Would you shoot your dog?
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Hemicuda
member
I once DID have to put my dog down...
Taffy was a TRUE mutt... I got her as a 4 year old kid... and she was my pet for over 20 years (she was euthanized by me, about a week short of her 21st birthday)
she was TRULY a member of the family... and she LOVED my moms Jeep... (it is now MY Jeep)
she was suffering BAD hip displacia by then (her last year was pretty rough)
she HATED the vets office, and WOULDN'T go in without being practically knocked out...
she also was suffering a bit of dimensia...
I had to take her for one last ride in the Jeep (topless rides in January, in Michigan kinda suck, but Taffy loved it!) then bring her home, and put her out of her misery... it was TRULY one of the hardest things I have ever done...
but it hasn't kept me from getting another dog... Molly loves the Jeep too!
Taffy was a TRUE mutt... I got her as a 4 year old kid... and she was my pet for over 20 years (she was euthanized by me, about a week short of her 21st birthday)
she was TRULY a member of the family... and she LOVED my moms Jeep... (it is now MY Jeep)
she was suffering BAD hip displacia by then (her last year was pretty rough)
she HATED the vets office, and WOULDN'T go in without being practically knocked out...
she also was suffering a bit of dimensia...
I had to take her for one last ride in the Jeep (topless rides in January, in Michigan kinda suck, but Taffy loved it!) then bring her home, and put her out of her misery... it was TRULY one of the hardest things I have ever done...
but it hasn't kept me from getting another dog... Molly loves the Jeep too!
T
T-Tex
Guest
I've had to put farm animals down before, and that bothered me a heck of a lot more than killing them to eat. I guess I'd be able to do the same for a dog, but I'd much rather have a vet take care of it.
Gila Jorge
Member
Only if I absolutely had to. Have had to go to the vet too many times over the past 20 years
with beloved dogs....and it kills me each time. Rabid and strays....no problems. Beloved pets ...just won't do it.
with beloved dogs....and it kills me each time. Rabid and strays....no problems. Beloved pets ...just won't do it.
Sleeping Dog
Member
I put down a cat a few years ago. Terminal illness and the vet wanted too much for euthanasia. I used a .22LR in the closed garage to keep the sound from bothering neighbors (urban setting).
A very sad chore.
Regards.
A very sad chore.
Regards.
ojibweindian
Member
Losing Boomer was pretty hard. It would have been a lot worse to have shot him. Whatever was in that syringe the vet gave Boomer did its job quickly and painlessly.
I now have a Boxer named Emily; a great pooch and I have quickly become very attached to her, despite her sometimes obstinate countenance. No way could I shoot her, unless there was no other possible way to relieve her suffering. And even then, the nightmares would be sure to last for months.
I now have a Boxer named Emily; a great pooch and I have quickly become very attached to her, despite her sometimes obstinate countenance. No way could I shoot her, unless there was no other possible way to relieve her suffering. And even then, the nightmares would be sure to last for months.
Id like to shoot the neighbors dog to put it out of the misery of having to live with these people. I’ve thought about going over there and just releasing it.
Its a full grown husky that they keep on a 10 foot leash in the back yard. Never take it for a walk. There is a VERY distinct line between our lawns where the green ends and the brown begins, if you know what I mean.
Diesle
Its a full grown husky that they keep on a 10 foot leash in the back yard. Never take it for a walk. There is a VERY distinct line between our lawns where the green ends and the brown begins, if you know what I mean.
Diesle
sm
member
Don't have Dogs of my own now, miss them still.
I have put them down, its tough. After a tornado farmer friend lost dogs, showed up a while later--rabies. He and the Mrs. asked me to, a bit tough for them to do. Buried on the farm they loved, roamed and protected. Alongside the family cemetary.
I have put them down, its tough. After a tornado farmer friend lost dogs, showed up a while later--rabies. He and the Mrs. asked me to, a bit tough for them to do. Buried on the farm they loved, roamed and protected. Alongside the family cemetary.
Only in the event of extreme suffering with no hope for getting better, or if it went Cujo and attacked my family. Most likely, if the need arose, I'd take the beast to the vet and let them handle it.
There was a time when I was about 8 to 10 years old when a dog was hit by a car in front of my great grandmother's house. The dog was in the middle of the road with a broken back yelping horribly. The PD showed up in short order and using a .22, attempted to euthanize the dog. After six shots to the dog's skull, the dog's yelping had evolved into a horrifying scream that to this day makes my stomach turn and the short hairs raise up. The officer finally produced his duty .45 and put the animal out of it's misery. Everyone in my great grandmother's house wash awash with tears and the officer had to come sit on our porch for a while to regain his composure.
Not a memory I'm likely to forget anytime soon.
