Friday, October 31, 2008

Yet More Cruelty

This is a little story I picked up off FHOTD. I have to ask myself every day - why don't people just humanely euthanize? I know it hurts to let a loved one go, but it certainly beats whacking your dog on the head with a hammer and burying it alive. Don't get me wrong - I do believe that if you have the skill (!) necessary to put a dog down by means of a bullet or home euth, go for it, but what the HELL is wrong with these people?

I see it a lot. I've had many friends whose parents simply refuse to put down their dog who is suffering from cancer and has crippling arthritis on top of an enormous malignant tumor... yet though they see the dog daily as it just lies around in obvious pain, they claim the dog is not hurting, and they're going to let it pass naturally. THAT, in my opinion, is blatant cruelty. If I were suffering from a disease I knew would take me painfully and slowly, I'd rather be taken around the back of the barn. It isn't that scary to put your dog to sleep - sure, you have had many years of faithful companionship, but when your pet is suffering, it's time to let go. It just sickens me when people refuse to euth because they're afraid of death. I guess they'd rather watch their pet deteriorate before them than let them drift off slowly and comfortably in the arms of the one they love.

2 comments:

OKfine said...

I have to totally agree with you on this post.
I have put dogs to sleep. Not because I wanted to, but because it wasn't fair to keep them living in pain. When there isn't anything more the vet can do, and their eyes tell you that they can't take anymore, it's the kindest thing you can do for your friend and companion. I absolutely HATE it!!

Then I have people who always say "how can you be there" and my response is how can I not. They have given me many years of love and devotion, the least I can do is make sure the last voice they hear and the last touch they feel is mine. No matter how much my heart is breaking....

DogsDeserveFreedom said...

I agree. It is selfish of the owners when they refuse to put the animal to sleep if they are in pain, etc.

It is also sad when we see the older ones dumped in shelters because the owners don't want to be the ones to put them down. It is not fair to leave your companion that you have had for 10+ years and just leave them in the hands of strangers. Not fair to your dog/cat/horse.

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dogsdeservefreedom