see an animal as being just an object and don't care for it the way they should. I feel so bad for dogs that have to live in animal shelters their last part of their life. It's not fair that a perfectly healthy animal should be put down just for the fact that no one wants him. I wish I could adopt every pound animal out there!
In the end I believe in euthanasia if it is for the better. Being put down because someone was selfish and took on a responsibility that they couldn't handle is just wrong. It's not the animal's fault that the wrong person chose them. And that that person was selfish and ignorant. I don't want you to feel like your doing something wrong because your not. That is a part of life. We have to deal with perfectly fine animals being put down. It's just something society doesn't understand.

Jillian- I know how you feel. My black lab will be 13 years old in May, I worry everyday. He's such a big part of our family, our first baby, and I don't know how I'll go on when he goes to the rainbow bridge. I hope that he will just fall asleep one day and not wake up, but I'd like to believe that if he's in allot of pain I will be able to make that painful decision.

Altenweg I'm such a weenie about it I worry and my pets are no where near the end! My cat is 7 this year and in great health and my dog just turned six and is in great health. My mom's dog, a golden, is 11 this year and has bone cancer... I suspect we will have to put him down this year, which makes me think about my own pets too. I, like you, hope I will be strong enough to make the right decision in one of my pets is in pain. But really, I'd like to avoid that all together!

As an addition to this topic (and not to threadjack or anything), there have been large numbers of dogs and cats being abandoned in homes when the owner is foreclosed on, or animals being taken to shelters because the owner's home was foreclosed on. That makes me angry!

Jillian,

Under NC state law if we could find the previous owners we could nail them with a class I felony for abandonment. I share your contempt for irresponsible animal ownership.

Oh.. and request that your animal be given a sedative prior to euthanasia. Ketamine works wonders for them. That way you do not have to worry about how they feel during their last moments. I went into the job because I watched my first dog be euthanized and realized I wanted to be there for other animals in their last moments. It's very sad but at least I was able to make them feel loved when their owners didn't care to do the same.

If you're all want to read an inspirational story about a dog please check out one of my previous posts. Warning, if you are an animal lover this will make you cry.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/other-member-discussions/how-could-you-story-about-dog-184122.html

Yes, it is something I have to had to do to ease a pet's suffering. I can't stand to see an animal in a condition that is not reversible and one who is only going to get worse. Keeping a pet alive like that is not tending to the needs of the animal. My feelings for animals parallel the feelings for human suffering. Not that I am the mercy killer but end of life should be dealt with in a dignified manner. People should not only ask themselves what they wish for themselves when "that time" comes to them but also when "that time" is evident for their pet(s).

Altenweg, I tried to give you more reputation but it told me I had to share. Sharing. I was an only child.. I'm not good at that. God, I just read your other post and now attempting to see the screen through blurry eyes. Heck. I think I am going to take up smoking again. God I am glad I didn't read that when it was my sole job to euthanize...

Well I don't want them to hurt. I think if it were as great as they say though they'd let humans use it too, to "stop pain."
I don't think if I had a choice that I'd let my pet be put down unless I knew for sure they were in pain. Just regular animals and strays on the stree who aren't violent I'd say no way. You shouldn't kill something just because it exists, or because there is no more room for it in a shelter. We as humans need to take more responsibility for the animals we are entrusted with. Forget about a dog getting a license, a human should have a license to get a dog! This way people are required to keep and care for the dog with fear of a real penalty if they breech this contract. We've lost respect for the animals that depend on us for life.
I can see how it helps populations and that are controlled through it... I don't know if it's good or bad.
I guess it depends on the individual situation.

What a sad story, Altenweg. :( Even worse, it's true; that sort of thing happens to dogs and cats all the time when people move.

Also, Fallen, I should say it's very admirable what you do for a living, investigating animal cruelty cases and such. There's a show on Animal Planet called "Animal Cops" and I usually can't even watch the commercials. I'm glad there are people out there doing that kind of work, so thumbs up to you!

When I ran the shelter here for 6 years,I had to be the one to decide who lived and who died,and it hurt me more than you know.I held them and our Vet.euth.but I made sure they were not scared if at all possible,I wanted them to feel loved and die peacefully as possible,they deserved that.I have had to make that decision with my own pets and although it broke my heart,it was best for them,not me,your pet should never suffer ,if you can help it ,do so.I cried enough tears to fill a river and that's OK,it was never a easy decision to make and although I saw thousands die,I do feel I made a difference because for a lot of them it was only time in their lives they ever felt love.

How does everyone feel about euthanasia. Is this something you would do for your animal to ease suffering?If the animal were terminal and in pain, then yes, absolutely.

Altenweg, I tried to give you more reputation but it told me I had to share. Sharing. I was an only child.. I'm not good at that. God, I just read your other post and now attempting to see the screen through blurry eyes. Heck. I think I am going to take up smoking again. God I am glad I didn't read that when it was my sole job to euthanize...

The people who work in shelters are extraordinary, they have a difficult job to do and euthanizing animals is part of that. Just like in the story, the dog didn't blame the shelter employee but the owner that gave her no choice but to do what she did. My anger falls towards the people who do not take having a pet seriously. If you cannot keep the pet for it's entire life than don't get one to begin with, let it go to someone who can and will make that commitment.

