Should we kill the mouse?

Question

We are four guys who work in an office. We are not gay and we are not girly. However, we have a mouse problem. The mice poop on our desks and they ate one of our Honey-Buns. We have mouse traps and every once in awhile we catch (or should we say kill) one.

Today, as fate would have it, a mouse jumped into a giant plastic crate in our snack bar area. The mouse was unable to escape.

One of our co-workers (Jon) discovered the "cute little fellow". Instantly, three of the four workers were captivated by its hypnotic stare. However, one was cold and ready to call his hitman to do his dirty work for him.

We are struck with a moral delima. Do we execute Mr. Jingles? Do we release him and let our friend fend for himself? Or do we take him under our wing and raise him as our own?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Much like Rabbit, the Neo-Nazi prototype rapper that grew up on the wrong side of the railroad tracks yet somehow miraculously carved out a niche for himself in a society that in reality would never accept him, I have only one shot at answering this question. So, I thought about it in great length… it is well thought out and well written, but it raised a few concerns for me… so many concerns actually that I almost lost sleep last night. Luckily as I lay my head down on my pillow it came to me… this isn’t really a question about killing a mouse is it? In fact it isn’t even a question about a mouse at all… Nay, sir, this “mouse” is a representation, is it not? It is a Freudian slip; the mouse is a metaphor for your mother who never gave you enough love, the plastic crate actually represents Uncle Chester’s wandering pinky finger and the “honey buns”, well we just won’t go there. By “killing” said mouse you are actually trying to chase your demons from your past, sweep the skeletons out of the closet… am I right? This is a cry for help and instead of calling a hit-man, you really want to call a therapist. You need a good cry… and I may be braving a high limb here, but I would even go as far as to ask if one of you “co-workers” has been working in the closet, metaphorically speaking of course, as no one would ever really work in a closet. I guess what I am trying to say is it is OK to be gay; I think that is what you are really asking isn’t it?

Answer 2

Just let the mouse go. Granted more mice will come along in time, but at least you will be able to sleep at night knowing you have done a good deed. Think of the other animals that would benefit from your actions. Take the mighty hawk. It's winter and pickings are slim. All of a sudden, a mouse!!! The week hawk swoops down on Mr. Jingles and nature has once again taken it's course. Mouse gone. Hawk fed. Now here is another animal would thank you if it could. Your undersized, ugly toy poodle. What if that hawk never ate Mr. Jingles? Your stupid, sad excuse for a dog is outside doing whatever that pathetic lint ball does. Suddenly that same hawk relieves you of the burden of having to get made fun of by your co-workers all because you had to kill a helpless mouse. I mean, you sound like the type of person that not only would hurt a mouse, but fail to say happy birthday to the very co-worker that would relieve that disgusting, undersized, flea infested lint trap of a dog of thinking it could be next. Let the mouse go!!!

Answer 3

Animals have surprising homing abilities. Release him in unfamiliar territory, and he'll find his way right back to your office.
Your mouse problem is far larger than just Mr. Jingles, so killing him won't put a dent in the population; you'll have to wait for pest control to bomb the building.
Release him, and things go right back the way they were.
Keep him, and the office will have an amusing furry face that spends most of his hours hiding under the pine shavings of his cage. Mice do that.
Kill him, and you're one mouse down out of 20 or so, plus you have the satisfaction of laying down a hard line on rodents and being indisputably not gay.
Remember, if you caught one mouse, you can catch others, though maybe not fast enough to make a dent. Do you want to exterminate your floor's pests by hand?
If you do kill the mouse, don't drown him, it's a horrible way to die. Take some thick cloth, like a towel, and immobilize him, then cut off his head with some scissors or the paper cutter (if you don't mind cleaning it off later). Or step on his head, if you want to be practical about it.
If you want a trophy skin, remember your high school biology labs, and use a razor blade and a pair of scissors to skin him without spilling any guts. Preserve the skin with table salt.
Well, you can see which option I'm voting for. It's your choice.

Answer 4

there's no longer lots you're able to do with it because of fact that's injured. you may ask somebody to place the mouse capture interior a plastic bag and squeeze the air out of it. Then drop somebody heavy on appropriate of the bag (ie brick) to rapidly take the mouse out of that's misery.

Answer 5

You are a heartless, sad little man. I bet it was you that placed that call to your so called "hitman". It seems to me that you are looking to take out that mouse in order to prove to everyone that you are not a sad, whiney excuse for a human being. If I were in your possition, I would fully expect the biggest, most unstable person you work with to pound you into the ground in front of the mouse!! By the way, I'm taking a day of leave Friday.

Answer 6

don't kill him! remember it's not Mr.jingles fault, he's trying to find food/shelter and he found your office, release him and to keep him from coming back don't leave and kind of food around. it's not right to kill the mice, you wouldn't like it if someone tried to kill you every time you went to the market. so keep your area clean so the mice have no reason to be there

Answer 7

Release him into the wild to make lots more Mr & Mrs Jingles!

Answer 8

this is a wild animal. He carries a number of diseases such as Hanta virus. If you want a pet mouse go to a pet store where they have actual "pets" but kill the wild mouse.

Answer 9

I have no moral issue with you killing him. And I can certainly understand your dilemma.

I, personally, would release him outside, several miles from the office. However, you should know that if you 'release' him outside, this time of year, it is likely he will die of exposure or starvation (but that is at least a fighting chance).

Answer 10

I'd say if he really bugs you that much, I'd hire some exterminators to solve the situation for you unless you want to do it yourselves. Sounds like a tight predicament you guys have gotten yourselves into. On another thought you could just take him to the pet store and see what they can do with him. In my personal opinion, I'd say let him go outside and let him experience the world haha, yeah. Hope that helps you with your question, goodluck!