• Question: do you think that putting an animal down is wrong? because i humans cant be killed, then why should animals, accept in extreme circumstances?

    Asked by jessleeramsey to Jo, Kevin, Valeria on 21 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 21 Jun 2012:

      It depends on the circumstances – traditionally animals have been put down as they cannot have any quality of life if they were to go on living due to serious injury etc.

      Obviously in humans, we are dealing with a more complex moral issue – the right to life is something that is still hotly debated but I agree that it is odd that it is not discussed more for animals.

      I don;t agree with killing animals due to overpopuations or because owners just don;t want them any more – only in the most extreme circumstances do I think it is acceptable, where we are sure the animal cannot potentially live pain free – obviosuly some people disagree with me on that!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 21 Jun 2012:

      This is a good question because everyone has a different view on it,

      I think there are a few points here, if an animal or a human is very ill with no hope of recovery my own feeling is that the animal should be humanely put to sleep and the human should be given the right to die if they are of sound mind and choose this option, however where the human is concerned there are many moral issues, I have often heard people say that we would not let animals suffer in the way we make some humans suffer in ill-health and disease.

      When it comes to healthy animals I don’t think it is acceptable for them to be put to sleep. I think we need to have stronger laws about breeding animals because at the moment anyone can breed an animal which leads to so many unwanted pets and they all deserve a good quality of life.

      having said that though for a dog or a cat to spend its life in a small kennel that also seems wrong but as long as they are not showing signs of distress then they should not be put down

      When it comes to pest control (wild rats and mice and so on) then I think if there is a human health issue they should be put down, sadly they are often not killed in a vey humane way as there are not many humane options to choose from.

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