There was a time when I was about 8 to 10 years old when a dog was hit by a car in front of my great grandmother's house. The dog was in the middle of the road with a broken back yelping horribly. The PD showed up in short order and using a .22, attempted to euthanize the dog. After six shots to the dog's skull, the dog's yelping had evolved into a horrifying scream that to this day makes my stomach turn and the short hairs raise up. The officer finally produced his duty .45 and put the animal out of it's misery. Everyone in my great grandmother's house wash awash with tears and the officer had to come sit on our porch for a while to regain his composure.
Not a memory I'm likely to forget anytime soon.
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It would have to be the last recourse!! I still remember over forty years ago when my Uncle Jim had to come over to our house with his .32 and put down (I swear to God) Spot. Although necessary, that was pretty traumatic for a kid. In my adult life, we had to have our cat, Smoky, put to sleep about three years ago by the vet. I never really liked that cat much but it still affected me. Then, we had Smoky and two dogs; we now have three dogs and another cat. The dogs are starting to get up in years and I dread when it's their time.
Ebbtide
Member
No, I guess I don't have the heart to do it.
I would take her to the vet and have her put down, He charges $70.00 which includes creamation and the return of the ashes. I usually let them dispose of the body in the pet cemetary (He said there is such a place and I can visit the site. I never had the urge to do so).
Under extreme circumstances, I'm sure I would do what needs to be done.
I would take her to the vet and have her put down, He charges $70.00 which includes creamation and the return of the ashes. I usually let them dispose of the body in the pet cemetary (He said there is such a place and I can visit the site. I never had the urge to do so).
Under extreme circumstances, I'm sure I would do what needs to be done.
I not only would but have many times. When I worked as an active city police officer (20 years ago), that was one of our duties. We had to destroy the unwanted strays at the dog pound a couple of times a month. We shot them until it became politically incorrect and then we had to give them lethal injections. I assure you the gunshot to the head was a much more humane procedure. No struggle, no physical restraining while the injection was administered.
I have also "destroyed" several personal pets over my lifetime that were suffering. I don't see that taking them to a vet where they are among strangers and frightened is preferable to a quick death at the hands of their loving owners. When I have destroyed personal pets, they felt no pain and were happy when the "lights went out". I feel no shame or guilt for having eased them into death happy. I understand that some others will see my act as uncaring and or brutish but I assure you that it has not been. There is a large difference between ending an animals life by a bullet to the brain and torturing and animal. If anyone believes that shooting an animal is inhumane, you must be against all hunting as well.
I have also "destroyed" several personal pets over my lifetime that were suffering. I don't see that taking them to a vet where they are among strangers and frightened is preferable to a quick death at the hands of their loving owners. When I have destroyed personal pets, they felt no pain and were happy when the "lights went out". I feel no shame or guilt for having eased them into death happy. I understand that some others will see my act as uncaring and or brutish but I assure you that it has not been. There is a large difference between ending an animals life by a bullet to the brain and torturing and animal. If anyone believes that shooting an animal is inhumane, you must be against all hunting as well.Ebbtide
Member
I would call stubby.
For whatever reasons, my dogs are happy to see the vet. Plus, I would go to jail if I shot my dog in, on, or near my property (city life).
For whatever reasons, my dogs are happy to see the vet. Plus, I would go to jail if I shot my dog in, on, or near my property (city life).
Average Guy
Member
Of course, there are moments when all I want to do is hose down the back patio...but those two Rotties are just too dang lovable. Plus the more I work with them, the better behaved they are. Go figure.
The brief answer: If I absolutely had to.
An aside: I think that of the countless cats my family has had, only one died a known natural death. Several just disappeared; my dad shotgunned one (I always thought he was a heartless SOB until, when I pressed him for details, he refused to talk about it); I dropped another off for euthanasia; one was riddled with tumors and had to be put down (my mom is still upset that the vet misdiagnosed); the latest one met a horrible demise in a clothes dryer. No kidding.
Sorta OT: D'ya think Disney would ever make a movie like "Old Yeller" today? (Think perhaps one day they'll edit the movie to give it a happy ending)?
Plus the more I work with them, the better behaved they are. Go figure.The brief answer: If I absolutely had to.
An aside: I think that of the countless cats my family has had, only one died a known natural death. Several just disappeared; my dad shotgunned one (I always thought he was a heartless SOB until, when I pressed him for details, he refused to talk about it); I dropped another off for euthanasia; one was riddled with tumors and had to be put down (my mom is still upset that the vet misdiagnosed); the latest one met a horrible demise in a clothes dryer. No kidding.
Sorta OT: D'ya think Disney would ever make a movie like "Old Yeller" today? (Think perhaps one day they'll edit the movie to give it a happy ending)?
Gordon
Member
Blackhawk: On what do you base that destroying CNS thru a major hit to brain stem ect. is not quick . Nothing is "painless" but pain for .1 seconds means what to a dead brain? Dont think magic medicine involves no discomfort. I euthanized dogs one summer as part of working for a very large SPCA, and the ones I have shot since (of my own) suffered less I think.
