Could you end a suffering animals life?

Question

The reason I ask is yesterday i saw a cat get hit by a truck on a country road, the truck didn't even slow down, this poor animal was suffering badly, bleeding and trying to cry out in pain, the only humane thing to do was to shoot it, which ended the animals suffering. I know I did the right thing but I feel so bad about it, I've never had to shoot a suffering animal before. There was NO hope of this cat living after the truck hit it, I won't describe the injurys, just be assured it was the ONLY humane thing to do.Why does it hurt my heart when I remember it? Could you have done the humane thing, and was I right for doing it?(I have a cat as a pet, maybe that's why it hurts to think of it?)

April, if you could understand how badly this animal was injured you wouldn't be calling me names. The entire lower half of its body was almost missing, the cats intestines were on the road yet the cat was still alive and suffering, I hope you feel better about yourself by attacking me, if you had seen this animal you would have understood.

Answer 1

It'll take time to get over it, but of course you did the right thing. I know the trauma of it will sit with you for a little while as I have had the same thing happen to me. But in the long run I think deep down in your heart you will be satisfied with the humane choice you made.

Also: Anyone who does not think you did a humane thing has not experienced much in this world.

Answer 2

Yes I could have and have had to - it's a very hard thing to do and even years later I still get upset thinking about it. It's never easy to end a life, even that of an animal but sometimes it's the only thing humane to do - Take the animal to the vet or something would have just prolonged a life that couldn't be saved.

I know there are a lot of people out there that find it hard to believe that sometimes you have to put an animal down for it's own good - Ask any vet, any horse trainer, anyone that deals with animals and they will tell you that sometimes it just can't be help.

It is good that you have the strength to do what needed to be done - few these days seem to have that sort of courage.

It's hard but try and put it out of your mind. The animal would have died slowly and rather painfully - what you did was right.

April - you really need to grow up - not everything can be fixed by taking an animal to the vet. If you spend anytime in the outdoors, dealing with animals both wild and tame you will learn that sometimes putting an animal down is the only way. I suggest you do a little more living and learning before you answer anymore questions about the humane treatment of a dying animal.

Answer 3

This is a sad situation but considering the circumstances I think you did the right thing. Personally I would not have been able to do this. First, I do not carry a gun. Is yours Legal? I would have scooped it up and taken it to be euthanized. But from what you said it sounds like this may not have been possible. It hurts your heart because you are a caring compassionate person. I'm sure the cat was grateful that you ended his suffering. Now go find the SOB in the truck! Then you can put your gun to good use!

Answer 4

you absolutely did the right thing. people that have only lived in cities have a limited scope on the life process and the meaning of quality of life. having lived among animals (on a ranch) you develop a respect for the death end of the life cycle. it comes to all life forms at some point or another. when the quality of life is nothing but physical agony and suffering, the ONLY humane thing to do is end the life quickly and hopefully painlessly. with a smaller animal, such as a cat, you can very quickly snap the neck rather than taking time to locate and load a gun. it's also a lot less messy.

Answer 5

You did the right thing, but I have to tell you the hurt wont go away... I know it isnt the same situation but...when my dad died it was a few days before they found him (he lived alone) and my dog was in the house with him while he was dead, my brother was contacted by the police, because the dog wouldnt let them inside, well my brother went in and the dog who knew my brother attacked him and bit him severely...so they took him to the pound and kept him there to see if he had rabies or whatever. I went to go see the dog who had slept with me in my bed and been my loving friend when I lived with my dad but he wasnt the same he growled and growled and was trying to attack me so I had to have him put to sleep to end his mental suffering, he had gone crazy completely because of seeing my dad dead....I felt so horrible because there was nothing physically wrong with him but I couldnt trust him and neither could anyone else, so I had him euthanised and even though to this day I know I did the right thing it still hurts and writing about it is making me cry. I loved my Mitchy but I killed him to put him out of his emotional misery, I hope he is with my dad and they are happy together but it still bothers me. Sometimes the right thing isnt easy and usually it is the compassionate people who have to do the horrible deed, despite the pain it causes, because it causes more grief and pain to watch an animal suffer and someone has to put them out of thier misery...no matter how much it sickens and saddens us it has to be done. Dont feel like what you did was wrong, just remember if it wasnt for you who else would have stopped? How long would that cat have suffered if you hadnt came along? What you did was right even though others may say its not, they werent there and they didnt have to see the cat...You did good dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

Answer 6

I have.

My cat tore a mouse in half once. I beheaded it with a shovel (closest thing at hand).

My dog got run over by a truck a little more then a year ago. Her back was crushed, and she would never walk again. We kept alive overnight at an emergency vet's place, but in the morning, we knew she was just suffering. So I held her head on my lap as the Vet put her to sleep. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I don't regret it, because I know she's at peace now, where ever she is.

Answer 7

You most certainly did the right thing. No one ever said doing the right thing would be easy. As a parent, our house has had many animals. The hardest were the smaller ones whose life expectancy is not very long. To come in and see one in the grip of death leaves you no choice. You do the right thing. So, yes, like you, I would have done what you did.

I know none of these answers will alleviate your feelings, only time, but try to console yourself that...yes, you did the right thing.

Answer 8

I want to congrandulate you on doing a great thing like that. I don't think that I could even though it is for the best. a couple of months ago I was on my way to work and someone had hit a deer and it didn't die and a cop had to shoot it to put it out of it's misery. I heard the shot and eventhough it was the right thing to do it was hard knowing it happend.

you did do the right thing. and it will probably bother you for a while, just keep telling yourself it was the right thing.

Answer 9

How I choose that those quite unemployed human beings spent extra time looking a job and not in any respect residing off we the tax payer.at the same time as i do no longer prefer to work out an animal mistreated or ignored they're on the accurate of the day an animal.human beings might want to continuously come first and the quantity of funds spent on animals is appalling once you imagine of the billions of individuals residing in slums with out food,preparation or health care.Animal charities get given a lot funds hostile to charities for human beings that i imagine human beings are in choose of a reality examine .

Answer 10

I'm sorry you had to experience that. You definitely did the right thing - no, the ONLY humane thing. I would die if I saw a cat like you described. I imagine this is a major part of your saddness. Seeing something like that would break anyone's heart.

You put the cat out of its misery. I'm sure if it understood, it would be thankful.