Random Curious Question

[sparklemom]

I've read on here about people (not posters on this board, but read people griping about it) putting an animal to sleep if they are bored with it, moving, it's too expensive, etc. And I'm just wondering -- will a vet put a perfectly healthy animal to sleep just because the owner says so? I know it can't be animal cruelty, since it isn't cruel, but is there any sort of regulations of when a pet can be put to sleep? What if some whacko gets his kicks taking dogs to the vet to be pts? I really have no idea why I'm asking this other than blatant curiousity.

[mmgy]

If you go to animal control, there's no question. It's owner surrender, and they are required to do it at your request. I think our shelter euthanizes almost any owner turn-in because of crowding.

My vet has done it. But he tries to view the whole situation. I know that he's put down many animals belonging to people with terminal illnesses, that didn't have a place for their animals to go. On occasion, he's talked them into letting him find the pet a home. But I know there have been a few times that he's had to do it, and not been happy about it.

[Luvs]

Unfortunately the vets don't have a choice but to put the animal down. My daughter and I were talking about this just the other day. She used to work at a vets and she told me that when someone would bring an animal in to be put down the vet didn't have a choice but to comply with the owners request. I feel sorry for the vets having to follow through with an owners request to put a dog/cat down when there is actually no need for it:( I feel even worse for the animal being put down.

[TrishB]

The sad reality is, under the law pets are property. With no more condsideration than a tv or chair. Whatever the owners request, is their right to do.

Vets typically will attempt to talk the owners out of it. Possibly sign over ownership of the pet so that they can be rehomed. Sadly - they cannot be forced to do so.

Yes, a vet *could* say that they put the pet down, but that would open them up to a law suit. The owners would have paid for a service, they should have received it.

If the owners then come across their dog - would hit the fan.

It's a very sad but true problem with the mentality of owners and of the law. Many owners feel that their dogs can't be rehomed because the dog "wouldn't be able to live without them". Trust me - I've heard it.

Let me say this: ANY DOG WILL SURVIVE BEING REHOMED AND BE HAPPY TO DO SO. Barring any temperament / major health issues, ALL dogs will adjust to a new environment at ANY age or life stage.

[livinzoo]

A vet I worked for actually turned down euthanizeing a poodle puppy. The breeder didn't want to have a flap of skin removed from its throat. The vet told them he wouldn't euthanize when it was easily fixed, they could go to a different vet, I think they did. So he lost money but saved his concious.
Crystal

[MARYDVM]

A fair number of vets will not euthanize if there are no serious health problems. Yes, vets can and do refuse a client's request for euthanasia. Then you sometimes get the *#! who says, "Well, if you won't put it to sleep right now, I'll just take it down the road and toss it out on the highway." True story. The vet gave in and euthanized the dog.

[C Ross]

We had a neighbor that took his old Old English Sheepdog to the pound rather than pay for his own vet to put the dog down. I was so angry that poor old Pugsley died all alone like that. This guy had the nerve to say to me that maybe Pugs got adopted, but we were pretty sure what happened to her.

[sparklemom]

Wish we could euthanize some people..... Thanks for all your responses

[Alaskan]

When we lived on a post in Alaska years ago one of our neighbor's took their little, female dog to the vet on post and told him to put her to sleep because they couldn't get anyone to take her.

They didn't try very hard to find a new owner and if I'd had known about it we would've taken her in a heartbeat. They complained that the two year old, healthy dog made a couple of messes in their quarters and so they wanted to get rid of her.

I still think about that sometimes and wish I'd had known what they were going to do with her so I could've had a chance to give the poor little dog a new home.

[Lucinda195]

Hi Sparklemom,
I work for 7 vets and at our hospital NONE of the Dr's will put down a dog/cat for no reason. We have people calling all the time to do this and unless there is a illness with a poor prognosis or severe aggression problem ( a dog that cannot be handled even by owners) will they euth an animal.
So thank goodness any vet can refuse to do this.

Lucinda

[TrishB]

Yes - a vet can refuse to give the service. No, a vet cannot force someone to sign over their dog.

Until pets aren't viewed as simple 'property' by the law - things won't change.

[nick teifke]

I dont think they should change. I brought in my dog to be PTS. To the vet there was nothing wrong with him. All she had to go on was what I said, and I could have been lying. But if I wouldnt have been able to put him down, or if they would have said they were going to and didnt, someone could have been seriously hurt.
Of course I stayed with him thru it, so that wouldnt have happened. I probably could have been talked out of it too, I didnt really want to do it, but that would have been really stupid on my vets part. She was understanding and sympathetic, and that was appreciated.

[rspates]

When my mom was growing up, her family was offered a young Dalmation by a vet because its owner (an older lady) got tired of taking care of it and ordered that he put the dog to sleep. This vet's office gave them the dog in secret because they thought that this dog would be better off with my mom's family, as he was only about 4 years old and healthy (they lived on a farm, had other pets, the vet knew that they would be a good fit, etc)

Well, the dog was taken back only a few days later-the lady had heard the rumor that her dog was living the good life with another family and called the vet (and I think threatened to call the cops too). The vet was forced to pick up the dog and put it to sleep after all. Very sad:(

Rachel

[SpotsNRotts]

From a different perspective....
I work at a shelter and get many calls from wonderful, loving people who have aggressive animals that their vets refuse to euthanize and instead suggest they re-home or place in a shelter (some even tell their clients not to disclose any negative info!!!). The vets refuse to euthanize because the animal is "young & healthy". From experience, I know MANY dogs who behave like perfect angels while they are at the vet, yet have aggressive tendencies and bite histories otherwise.
These are the hardest calls I deal with because I actually feel a great deal of compassion and sympathy for these owners as opposed to people who dump a perfectly fine animal for no good reason. These owners KNOW what the right thing to do is, they have seen trainers, seen behaviorists, etc. and yet their vet refuses to help them end the suffering of their unstable animal.
Its very very sad, especially when we are experiencing breed bans and its becoming harder and harder to get insurance when you own certain breeds....I actually had someone recently who owned 3 mixed breeds and one bit someone and he was forced to re-home ALL 3 of his dogs by his homeowners insurance.
My plea to all vets....let these dogs die in peace with their owners....not spending their last days in a shelter :-(