I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, that was definitely not my intention. I think that it is wonderful that you love animals enough to have worked in a place where you can better there lives and find them their forever homes. Euthanizing is a part of that and I know that the people who work in shelters do not find this to be an easy task, it must weigh heavily on your heart every time you do it. God bless you for the difference you made in all the animals lives that did find their forever home, as for the ones you had to put down, know that they do not blame you, you gave them peace, which is more than you can say for their owners. The story was meant for all the owners out there that treat their pets like a possession and not a living breathing being with feelings. We cry because it hurts, those people wouldn't shed a tear.

By the way, I'm an only child too.

It upsets me greatly that very loving pet owners have to have their animal euthanized simply because they cannot afford IV antibiotics and fluids, x-rays, lab work, etc. Not all animals who are euthanized are abandoned, some just have owners who can't afford over 1000 dollars to keep them alive... just my thoughts...

Lifeistooshort - I understand what you are saying, but I don't agree.

If a person cannot afford the responsibilities of owning a pet then they shouldn't get that pet. When adopting an animal you are agreeing to care for it for it's entire life, that means medical bills, food etc. Some animals are sickly and need allot of medical care.

The responsible thing for that pet owner to do is to find someone else who will care for the animal and it's medical bills. Euthanasia should only be used if the animal is terminal and in great pain. That is my opinion.

I think it is OK if the animal is suffering although I do not think I could do this myself.

Lifeistooshort - I understand what you are saying, but I don't agree.

If a person cannot afford the responsibilities of owning a pet then they shouldn't get that pet. When adopting an animal you are agreeing to care for it for it's entire life, that means medical bills, food etc. Some animals are sickly and need allot of medical care.

The responsible thing for that pet owner to do is to find someone else who will care for the animal and it's medical bills. Euthanasia should only be used if the animal is terminal and in great pain. That is my opinion.

This one is a difficult situation. I have just been through seeing some specialists for my dog. MRI ran me 1,300 (lower than the estimated 2K), and if the dog had needed surgery after that, I was looking at another 3,000. I make good money, and can afford to pay that. As the vet told me, some people just look at him when they hear that amount and say that there is no way that they can afford it and take the dog home. But even I had to go home and have some serious talks with myself about the cost. Thankfully, the MRI showed that surgery wasn't needed, so I felt better about having the MRI done. But I can also understand families that hear that cost and realize that paying the rent or feeding their kids is more important.

And I work in the medical field, so I can also understand why medical costs are what they are. And they are only going to go up as technology becomes more common. My regular vet (not the specialist) was talking about the digital x-ray images they got from the neurologist, and how much better they are than normal ones, and how much more expensive the digital machines are. But, as she said, she was going to have to get one eventually, because the X-ray film manufacturers are making less and less film because the hospitals are going digital. So some day she will get one (probably used when a hospital upgrades to a new version), and the cost will have to get passed on to the customers. Also, a lot of what gets used in the vet field starts in human medicine, and there are a lot of costs associated with getting those products on the market.

So, I can say "you should be prepared to pay for vet bills", but at the same time I chose a breed known for being relatively healthy, and was prepared for the kinds of injuries she is likely to get, but never anticipated a potential 5000 dollar vet bill six months after adopting her! So I can see why people sometimes feel overwhelmed with the costs.

We will have to agree to disagree. Please enlighten me - how much income per year should one have before they can adopt or purchase a pet? Are you saying you could afford a 5000 dollar vet bill, payable up front mind you, if your dog got sick or wounded? What if some unfortunate life event occurred and you couldn't afford the possibility of your dog getting sick or injured - are you going to send your pet away to the pound just in case he/she got sick or wounded later on? You say to give the pet to someone who can afford it, well what if no one wanted your pet? Your pet is not terminally ill as you say a pet should be before euthanization, so what will your options be if you truly believe pet owners should not have pets if they cannot afford the unforeseen?


I did agree to care for my pet for its entire life, but if I have my pet euthanized due to not being able to come up with the funds, then that would be its entire life... I will simply take my chances, keep my dog, and await God's Will.

Froggy: While I understand that technology is expensive, I will never understand why it would cost people 10 dollars for one ibuprofen in the hospital or ER, when you can purchase over 500 of them at most drug stores for around 10.00.

It comes down to this, doctors and vets play on your heart strings, knowing you will practically sell your soul to the devil for your loved one...

I know how you feel, one of my jobs that I had with one small town police was to help with Animal control. We put down in a town of about 4000 people about 400 animals a year. That is one animal for every 10 people every year We used an injection, but it was sad, I would set petting them till they passed.

