Shooting dogs?

[sparks19]

OK I know that title is horrible but I couldn't think of a better way to say it.

This was brought up on another board when a member was outraged by a dogster page that had mentioned that their elderly dog was "PTS" by a bullet. Basically the dog was old and suffering from arthritis and instead of taking it to the vet (it was mentioned that they were very poor) to be euth they shot the dog. Now many people were totally outraged at this.

I wasn't quite so outraged.

I mean do you all think that is totally wrong to put an animal out of it's misery with a bullet? it sounds harsh but I really don't see anythign wrong with it. now I don't think you should just load up your gun and just go out and shoot your pet because you are tired of them or anything like that but is a kill shot worse than having them euthanized?

I really don't see the problem with it. In some cases I think it might be more cruel to make them endure the car ride to the vet when in extreme pain only to have the end result be the same.

I know this isn't going to be a popular thread and it will probably really upset some people and I apologize in advanced but I really am curious... am I the only person that feels that a quick painless instant death by bullet is not as horrible as some people think it is? And why is it wrong to shoot your pet to put them out of misery but OK to hunt? (of course this last part doesn't apply to people who think hunting is wrong)

I really am curious how you all feel.

 

[noludoru]

Ohhhhh Sparks.... what a can of worms you have opened. :yikes:

 

[HoundedByHounds]

I could not put my pet down that way...but if someone else can and their pet goes wagging it's tail happy to be near someone they love...and their owner is in grief and respectful of the deed...I am not going to judge them.

I have heard of unfortunately some very bad reactions when chemicals are used...which do include suffering for the dog. And...some dogs really do have a mental issue with vets, that causes them extreme agitation and stress...

So I will not clap...but I will also not judge.

 

[sparks19]

LOL I know. It was quite the heated topic on the other board too lol.

but to be honest until that point I really never knew that it was seen as such a horrible thing. I mean I am not just for shooting your pet just because but honestly... if I had the courage and knew then what I knew now... I'm not sure that I would have made Teddy endure that car ride to the vet (which he died half way to the vets). He didn't even make it to be peacefully put to sleep. Could I have saved him those last agonizing moments and done it right then? Not saying that this is something I would have been able to do. I certainly don't believe that I would be capable of shooting my dog even if they were suffering.

But some people live a LOOOONG way from a vets office.

 

[xpaeanx]

Euth an animal isn't really that expensive. the cost for a med size dog at the vet I used to work at was $35. Cremation was the expensive part. The town shelters where I live also offer low cost euth. I've never gone that route with them, so i dont' know the price I just know that they do it. One of them even offers low cost cremation.

I think euth a dog is a lot less stressful then shooting him. It's quiet, a 3rd party is doing it so they're not crying etc, the family is there petting him and while he passes.

I agree the car ride to the vet can be stressful, and depending on how bad the dog is, it might be worse. In the past, I've *known* that my dogs were going to die. Instead of rushing them into the car and driving frantically to the vet with them bouncing in the back, I would make a comfy spot on the floor in a quiet dark room. If it's something that they are suffering with and not going to die very soon, I would opt to bring them to the vet. I would do it in a non-rushed way(everything done slowly, including driving), and make sure they are comfortable with someone to hold them so they don't get bumped around too much.

If it was a situation where I couldn't get them to the vet, and they were in a lot of pain, and dying but very very slowly, then I would say to shoot them... but I dont' think I could do it.

Edit: I should also add that my vet did home visits(it was a little more expensive) for euth. So, that is always an option too.

 

[sparks19]

I could not put my pet down that way...but if someone else can and their pet goes wagging it's tail happy to be near someone they love...and their owner is in grief and respectful of the deed...I am not going to judge them.

I have heard of unfortunately some very bad reactions when chemicals are used...which do include suffering for the dog. And...some dogs really do have a mental issue with vets, that causes them extreme agitation and stress...

So I will not clap...but I will also not judge.

right.

I don't think even the person who is able to do the deed would be clapping lol it's not something to clap over

But yeah like you mentioned about the reaction to the chemicals. That was an argument made was that we couldn't possibly know that the bullet did not cause the animal intense pain even though a kill shot is instant. But on the same lines how do we know that the chemicals aren't painful?

I certainly could not be the hand that puts my pet down but if I lived a long way away from a vets office and knew someone who could do it then I wouldn't ignore that as an option.

 

[GlassOnion]

It's a lot cheaper than paying a vet to euthanize the dog and a lot more humane than letting the dog suffer, so it may be the only option for some people.

It's not the best option, but really the worst part is for the owner, not the dog. It feels a flash of pain and then it's over (assuming it even feels pain. I've read many contradicting things on this. The 'yelp' leads one to believe pain is felt but then again that may just be a reaction from the body and no pain is actually felt as the animal is dead by the time the signals for pain are fired. At that point it's just a reflex. But of course no one knows for certain).

Whereas the owner has to dispose of the body of their long loved companion.


So yah I think it's a viable alternative. I wouldn't condemn anyone for it.

 

[Dekka]

As long as the shooter knows where to shoot, IMO it is likely less traumatic than being euthed at the vets.

However if the shooter is not knowledgeable then it can be very cruel.

