[quote=“Tucker5, post:18, topic:778165, full:true”] The only tool … It was awful and I just sat down in the field and bawled…Would it have been kinder to allow …to die a prolonged agonizing death?
I hope I never again have to do something like that to any animal, much less a beloved pet. But when you have seen and experienced some of the horror out there, well, your perspective can change.
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I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I agree with you that other posters are focusing on the tool used, instead of the plight that you found yourself in…it’s been a bit of a pile-on. Unfortunately, life throws curveballs, and regardless of how much you may prepare yourself, it can still cause devastation. I’m sorry for your experience.
Now, your particular experience happened to be with a wild animal in the woods with a limited supply of tools around you. It seems to be the opinion of many on this board that the idea of NEEDING to kill/euthanize a pet without the presence of a veterinarian is so far-fetched and ludicrous as to not be comparable with your experience. I disagree.
I know of a lady whose cat was ran over, but not killed by a vehicle. The cat was a bloody and broken mess. Going to the vet in a timely manner was not a possibility. So, this lady made the decision to put the cat in a box and let it pass on its own. The cat survived for OVER SIX HOURS. I can’t imagine the agony of that poor animal; that supposedly beloved pet.
It is my opinion that this lady was undeniably cruel to her pet in its time of need. As another poster suggested, carbon monoxide poisoning would’ve been a much, much more humane ending to this pet.
And that, I believe is the point that Tucker5 was trying to make: that a pet owner is ultimately responsible for their pet. That responsibility may take the form of being educated enough and having the correct supplies to make an animal as comfortable as possible until it can receive medical care OR to make the difficult decision to end that animal’s life.
Now, going back to the OP: for those persons that are far away from an emergency vet, eduction, medical disaster prep, and networking seem to be the best ways to arm one’s self. Unfortunately, knowing how to end an animal’s (obvious) suffering falls under this.
Please consider that it is not out of the realm of possibilities to have the family dog/cat be involved in a hit-and-run, like the lady above. For those that do not have access to veterinary care for treatment and/or euthanasia, they have to make the decision of how to handle such an event.
If the pet is clearly past the point of return, then killing it, as humanely as possible, is a legitimate course of action. Sure, many people may not have or be able/willing to shoot a gun (due to experience, mental/emotional capability or legality concerns). And, sure, many people that live in suburbia may not have an “axe”, but most people do have or have access to a carbon monoxide producing engine.
So, to me, to say that the average person is unable to provide a humane ending due to not having the “right equipment” (such as a gun or hand tools, etc.) or that it is such a rare occurrence/necessity is a red herring. To me, it seems that the real issue is that people, in general, are so far removed from the days of self reliance in regards to animal husbandry, that they are emotionally incapable or unwilling to handle this particular circumstance with grace.
Even in the tiny sampling of the posters on this thread, there is evidence of the different perspectives and capabilities of people that have to rely on themselves, whether that’s due to geographical distances or lifestyles (such as farming), versus those that live in more densely populated areas and rely more heavily on veterinary care.
In any case, providing care for an animal in pain is an emotional, self-doubting experience, but it IS a part of being a pet owner. Colic, anyone? Thankfully, many of us have some form of support in the form of veterinarians and knowledgeable friends/neighbors, but it is difficult finding your footing in a changing world where medical care (any medical care) is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
As individuals, the best we can do, is to learn from our mistakes, share our experiences and help those facing similar challenges.
