whats your opinion?

Question

Do you think a owner of an animal should have final say as to when to put a pet down or should the animal be left to live its life and pass away when nature calls? I believe owners should have a say but many people I know say nature should have the call. Whats your opinion? Any examples of why?

another reason i ask, i had to put my rottweiler, 9 years old, down recently because he had slowed down a lot, lost weight and could barely walk. Turns out, he had cancer and I decided the same day to put him down. Girlfriend and mother totally disagreed. Father thought it was a right choice. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think its fine to say nature should take its course, but if an animal is suffering, and or causing a great amount of distress to its owners due to its illness....then that has to be considered too.

I mean are you going to start having surgeries for an animal to prolong its life? Because that isn't really letting nature take its course. Would you give a diabetic dog insulin injections? Same thing there.

Sometimes animals start to become incontinent near the end...is it right to keep a dog around that can't be outside for long periods of time due to its health, but to expect the owner to clean up after an incontinent pet for who knows how long because "nature" hasn't taken it yet? I know a friend whose dog got kind of crazy and blind as it got quite old and started to try to bite her kids as they walked by. Is it right she should keep a crazy biting dog who's nearly gone anyway, just because "nature" hasn't taken it? And really, who would help her out by taking her old, decrepit, somewhat crazy, blind, dog, who was becoming increasingly vicious for no apparent reason....

I think there has to be some attempt to balance "nature" and fairness to all parties considered. I don't think putting a dog in the prime of its life down because it has become inconvenient to take care of is right, but neither do I think a responsible pet owner should feel responsible to prolong the life of a suffering pet if it is causing distress to their family.

Answer 2

I would swing both ways on this topic as it depends on what is wrong with the animal.

If an animal is just old and naturally with old age comes many medical problems. Reason to put the pet down? No Way.

Examples: I had a rat to develope a tumor on her jaw. Everything was fine until it grew so large it ruptured. She was put down. I have her sister who has developed a tumor on her side. Other than a large mass she is doing fine, no reason to put her down.

I also have a very old Basenji. He twitches about every few minutes. Dosen't seem to bother him. He will twitch and then continue what he was doing. Vet says not to worry and he eats well. Many people would have put him down a year ago when the twitching got worse.

I also had a pet chicken that was attacked by dogs. Nursed her back to health. It was touch and go but she did pull thru.

I think people are quick to opt for euthanisa because of several reasons:
1. It is easy and I don't have to pay costly vet bills.
Example: I can understand the person who really cannot afford the care. But the bastards who can and are just cheap.

2. I can't stand to see an animal in pain so lets kill it.
Example: These types of people in my opinon are alittle to quick to kill their pets. Bottom line animals get sick and they get hurt. It takes time to heal. This person dosen't give their pet time to heal. And their favorite line. "He's suffering" ok he just got hit by a car I think that hurts. allow time to heal.

Yes some animals should be allowed to go naturally. Everyone cannot bare to kill their pets. I see problem in letting your pet go peacefully at home.

Example: Hand a Pitbull Mix and a St Bernard both these dogs died at home of old age. I knew it was coming just couldn't put them to sleep.

Answer 3

Dear VAil 2073,

I have mixed emotions.

I feel the owner has some say, but there are owners who get tired of the pet and commitment and want the animal put down. That is sad and should be illegal.

Then there are others who have the animal ahng on when it truely is suffering and should be put down. So it is very hard to answer.

I just lost my pet and had to help him end his life. He gave me the sign. He had cancer and I did everything possible. Chemo, natural things, everything possible and no Dollar was spared . No regrets. To me that animal is a part of your life.

Nice question. One to make a person think!!

Answer 4

I believe that the owner has the right to say. I work for a vet and I see animals in so much pain that it is not humane to let them live, ones that have been attacked by dogs and have their intestines hanging out and blood running all over the place is one example, ran over by a car and over 50% of the fur is gone and the body is so lacerated that you can't tell where to start sewing it up.

Answer 5

I DO NOT THINK ANY ANIMAL SHOUDL BE PUT DOWN BECAUSE SOEMONE GETS TIRED OF IT BUT I THINK IT THE ANIMAL IS IN PAIN AND NEEDS AN OPERATION, OR MEDICAL CARE THAT ITS OWNER CAN NOT AFFORD, THEN IT IS ONLY HUMAINE FOR THE OWNER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OT RELEASED FROM ITS PAIN.