Why do ppl insist on putting their animals to sleep because their in pain?

Question

K so I have a dog right, and he has this nerve problem but the doctor says he doesn’t feel any pain. My sister and father are like so adamant on putting him to sleep cause they say he’s suffering. He drags when he walks sometimes but other times he’s fine. Why is it okay for us to kill our animals when they have a health problem, because of the whole “their suffering thing.” but we’d never think of killing a human because their suffering (if you do your sick) suffering is a part of life, why do we just give up on animals and kill them? Are they any better than animals by deserving to be put out of their misery as the old saying goes. Or do we put them to sleep because we just don’t like seeing our pets are not 100% healthy.

Answer 1

Your confusion is normal. Opinions abound. I cannot offer a definitive answer. My thoughts follow. It is your animal. Trust your vet or get a second opinion. Outside observers are not privy to all the information. They will make assumptions based upon what they see. If they don't understand that your dog is not in pain, then they will suffer emotionally from believing that they are seeing the dog suffer. They want the dog dead because they are uncomfortable.
As far as what you do is concerned, that's up to you. The idea of putting an animal to sleep is based upon our understanding of ethics. It is believed to be wrong to cause an animal to suffer or to allow an animal to suffer when it can be prevented. The term animal cruelty is thrown around. It is likened to torturing an animal.
As far as people go, the big difference is that people can communicate their desires. People are not owned, at least in the United States of America. People are respected more than animals as well. How many people say, "I am suffering to much. Please kill me"? No many. Most fight to stay alive even in very great pain. Animals don't have the means to communicate that same desire. It is economically cheaper and easier to let an animal die or to kill it.
There are more thoughts, but in the end they are just someone's thoughts or opinions. You still have to decide what you will do based upon available information and your sense of ethics or morals.

Answer 2

Most people don't do it just because the animal isn't 100% healthy - they do it when the animal is suffering, and there's no reasonable hope of a cure or at least palliative treatment. If you can treat the animal and keep it comfortable and reasonable healthy, fine. But if it's in constant pain, if it can't eat or keep food down or get outside or use a litter box, it's time to put the animal's concern over your own, and do the humane thing. You and your vet have to make that decision when the time comes.

Answer 3

Please, read the following poem:

A DOG'S PLEA

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I would lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements.

I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently.

I shall leave this earth knowing with the the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Unknow Artist.

I hope this has shown some insight on why some of us do have our beloved pets put to sleep. If they are dying and nothing else could be done to bring them around, then the most compationate thing to do is to release them and free them of any more agony that they would go through before a natrual death.

Answer 4

Although euthanasia in humans is against the law it doesn't mean that it is not done. Ever hear of Dr. Kervorkian?

Obiviously you've never suffered unspeakable pain or been around someone you love who is terminally ill. You will change your mind if, God forbid, that should happen to you.

If my dog is suffering unnecessarily and I can't keep him comfortable. I WILL have him humanely put down. I believe that is one of the hardest things a responsible pet owner will ever do. If you are saying that you would rather see your pet suffer you are not a nice person.

If he is sick or has a physical problem but he is eating OK and seems happy and content I will manage his health as long as he continues. If I think he is suffering and medication cannot aleviate his pain I can't do anything else but help him to cross the rainbow bridge.

Answer 5

Because it's cruel to let an animal live in pain.

For the record, I think it's cruel to let humans live in pain too. Which leads into the whole controversy over assisted suicide. Personally, I think if someone is in chronic pain and they want to end it, they should have that right.

I think rather than your question...
"Why is it okay for us to kill our animals when they have a health problem, because of the whole “their suffering thing.” but we’d never think of killing a human because their suffering " ...
The question SHOULD be, why are we not as kind to dying humans as we are to dying animals?

Answer 6

This is about putting the needs of the dog BEFORE your own. It's about being self-less instead of being self-ish. If the dog is not getting any decent quality of life then putting the dog to sleep is the right thing to do.

How can you say that killing a human because they're suffering is sick. I went through a year of my grandmother in agony because she had excruciating pain. Pain medicines (all of them)made her hallucinate that people were out to kill her and made her violent. In the few moments of lucidity in her life, she was horribly miserable and only wanted to be gone from this world so she would not be in pain any more. Thankfully after about a year of living in the hospital, she finally did die of natural causes. When people are so sick that their life is nothing but agony and grief with no hope of anything better, it's not fair to them to force them to live. Unfortunately, we do. Thankfully we can give a kinder end to our best friends.

Answer 7

I love my dog more than I do people but if he was in chronic pain that was incurable I would put him down. I've had to do this three times and sometimes I still cry for them.

The Last Battle:

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

-- Unknown

Answer 8

People do put people, who are in pain, to death.
It's a fact of life-- pain and suffering are part of it and would YOU want to live the rest of your short days in pain?

It's more cruel to keep a suffering animal alive and let them live that way, than it is to put them to sleep and put an end to their suffering.

Your doctor, your sister & father nor yourself can decide whether or not the animal is in pain or isn't.

Just because one day he can't walk and the next he's fine doesn't mean he's okay and not in pain.

You really might want to rethink your own question.

Answer 9

In some cases its best to put your animal down. Have you ever heard a human ask to be put down because they are in so much pain? I have, its even painful to see them like that. I believe that if someone is not going to get batter and is in so much pain that there is no help for them, then yes let them go. Animals have the luxery to being put down. In your case, if the vet said the dog is not in any pain then fine, live long. But if your dog was in so much pain and there was not any hope, why do you want to torcher the dog for?

Answer 10

A lot of people with a terminal disease would like to be put down. We treat our animals better then humans by not llowing them to be miserable for the rest of their lives.

Obviously don't do it if your dog may get well. But it is selfish to keep a miserable dog in pain, alive