draggonlaady

As much as possible, I try for it to be the last good thing we can do for the pet. I will refer people to rescues or trainers rather than perform "convenience" euthanasia (and have actually flat told at least one person "no, I will not kill that cat just because he's the wrong color. If you didn't want a black cat, you shouldn't have taken it." I then took the cat [with her permission] and found it a home where it's actually liked.). Most of the animals I kill are very sick, or very old and in chronic pain. Which makes it... not good, I guess, for me, but tolerable. There's a reason. At what point in a progressive disease that choice comes varies greatly though. Some owners opt euthanasia as soon as an incurable disease is diagnosed. Many will treat until the animal is uncomfortable/ill acting more than 50% of the time. Some want every possible minute we can eke out. I can't make that decision on when for them. So (past the diagnosing point) it's not all science-y; it's a lot of communication and offering choices, then abiding by the choice the owner makes.

The rescues I bring home are almost always critters that were going to be killed that I didn't/couldn't stomach doing. On the other hand, I have the luxury of eating meat which I didn't have to kill. And I do like the taste of meat. So... just a little bundle of conflicts am I!