 

[Lilavati]

If they are doing it because the animal is suffering or dangerous, and they are a decent shot (as in, they know they can get a one shot kill) I don't have a problem with it. Its not what I would choose to do, but I don't consider it outrageous or cruel. Heh, I remember when a shelter was shooting dogs because the gas chamber was banned and they couldn't afford the drugs . . . the public started screaming that they should go back to the chamber. I figured that if it were me, I'd rather be shot than gassed, thanks.

For that matter, it can be a more humane alternative than injection in some cases. My father shot a dog once who had turned out (for reasons we still don't understand) totally insane. We thought she had the canine equivalent of schizophrenia. Regardless, she was dangerous to handle, and terrified of anything new, and completely anti-social. It was more humane to shoot her in a familiar enviroment than to shove her in a crate and cart her to the vet . . . and safer for the people too.

 

[Gempress]

Depending on how it was done and the reasons behind it, I have no problem with it. Done appropriately, a bullet is as painless as any chemical, and much faster. It's still common with farmers and ranchers out here, where vets can be hard to find.

 

[GlassOnion]

But on the same lines how do we know that the chemicals aren't painful?

Well the chemicals are supposed to knock the animal out first (brain dead) and then the body suffocates and the heart stops. So theoretically it feels no pain. I think it also has a substance P/bradykinin blocker in it too. So that helps. Depends on the cocktail though.

 

[dr2little]

The whole idea makes me want to gag to be honest. While I agree that a trip to the Vets can be stressful (my Vets would come to my home if need be), I think shooting a dog is totally barbaric. There are far too many other options.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

chemicals entering thru an injection can hurt right when they go in tho. I know with my IV when I had my kids, that mofo ACHED as soon as the drugs went in...and for several minutes afterwards. Even the Demerol they shot me with in my arse HURT...and that was a pain med!

I also was in a lot of pain from my recent tetnus shot...right as it was done...and well for days afterwards LOL. I know the days won't matter in a PTS situation..but I do think the drugs going in...BEFORE they work...might elicit some sensation. Won't call it pain but I know myself...I have felt pain from being injected via IV/Needle.

 

[smkie]

WHich would you prefer the needle or a bullet? I suppose if a person can aim for the head and do it right it would only be unpleasant for them. I have put many a wild thing out of it's misery with a rock and i never find it pleasant but i am for sure that the creature never felt a thing. i have had enough head injuries to attest to the never knew what hit me theory.

I hold my animals when they cross the bridge. I kiss them, and stroke them and i have never felt one tense up in discomfort, i have never seen their demeanor change in one way so i am almost sure that the chemicals in the iv do not burn. THe hard part is not falling apart until afterwards so you don't stress them out with your own burden of emotion.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Our old boy Zeus did react when the needle went in, but he was highly stressed at the vet...at all times in his life...and I do know folks who's animals have siezured, etc. It's why they talk with you beforehand about things that might occur...because it isnt always "peaceful".

 

[zoe08]

As long as they know they have the ability to do it right where it will be instant I don't have a problem with it.

But I couldn't do it.

 

[ACooper]

I couldn't do it, I couldn't even be around when someone else did it.

I wouldn't judge someone else who did it out of love for the animal though, as long as that was their true motive.

 

[AGonzalez]

Ok...I will speak from experience on this one.
I do not think it's inhumane if you do it right. We had a 15 yr old basset hound female with cancer (inoperable cancer in her spine with a large tumor) that was suffering severely. The vet wanted in excess of $150 to put her to sleep at the office, and then of course the cremation fees and such because they won't let you bury an animal that has been euthanized as it is a danger to local wildlife.
So my husband and I talked it over. She was his dog, and he couldn't do it, and I sure as hell didn't WANT to do it...but I felt so bad because of how she was suffering and I knew there was no way we could afford that extra $150 for at least another 2 weeks. That was the breaking point, I wasn't about to watch her suffer for 2 more weeks because of it, and the vet wouldn't take a payment plan.
Was it the right thing to do, I think it was. I took her out to my grandparents ranch, she got to run around for a little bit and was petted by everyone. I took her way out behind the house on a walk and did it out there...I used a 9mm with a hollow point and directly to the back of the head, I can tell you it was instant and I won't go into details but it did an incredible amount of internal damage. We then buried her out there.

Would I do it again, probably not unless it was 100% necessary. I couldn't even cry for hours after I'd done it and when I did I broke down. It's been almost a year and I still try not to think about it because it still upsets me, but I know it was the most humane thing I could do for her.

I might get flamed for talking about it, and you're welcome to your opinion, but I know that it was the best I could do at the time.

 

[noludoru]

LOL I know. It was quite the heated topic on the other board too lol.

No, because I'm a bit worried that one of our trolls is going to come in this thread due to recent events.

I agree with what Gina said in her first post. I had neighbors who literally couldn't afford euthanasia and their old, crippled dog died of hypothermia instead of a bullet to the head. Frankly I think they should have shot her anyways, or found some way to pay for euthanasia before then, but it wasn't my decision and the dog's wellbeing wasn't important to them.

 

[bubbatd]

Years ago my neighbor ,whose dog was very old and sick , asked me if he could bury his dog in our woods as Sparky always loved them . I said yes , but wept when I heard the gun shot . Thank God I didn't hear a yelp or another shot . Like Smkie . I too have put various animals out of their misery . It's not easy and I could never do it to mine or any animal I've loved .