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Principles of Euthanasia
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Animals are precious, loving, and sweet creatures but many are having their lives cut short. Did you know that 7.6 million animals enter shelters every year? Of those animals, thirty one percent of dogs are euthanized and forty one percent of cats are euthanized. If you do the math, that is 2.4 million dogs and 3.1 million cats. Why are we doing this to our animals? They're living creatures just like us, even if they can't tell us. As you read this paper, you'll learn about what euthanization is, learn the reasons for shelters killing our furry friends, and get an inside look at the terrible practice of euthanization. First off, what is euthanization? reference.com describes euthanization as "the intentional ending of a life via a drug administered by a professional." There are many opinions on First of all, aspca.org says you should adopt from shelters with a high kill rate. The animals in "no kill" shelters will all get adopted eventually but animals in "kill" shelters are on borrowed time. Make donations to open admission shelters to help them buy more supplies so that it is easier to keep the animals in their shelters longer. According to humanesociety.org you can also spay or neuter your pet in order to prevent having more pets than you intended to get and ending up putting the young animals in the shelter. This evidence shows that there are many ways that you can help prevent euthanization. So while there are advantages to pet euthanasia, the cons far outweigh the pros. Pets are fun, and they are living things just like us. Killing them is absolutely unacceptable, especially when there are other solutions that work as well. While euthanasia is categorized as a "merciful ending," why should the end come at all before the animal's natural time? Now that you have read this paper, you know more about euthanization, what it is, and how to help prevent more animals from being killed. It's as simple as adopting a
One goal of euthanasia is to limit pain and suffering of animals, in some circumstances there is unnecessary pain and extreme suffering by prolonging your pet’s life. In the blog, “Is It Ethical to Euthanize Your Dog?” (2011), by Elliot D. Cohen, Ph.D, a few reasons are given for euthanasia, even among his heavy
Generally when shelters can no longer locate homes for animals they can no longer keep due to overpopulation, the first and simplest option that comes to mind is to euthanize them. The animals could be in perfect condition physically, but the shelters still kill the animals regardless of the conditions of the animals.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Of the select few animals that are rescued the majority are euthanized due to overcrowding.
Animals are beloved creatures among the human race, and are deeply cared for. As caretakers of pets, those caretakers have a responsibility to these animals. One of those responsibilities includes making sure all animals are properly taken care of and are placed in a loving home. Many of these poor animals, mostly cats and dogs, are cast unwanted onto the streets to fend for themselves. Once they are cast out, where are they to end up? The ones that survive being discarded by neglectful owners are usually found and taken to a nearby animal shelter. These shelters are set up and designed for stray animals to be taken care of until a new owner can be found. Shelters also graciously accept pets from owners who choose to surrender their animals, and are re-homed by the shelter. Some of these shelters have what is known as a no-kill policy, which states that any animal fit to be adopted out, will be. Other shelters do not have this policy, and will euthanize a healthy animal for a variety of reasons. The most common reason for euthanizing a healthy animal is space. Most shelters are not well funded, and cannot afford to take care of a large number of animals; unfortunately, more animals are being discarded than are taken in by local shelters. Though most people would claim that killing animals to make space is wrong, there are actually many practical reasons for it; in most cases shelters that lack a no-kill policy are better for the animals in the long run.
It is estimated by the American Humane Society that animal shelters in the United States care for “6-8 million animals,” and out of this number, “an estimated 3-4 million are euthanized” (Animal Shelter Euthanasia. 2008). To put this in perspective, that's roughly 10,000 animals being put down every day. There are simply not enough people willing to adopt these animals. Sick, injured, diseased, violent, and old suffering animals will be put down. And unfortunately perfectly able and healthy animals, with shiny healthy coats and no behavioral problems waiting for their adoption, will also be put down. This is because shelters are continuously running out of room. Keep in mind, though, that this is said in respect to the fact that these animals could instead be suffering a painf...
...tting worse and worse as the years go on. Many different organizations are trying to help out with what they can. Having a pet can be a responsibility that many are not ready for. Having a dog or cat as a pet can become expensive and every time consuming, and that is why there are so many animals that live on the streets and why overpopulation keeps increasing year after year. Seeing stray animals has become a normal thing to see for some communities around the world but these strays can be the home and breading ground for diseases that can be fatal. If an animal is saved from living on the streets it is sent to an animal shelter where it may still suffer and be in a cage for the rest of its life. Animal shelters are becoming over crowded and having to constantly make room for more animals, and that is causing the number of dogs and cats that are euthanized to rise.
There are many different types of euthanasia animal shelters use to put down animals. The most popular type of euthanasia called intravenous injection, which is a poison containing sodium pentobarbital. This poison is injected in the heart or leg without any pain killers. The animal is put to sleep and in some cases they wake up when they feel the pain and start to struggle and fight the vet. More than one injection may be needed based on the weight of the animal. This process is also used for animals that are euthanized due to disease or injures. Another process is called the gas chamber. The animal is put into these gas chambers and “will usually scream and cry until they fall asleep” (Chrysta). Carbon dioxide is sent out and the animal will die in about twenty minutes. Many animal shelters believe this is an inhumane way of killing the animals and are against it. But there are still animal shelters in the United States that still use this method. Displacement of the neck or known as cervical dislocation is another f...