I understand that sometimes it has to happen when the animals are in pain and sick. I had to have my poodle put down a few years back, and I still cry when I think about it. But, she was blind and had cancer and she was in pain. So, it was the kindest thing I could do for her, but it still was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

One of my friends (former friend really) broke up with her boyfriend and took both her dogs to the shelter when she left. The only reason she didn't keep them (she could have animals at her new house) was that she quote "didn't want to pay for all the food myself". Why in the world did you get the animals in the first place then? I really doubt that they were adopted from the shelter because they were aggressive and untrained, which was also her fault. She had them for three years, kept them in her basement during the day, and at night when she was at home she kept them out in the yard. No socializing with people, and then she wonders why they act the way they do when she never ever trained them or even tried. I tried to tell her to put an add out or something, not just drop them off. I called a friend who said he would take them, at least until someone else was willing to, but she had already dumped them off at the shelter when I called her. I have a big dog and 3 cats I adopted from the shelter, or I would have taken the dogs myself. When I asked her, "How would you feel if they put them down because you dumped them off" , she said "I could care less, I hate the **** things". Things. Like they were an old shoe or something. I just made me so mad! The highlight of those dogs day was when she got home from work, and she never even cared enough to go and pet them.

[QUOTE=LifeIsTooShort}
Froggy: While I understand that technology is expensive, I will never understand why it would cost people 10 dollars for one ibuprofen in the hospital or ER, when you can purchase over 500 of them at most drug stores for around 10.00. [/QUOTE]

That's an easy one.. you aren't paying for just the ibuprofen. You are paying for the hospital administration costs, the salaries of the staff (down to the janitor), the record keeping, the people who don't pay their bills that the hospital has to eat, etc. It's the same reason that the steak dinner you get at the restaurant is $25 when you could make it at home for $8.

And the costs that you pay at the vet are actually closer to what medical costs should be. And even then, most vets don't charge what they really should in order to make reasonable money at their job. As the vet put it... we don't like to feel that we are turning people away because they can't pay, but we need to make enough to stay open.

And I have gotten to see a very interesting panel meeting where a bunch of doctors carefully skirted around the question of what's a reasonable price to pay to keep someone alive for a year. If you can put something on the market that can do that, but it's going to cost roughly $300,000 for that year, should you put it on the market, or is that too much cost for too little gain? Never have I seen doctors duck a question as much as they did that one.

I had my 21 yr old dog put 2 sleep on Wednesday due to old age and loss of back legs and not because I did not want or love her even now I crying as I type this. The vet called me today because he wanted me 2 no how much it saddened him 2 put her 2sleep. I could not be there as I wanted to rememebr her they way she was and not the sick dog she became and what made me calmer was the fact he told me that she lay there not struggling and that she went peacefully and quickly. I felt guilty as if I had signed her death certificate and up until today believe she still had years left. I think that keeping a dog here on earth in pain is selfish to the owner and all I have done is taken on my dogs pain after death.

That's an easy one.. you aren't paying for just the ibuprofen. You are paying for the hospital administration costs, the salaries of the staff (down to the janitor), the record keeping, the people who don't pay their bills that the hospital has to eat, etc. It's the same reason that the steak dinner you get at the restaurant is $25 when you could make it at home for $8.

And the costs that you pay at the vet are actually closer to what medical costs should be. And even then, most vets don't charge what they really should in order to make reasonable money at their job. As the vet put it... we don't like to feel that we are turning people away because they can't pay, but we need to make enough to stay open.

And I have gotten to see a very interesting panel meeting where a bunch of doctors carefully skirted around the question of what's a reasonable price to pay to keep someone alive for a year. If you can put something on the market that can do that, but it's going to cost roughly $300,000 for that year, should you put it on the market, or is that too much cost for too little gain? Never have I seen doctors duck a question as much as they did that one.


Hi'ya again, Froggy: Do I even dare ask what the rest of the bill is for? :D I'm a medical transcriptionist and my job certainly isn't the reason doctor fees are so high, but like you said, administration is part of it. I think a lot of it has to do with bogus lawsuits, as well...

It's just mind boggleing that it OK and humane to be able to put down a dog for "suffering" that can't even be communicated, yet society won't allow putting down a human who is in the final stages of life and wants to die. Why?

It's just mind boggleing that it OK and humane to be able to put down a dog for "suffering" that can't even be communicated, yet society won't allow putting down a human who is in the final stages of life and wants to die. Why?

I agree, too!

I had my 21 yr old dog put 2 sleep on wednesday due to old age and loss of back legs and not because i did not want or love her even now I cryin as i type this. The vet called me 2day because he wanted me 2 no how much it saddened him 2 put her 2sleep. I could not be there as i wanted to rememebr her they way she was and not the sick dog she became and wat made me calmer was the fact he told me that she lay there not struggling and that she went peacefully and quickly. I felt guilty as if I had signed her death certificate and up until 2day believe she still had years left. I think that keeping a dog here on earth in pain is selfish to the owner and all i have done is taken on my dogs pain after death.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Wow, 21 years, your dog had a long wonderful life, it makes me optimistic that my 13 year old lab still has some good years left.

What you did was an act of love, nothing less. It is the kindest thing, we as humans, can do for the animals in our care and in our hearts.

You have 21 years of wonderful memories, may time heal your heart and once again make you smile.

[QUOTE=Altenweg]
What you did was an act of love, nothing less. It is the kindest thing, we as humans, can do for the animals in our care and in our hearts.

I absolutely agree! The bravest and most humane thing we can do, after giving our pets the best life we could, is to give them the easiest possible death.