Why do we think it's kind to put an animal down?

Question

Yet we'd never consider doing it with, say, Grandpa. Perhaps the animals would prefer to live no matter how great the pain! Do we perhaps simply not want to see their pain? I'm really serious. I read a question and it got me thinking about this.

I know that many--not all--people want to hang on as long as possible. So what makes us think our animals don't?

(I don't mean wild animals, though. Clearly, a badly injured wild animal can't even feed itself.)

No, wiliegod, not my dog. But I cleaned up my son when he couldn't get up to go, and I never thought of putting him down. I think I do understand how much it hurts to watch something you love suffer.

Answer 1

In the wild, a sick, injured, or old animal is fed upon by its predators, animals in a domestic environment don't have the natural predator to kill them, yes it's considered humane to put a domestic animal down if the need is there, it would be considered cruel to force it to live in pain. There's a difference between animals and humans, humans are self aware, we have family ties, responsibilitys, property etc, animals don't. The need a person may feel to continue to live even tho they may be in desperate pain is fueled by their self awareness, something animals don't have. natural selection in the animal kingdom ensures the strong, healthy survive, natural selection in humans is much more complex with the intervention of medicine, laws, family, career etc.

Answer 2

When and if an animal is obviously suffering, then certainly it is kinder to put them down than to permit them to suffer. I don't know about dogs, but often a cat will crawl under a house when dying and then die alone. I believe that it is more humane to take a pet to a vet and simply have them "put to sleep." I have seen this done and they go very gently and peacefully. And what is terrible or frightening about death is not experienced in the same way by the animals. They simply accept it, bless their loving, loyal hearts. As for me, if I end up brain dead or perhaps horribly burned, I hope to be allowed to die quickly. No use keeping even the most beloved human around by machines when they have lost the possibility to enjoy life.

Answer 3

I think you'd find that, given enough pain, most people would take death over living in agony, especially if they had little or no hope of ever getting better. Most animals would probably make the same choice if they knew what their options were. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but, seeing as a dog or a cat can't exactly tell you what they'd prefer, we kind of have to do what we think is best for them.

Also, I believe people in several states are trying to legalize human euthanasia, so I'm sure that quite a few of them have considered putting their grandparents down.

Answer 4

One could just as easily ask why it is NOT kind to put an animal down. I think we, as humans, tend to believe that animals "think" like we do but I don't think that is the case. I don't think animals are conscious in the same sense that we are and they don't have the same types of coherent thoughts as we do. With them it is more instinct, act and react rather than processing information, weighing options, and making choices based on these rational "thoughts". An animal wouldn't know what life and death was, and weigh human emotions such as joy and love of family against pain and death. It only knows it's in pain. Also, many people do, in fact, make that decision about grandpa when they decide to "pull the plug" so to speak, or choose to have do not rescuscitate orders in place.

Answer 5

I actually would consider doing it to Grandpa....it's called pulling the plug when people are in great pain and suffering. But usually people can tell us what they would want done.

Have you ever had to watch a pet suffer during it's last few hours? They are ready to go by that time.

Answer 6

I fought long and hard to keep my dog alive even when it cost me an arm and a leg to do it. But there is a point that you just got to let go. Every circumstance is different..I do know that some people out there put their animals down when it's most convienent for them and that makes me mad..makes me think they shouldn't have owned that animal to begin with. But some of us who love our pets try their best and we can't judge them when they decide to put an animal down, I'm sure if there was a better choice we would have taken it.

Answer 7

no longer something unlawful. appears like your uncle is an irresponsible proprietor. A responsible proprietor ought to ascertain the animal is cared for. in case you imagine your uncle ought to merchandise, call him! If he would not step as a lot because the plate and do something ....nicely, he would not care both. then you are able to call some rescue communities and flow from there. The animal in all likelihood hasn't been vaccinated, wormed, etc. and that is someone who would not have the pony to commence with!

Answer 8

I know how heartbreaking is the decision is to have a beloved pet companion put to sleep. I had to make this angonizing choice when my 10 1/2 year old male Rottweiler could no longer stand on his hind legs. you could see they pain in his eyes and it broke our hearts to see this because he had been nothing but pur joy to our family and even though i would have sold a kidney to get the money together to pay whatever medical bills we ecrued the vet said he was old for such a large dog(150lbs) and surgery would have been extremely dangerous for such and old fella and did we want to cause him more pain. I knew on a Thursday what i had to do and i made an appointment for the Saturday to take my furry baby in to be put to sleep. Well, my sweet boy didn't make it to Saturday he died that Thursday night in my arms. I had come up with all kinds of rear leg contraptions with wheels for him, but it was too late for him. I was given a 5 month old male kitten that had been kicked by a horrrid little child that broke his pelvis. I would not give up on him and i nursed him through and his pelvis healed and he does has a little wobble rear gate, but he is a love muffin and thinks i'm his mum and gives me no end of love. Unless i thought is was cruel(i would know this in my gut) to keep a sick/injured animal alive then i would do whatever i had to to help them. My Rottwielers name was/is Boo Boo and i know he is waiting in heaven chasing squirrels waiting for him mums time.

Answer 9

it's kind to put animals down to end there suffering and painif it was up to me i would love to see all animals live forever i have a 14 year old hound and when he's time to go and it's easier to say goodbye then watch them suffer all dogs or any animal needs to be love in their lifetime and saying goodbye is not easy and losing people is the same there s a reason for death and we don't know why just god does

Answer 10

I can't really make an argument here with you, basically because I don't feel the same way about euthanizing(sp) people. I'm of the opinion that if someone is sick and in pain and they don't want to go on then let them make that choice. I know that animals can't make that choice but why would they want to live in excrutiating pain or not be able to get up and go to the bathroom or clean themselves. Would you want to go on living if you were in horrible pain and there was no way to relieve it or if someone had to bathe you and change your diapers? I wouldn't. When I get that old and incapable of taking care of myself, end my misery please.