Okiecruffler
Member
I've done it before, when a trip to the vet would have only prolonged the suffering, but it's not something I would do unless needed. Jeesh, all these pet dying post are getting to me. Can't we go back to "What gun is best for space zombie invasions" or something? And just because she has her head in my lap, here's a pic of one of mine that I couldn't bear to be without. Although she usually looks more cuddly than this.
tomkatz
Member
well, now that I've seen where this thread has gone, I've got to say that a well placed shot ends it pretty quick, the dog I described earlier with the head injury would have suffered needlessly on the way to the vet, and couldn't have been saved. I knew the dog well but it had to be done. My own dogs I've had euthenized made me feel worse, but the vet I have now is very compassionate, she will even come to your house. I did have one dog, a border collie named Jessie, when they stuck the needle in she came unglued, even after a few seconds she made one last lunge for the door, it was pretty bad, fortunately the other 4 we have had to put down were real calm, if they were all like jessie I couldn't do it. Also, my wife and I hold them until it's over, we feel we owe them that, but it is rough.......tom
Beren
Moderator Emeritus
My parents had to put both family dogs put to sleep last fall within two weeks of each other. One had developed kidney failure. The other, berift and depressed from the loss of his companion of over ten years, quickly developed a terminal condition of his own and also had to be euthanized. These were the dogs I grew up with - my parents had owned them from the time we moved when I was a young teenager, through college (hometown college), etc.
I've lived in the area my entire life and would visit the parents weekly. The dogs were always "my" dogs as much as they were my parent's, and their loss was heartbreaking.
I can't imagine the trauma I'd incur shooting a loved pet to end its suffering, but I like to think that I would do so if it were absolutely necessary and no other alternatives were available. Then I'd lock up the firearms and spend the next three days living out of a case of vodka.
The closest I've come to euthanizing an animal was when I hit a deer a few years ago. It was still alive and tried repeatedly to get up, was spitting blood, etc. I wanted nothing more than to end its pain but I wasn't sure if it was legal at the time. I wasn't within a town or city but there were houses within a thousand feet.
I've lived in the area my entire life and would visit the parents weekly. The dogs were always "my" dogs as much as they were my parent's, and their loss was heartbreaking.
I can't imagine the trauma I'd incur shooting a loved pet to end its suffering, but I like to think that I would do so if it were absolutely necessary and no other alternatives were available. Then I'd lock up the firearms and spend the next three days living out of a case of vodka.
The closest I've come to euthanizing an animal was when I hit a deer a few years ago. It was still alive and tried repeatedly to get up, was spitting blood, etc. I wanted nothing more than to end its pain but I wasn't sure if it was legal at the time. I wasn't within a town or city but there were houses within a thousand feet.
TallPine
Member
Amazing how many "softies" there are among these "blood-thirsty gun-nuts"
Aren't you all afraid we will ruin our reputation among the antis ?
Aren't you all afraid we will ruin our reputation among the antis ?
Andrew Wyatt
Member
It doesn't just include dogs. when i was little (which wasn't actually all that long ago) My pet rat got cancer and had to be put down.
My dad did it, since i was little and he didn't want me to have to see it. If it came down to it, and any of my animals were ill and needed to be put down, i'd do it. we sometimes get called upon to put down animals that aren't ours, like stray kittens who crawl up inside the guts of car engines and get gravely injured when the car starts up.
My dad did it, since i was little and he didn't want me to have to see it. If it came down to it, and any of my animals were ill and needed to be put down, i'd do it. we sometimes get called upon to put down animals that aren't ours, like stray kittens who crawl up inside the guts of car engines and get gravely injured when the car starts up.
Okiecruffler
Member
"Aren't you all afraid we will ruin our reputation among the antis ?"
They'll just say we hate wasting ammo on animals when it can be used to shoot children and old people.
They'll just say we hate wasting ammo on animals when it can be used to shoot children and old people.
Monkeyleg
Member.
The only way I could shoot my dog is if a vet were not available and, given that I live in a fairly large city, that's unlikely.
It's hard enough to watch them "go to sleep," much less watch them spurt blood. Watching our last dog go after the shot was administered was one of the most heart-wrenching events of my life.
It's hard enough to watch them "go to sleep," much less watch them spurt blood. Watching our last dog go after the shot was administered was one of the most heart-wrenching events of my life.
BogBabe
Member
My boyfriend had to shoot his cat last year. The poor thing had been injured badly in a fight, and just getting him back to the house had him screaming in pain. The ride to the vet would have had the poor creature in unimaginable agony. He (my boyfriend) was right to do what he did. But I, being more of a wimp, would probably have caused the animal to suffer terribly in order to take it to the vet. I don't know if I would be able to do that if it were needed.
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