Why would veterinarians be allowed to put perfectly healthy animals to sleep for an owner?

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I hear your distress, but you have to put yourself in her shoes...she is dying and her mind isn't entirely clear. She has a lot of worries on her mind. She wasn't thinking straight, but in her mind, it was a proper solution. I am sorry that the vet was convinced to kill perfectly healthy cats but perhaps he was only thinking about HER stress level and how to make HER life easier. We weren't there when the discussion took place. I can picture her crying and totally stressed out as she frets about what will happen to her fur-babies if they end up in the wrong home. My sister went through this with a dog once, so I sort of understand her thought process. However it is NOT what I would do....Show more

There are circumstances where it would be appropriate, though most do resist doing that to a healthy animal.

The request can be made if the animal is a known biter and can't be rehomed and the owner is going into a nursing home or such. It can be done if the animal has a brain tumor (the body would be healthy but the actions of the cat become more severe). Or if the cat is suffering seizures for which there is no treatment. Or if the cat is one who stresses so much around other people that it can not be rehomed.

You, with your issue, can adopt from your friend. Step up and help the two you know about....Show more

It is heartbreaking when healthy animals are euthanized, and it isn't easy for veterinarians, either. However, the job of the veterinarian is to end suffering. If an owner wants an animal euthanized and refuses to adopt out, euthanasia is a humane option. If the vet refuses (and some will), the owner will find another vet who will euthanize, will abandon the animal, or may take their animal's life themselves (not good). Either way, life is not going to turn out well for this animal.

Some veterinarians will tell the owner that they are going to euthanize the animal and when the owner leaves, they secretly adopt out the pet. While this makes for a heartwarming story, in my opinion it is still wrong. Breaking the trust in a vet/client relationship is a major issue and is no different from any other lie, despite the good outcome for the pet. Yes vets do what is good for animals but lying to the owner is the fastest way to degrade one's character. It's a hard decision for sure, but given the wants of the owner, euthanasia is sometimes the only option.

As for your friend, I am sorry for what she is going through. It is common for people to want their pets euthanized immediately upon their death or impending death. This is the wish of many people, and I believe these wishes should be upheld and respected, as this is what your friend wanted. This is something that not everyone agrees with or understands, but some people, out of love for their pets, feel that their pets should not go through fear, pain, or uncertainty that may come with being placed in a new home. You may disagree with that, but this is what brings peace to your friend. This is done as an act of love. I am sure she loves her cats very much and she feels that this is the best decision for her situation....Show more

That is the job of the vet. They are hired to do what the owner wants and the owner pays them. It is not their job to argue with a paying customer.

You will find a fair number of vets who don't want to do that and I have known some who get the owner to sign the animal over to the vet and the vet finds them a new home. I've even known some vets to say they will put the animal down then don't and find a home for it. I'm not sure if they take the money for doing the euthanasia which I think they should not or perhaps they feel the money paid will go toward any medical issues the animal may have that the vet fixes and for the upkeep of the animal until it finds a home.

It's sad and in essence I agree that people shouldn't kill their animals unless they try to find a home for them and cannot. Maybe her cats had issues that she didn't mind but she knew other people wouldn't want to deal with....Show more

The short answer to your question is that legally animals are property. It is the pet owner's decision to have them euthanized if they want to.

That being said, most private practice veterinarians won't euthanize a perfectly adoptable pet just for the pet owner's convenience. In these situations, usually there is something that makes the pet unadoptable such as advanced age, a behavior problem or a pre-existing medical condition - sometimes a combination of all three.

You have the right to be upset, but keep in mind that you don't have all the information and this is really none of your business anyways.

Just curious, did you offer to adopt her cats? I didn't think so... You see how easy it is to judge?...Show more