As a veterinarian I have been involved in the euthanasia of many animals. Without a doubt it is the most difficult aspect of my job. Despite the sorrow and emotional distress that I feel whenever I perform this service, I know that it is usually a thousand times more difficult for the owners. Very few people are untouched by the loss of a pet, but sometimes they must make the difficult decision and do what is best for the animal.
There can be no doubt that many pets are a member of the family. The connection is a cross between the relationship between parent and child and the relationship between husband and wife. Yet most of us would never euthanize a husband, wife, or child (although we might occasionally be tempted). So why is it acceptable to euthanize a pet?
The simple answer is that an animal may be a part of the family, but they are not a human. They cannot understand what their suffering is for. They only know that they are in pain. They do not know what disease is and they cannot comprehend the source of their agony. Just as they have looked to their owners for food, water, shelter, and affection, they now look to them for help. Sometimes euthanasia is the only way to end their pain.
Opponents of euthanasia often criticize owners who decline treatment for their terminally ill pets, but when treatment prolongs life without erasing the pain is it really humane? When a person has an incurable and painful disease, their quality of life will decrease but they can still take joy in mental pursuits and sentimental occasions. A human hunter who becomes paralyzed may no longer hunt, but he may still take enjoyment in watching wildlife. A paralyzed hunting dog is taunted by the sight of wildlife and can take no joy in it because he cannot understand that he will never again run with the chase. The dog's enjoyment of the hunt was in the excitement and the physical activity, not the beauty and the skill. In the same way, a cancer stricken woman may smile through her pain at her daughter's wedding, but or cancer stricken dog can only suffer no matter the occasion.
I think we can all agree that the euthanasia of healthy animals should be avoided to the fullest extent possible, but only the most selfish person can say that terminally ill animals that have passed beyond the point of medical assistance should be forced to continue their suffering. I have had clients who simply could not let their pets go. Although it would not be ethical to go into the details of these cases, suffice it to say that there is nothing more agonizing then to watch an animal struggle for every breath and see the pain and fear in their eyes as they slowly fade away over a matter of days. Nothing can make a veterinarian feel more helpless than to see such an animal and be unable to help it.
On the other side of this is the client who loves their pet and is willing to do the hard thing. These people give their hearts to their pets and love them dearly. I have had many clients that have performed expensive treatments, given daily pills and injections, made endless trips to the clinic, and even rearranged homes to keep their animals healthy. No one could look at what these people do and believe that their animals are not a part of their hearts and souls. I have also been the one to help these people give their animals the last gift they can, a painless end. I have seen the look of love and anguish in the eyes of the owners, and the look of love and relief in the eyes of the animals. Although tears often come to my own eyes, I feel only pain for the owner's loss, not regret for the animal's release. Experiences like these have shown me that euthanasia can be an act of love, for what else would lead people to go through so much pain simply so their animals won't have to?