by Amanda Demers

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

There are actually worse fates than having an animal euthanized. Unfortunately, euthanasia often becomes the only way in which shelters can cope with excessive numbers of animals. Here are a few of the situations that are worse than euthanasia, and what we can do as individuals to make sure euthanizing healthy pets becomes a thing of the past.

Animal abuse continues to plague our society. It's very sad indeed to see a loving, trusting dog or cat succumb to the whims of a sadist. A number of animals are killed in particularly cruel and painful ways every year. While many of them are abused by their owners, many are strays who happen to be easily accessible to abusers as they roam the streets.

Another problem frequently encountered is animal hoarding. Most hoarders start off as well-intentioned pet owners who get in way over their heads. They take in more animals than can easily afford and care for. These animals often spend their entire lives in cramped, cluttered, and filthy conditions.

While often lauded as the very solution to pet euthanasia, some "no-kill" shelters actually end up housing animals in hoarder-like conditions. Very few shelters have adequate space to provide animals with lifelong homes without keeping them permanently caged. This is no life for an animal. Even more troubling is that a very few rescuers will even refuse to have an animal euthanized even for humane reasons, such as incurable illness.

All shelters, whether they're a municipal pound or a private shelter run by a non-profit, have limited resources. Limited resources make it difficult to care for animals with severe health problems or with dangerous behavioral issues. The biggest difference between the shelters is that municipal ones tend to deal with excess numbers of animals through euthanasia, while private ones turn away animals they can't take. Both of these are imperfect solutions.

Euthanasia technicians and other staff at municipal shelters are often painted as being cruel or hating animals. It doesn't help that animal control officers in movies or on TV are often portrayed as villains. While there are inhumane animal control personnel, many genuinely hate the fact that they have to destroy healthy animals. One rescuer I know of initially started out working in an animal control division.

If the alternatives are life out on the street, being "cared for" by an abuser, or living their lives in a cage, euthanasia can be the more humane option. Euthanasia should also be used in the case of incurably sick or dangerously aggressive animals. However, by encouraging others to adopt instead of buying, supporting voluntary spay/neuter programs, and getting involved in groups that support responsible ownership, we can make a difference.

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