Meaning that, although negative, euthanasia is necessary in order to reduce the amount of overpopulation in animal shelters. Considering that 90% of animals that enter animal shelters are healthy and adoptable (Frank & Carlisle-Frank, 2003), there is no purpose for euthanizing innocent animals when there could be ways to promote th...
The main reasons animals end up in shelter is because owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street. Also homeless animals are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors. Homeless animals outnumber homeless people five to one and one out of every ten dogs born will find a permanent home According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy .Also less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners when they are lost. Approximately more than 13,000 healthy or treatable animals were killed out of the 54,129 that entered city shelters last year. “One cannot look deeply into the eyes of an animal and not see the same depth, complexity and feeling us human l...
First of all, euthanasia saves money and resources. The amount of money for health care in each country, and the number of beds and doctors in each hospital are limited. It is a huge waste if we use those money and resources to lengthen the lives of those who have an incurable disease and want to die themselves rather than saving the lives of the ones with a curable ailment. When we put those patients who ask for euthanasia to death, then the waiting list for each hospital will shorten. Then, the health care money of each country, the hospital beds, and the energy of the doctors can be used on the ones who can be cured, and can get back to normal and able to continue contributing to the society. Isn’t this a better way of using money and resources rather than unnaturally extend those incurable people’s lives?
“In certain states such as Alabama, there is as many as 300,000 homeless animals euthanized in animal shelters every year. These are the offspring of homeless street animals, and the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets” (“Why You Should Spay/Neuter your Pet”). Some Families are not financially stable and cannot care for, or support the offspring of their pets. Instead the innocent litters are abandoned in fields or city streets, left to fend for themselves. But, the “lucky” ones are relinquished at shelters. Due to a certain capacity each shelter may hold, animals must be euthanized to make room for adoptable newcomers. Euthanization is the act of “humanely” putting an animal to death or allowing it to die as by withholding extreme medical measures. Pet euthanasia is performed by giving the animal a massive overdose of anesthesia injected by a syringe. A prodigious amount of animals are euthanized, “approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters each year due to the sheer fact that there are not enough willing adopters. Having [pets] spayed or neutered ensures that you will not be adding to this tremendous burden” (“Spaying/Neutering”). The
Over the past few years, euthanasia in animals has been a topic many have argued against simply because it is inhumane. Euthanasia in the past was used to end an animal’s life of suffering through a process of painless and permanent sleep. As of today, this “term” is best described as the act of mass murder of many innocent animals. According to PETA, “approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the U.S. each year. Even though some are reclaimed or adopted, nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go” (Euthanasia, 2015). Only an animal suffering from an illness or pain should go through the process of true euthanasia, as most people would believe. For most, the solution to this problem is to provide more space in animal shelters. However, these solutions come with downfalls and they often lead to failure. All in all, those who
Overall, it can be agreed that the debate of legalising Euthanasia relates to the viewpoint of the individual. Numerous studies show that utilising Euthanasia has a positive correlation with efficiency measures whilst other studies implying a great implication in cost savings also. Although, the demonstration of these cost-effectiveness have not been confirmed therefore there is not sufficient enough evidence to justify the legalisation of the treatment in many nations across the world.
All across the country, an epidemic of overcrowded and overpopulated animal shelters is very evident. Because of this “21% of the state’s entire populations of household cat and dogs were euthanized each year.” (Marsh,5). It was found that “…5.6% to 8.2% of a state's dog and cat population would be sheltered during a year, and that, on average, an estimated 3.77% of that population would be euthanized” (Zawistowski, et al., 195). Unwanted animals are left on shelter steps and fill half of the spots that shelters have to hold strays. The causes of this are questioned among leading researchers who devote their life’s work to solving this problem. One side seems to argue that human factors, such as abusive tendencies or lack of ability to care for a pet play the most part in this problem. Others argue that the animal itself is the cause; whether it be their aggressive nature or their breed. Evaluating the problem, it is clear that there are many different causes of this epidemic that is related to both human and animal factors. Some of the factors that play important roles in this problem are lack of spaying and neutering by the previous pet owner, the readiness of the owner to take care of their new pet, and the temperament of the animals leaving the shelter.
Most people in the United States do not believe or even realize a problem exists in the animal population. “Of the 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats that enter the United States shelters each year, 3 million to 4 million are euthanized according to the Humane Society of United States (Banton 2).” 78% of the 10,00 pets that enter the Humane Shelter receives annually are euthanized. These statistics are not an exaggeration. The animal population effects more than just the animals and the shelters that take them in. It impacts local cities and communities, because of the federal taxes being paid to shelters to euthanize animals. The tax money , also covers the food and board of the animals while in the shelter. “ Each dog and cat costs about $10 a day to care for; the average stay for an animal is five days (Anderson 2).” Spaying and neutering animals is not only essential for domesticated animals(pets) , but also for feral animals that live in the wild and reproduce without restrictions. “Two unaltered cats and their offspring can produce 420,00 cats in seven years. Two unaltered dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years (Lobeck 1).” Many ...