Is a .45 A.C.P. FMJ enough?

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1911guy,

When folks get thier meat from the grocery store and thier meals from the restaurant, they become detached from certain realities in the cycle of life. Urban life and its "push button" society, brings to pass a certain detachment from the earth and the way she works.

I'm with you on using a high powered rifle. The 30-30 or bigger leaves a lot of room for error. The last couple times I put a mule or a cow down, I actually used a 500 linebaugh (cause I had it with me) which is much like a rifle in the power dept.
 
As the first one to suggest Animal Control I'll say this: I grew up on a farm and I have put down more than my share of animals and pets, beloved, sick, and/or food.

Now, I understand the comments about people being disconnected, but I have experienced first-hand the "good intentions" of someone inexperienced trying to put down an animal. The way the OP was worded Animal Control seemed like the best bet.

Reading the OP again, I'd still suggest the same thing.
 
If you have doubts about your ability to go thru with the task in a manner that is effective and humane, then by all means seek outside help. The farmer did this. This wasn't a job RWMC wanted, but I didn't see any doubts about his ability to carry it out. He only needed guidance regards the tools to do it properly. Some might think he used more firepower than necessary, but considering, it was better to go high than low. It didn't strike me there were any illusions about the followup duties.

Speaking as someone with a fair amount of Animal Control and euthanizing experience, I can say first hand that euthansia drugs, especially with large animals, do not always act as intended. When that happens, the results can be disconcerting. These problems might be rare but they do happen.

I'd be reluctant to spend too much time second guesing a serious man's sincere assesment of his available options. And if I choose to respond, best to address the question asked. Circumstancs don't always allow us our d'ruthers.
 
SN - I apologize if it came off as a slam

I just meant that there are probably good reasons why a serious person has limitations in their options and no good purpose is served by revisiting alternative paths that can't be taken.
 
New_geezer said:
SN - I apologize if it came off as a slam

I just meant that there are probably good reasons why a serious person has limitations in their options and no good purpose is served by revisiting alternative paths that can't be taken.
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No man, it's cool. It was good advice.

I'll admit that it stuck in my craw for a second, but I decided to take it in the spirit it was given.
 
I learned a long time ago that when I have made up my mind to kill how to turn off every emotion and outside influence except the eye/sights/trigger motor control. Nothing else in the world exists except the sight alignment and pressure of my finger on the trigger. Its a mental safety zone that ensures a clean result. If you think about what you are doing it's too damn hard.
 
This is a job for a horse vet, not a firearm. I couldn't imagine shooting an animal that served me well, even if he's suffering.
 
I've only "put down" a rooster that was 'winged' by car quite a few years ago. Let's just say it was faster than suffering and waiting for a natural death, but not quite as fast as I would have liked...:sad:

Deer hitting car and vice versa is VERY VERY common here. I figured that if I ever came across a deer in pain from such an event, I'd stick my Glock 19 in it's ear and fire. It seemed like a more 'direct route' to the brain than the 'between the eyes' bit. Though more than likely, someone who had BTDT had told me that long ago and I'd just forgotten. ;)

helpless - I'M a cat guy too, that story was very depressing! Especially how the cat was trapped under there ALL DAY. :sad: I'd not want to be in a situation like that...
 
Giester,

Then by my reckoning, your love for the animal is not complete. If we step up and do the hard thing to stop the horses suffering, we do it out of love and respect, because it is the most loving and respectful thing to do for a suffing beloved animal.
 
Our perceptions of death.

The real sticking point for most, if you'll be honest about it, is that some do not want to be personally responsible for the death of an animal. If you've lived your life as an eastern monk, that would be consistent with your lifestyle and I can respect that. If it's because you'd just rather abdicate the responsibility, then some soul searching is in order. Calling the "hit man" is the same as pulling the trigger. Done right, a bullet is just as painless as a needle. The difference is the mental part, not the suffering level of the animal, nor the financial aspect. Many can write that off as a business expense. It's all in our heads.

This goes back to the mantra that a gun is a tool. If there is a job to do, use the appropriate tool. If you're not up to the task, call a pro. However, you are still responsible for the job being done.
 
The real sticking point for most, if you'll be honest about it, is that some do not want to be personally responsible for the death of an animal.
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That, and somehow the potential mess from a gun shot seems barbaric, disturbing, and disrespectful to your pet. Lethal injections seem tidy, civilized, and antiseptic. Properly done, either way can provide a quick, merciful end. Regardless, you can't mask the result, dead is dead, and the dead are beyond caring. We can't avoid all the messy situations life throws at us, it's pointless to try, and for our own sake, better to realize that and learn to cope. Honor and appreciate life and the spirit that animates it, worry less about the corpse.
 
Ron in PA,

How so? A high speed projectile to the brain is completely painless.
 
I don't suppose that includes writing the check to pay the vet and disposal fees because due to circumstances beyong his control, your friend doesn't have the money to pay for those services.
 
While this is an unpleasant task to discuss, it is one that becomes much worse if not done efficiently.

If one must put down an animal, and they don't have the stomach for it, they shouldn't even try. Calling on a vet is probably their best option.

I personally intensely dislike seeing an animal suffer unnecessarily, particularly those which have been domesticated by man, and are accustomed to being cared for by humans.

Fortunately, part of my upbringing was "rural" in nature. I had the benefit of learning how to do some unpleasant yet necessary tasks that are simply part of a farmer's job. A farmer at that time could not often afford the luxury of calling in a vet to put down an animal, and most were not inclined to allow their animals to suffer unnecessarily to begin with.

My great uncle taught me to use the ear canal shot, as it is the least obstructed path to the animal's brain. A hollowpoint pistol round is most effective and controllable, and in most cases, a .22 long rifle round is more than sufficient, if the animal is not thrashing about excessively. If so, a centerfire pistol or rifle may be necessary, along with an alternate aiming point. The central nervous system is always most effective when possible.
Be aware that in some cases, the animal's body will still exhibit movement as the body's automatic or "programmed" movements are expended. Ie.- the body doesn't yet know that the brain is dead.

I have had to do this on nearly two dozen occasions that I can recall, and only once did the situation call for anything larger that the .22 long rifle from a pistol. The results were without exception, immediate.

I still get called upon for this, most recently by my neighbor. His old and cherished Walker hound was failing, and he was so emotionally attached to the dog, that he could not do what needed done. A very successful deer and coon hunter, every year, but not something that he felt that he could do.

The dog was able to go to rest in a most humane manner, with the company of someone that he knew. -FNR.
 
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