"Why We Euthanize"---A Good Article

[simonandhallie]

I just read this blog from PETA about why they euthanize so many animals and while it is VERY DISTURBING (that's a warning) it is a very well written, heartfelt article that explains a lot. There are pictures so please be aware before you look.

I am not posting this to debate any organization and I am well aware of the backlash I am sure to receive however, the article is informative and I think there will be some people here who will appreciate it as much as I did.


The PETA Files: Why We Euthanize

[kalina82]

Good article.

I second the warning though. DO NOT view the link if you cannot handle very graphic and sad pictures!!

[zorrolinchen]

Good article but
I´m speechless. I can nothing do against animal cruelty and for those poor pets and will have a sleepless night. I can´t say nothing more to this. I see the photos and my heart breaks.

[megansmomma]

I am reposting the article below without the very graphic pictures. This way when you come to this thread you DO NOT HAVE AN EXCUSE not to be informed! You need to arm yourself with as much information as possible for the sake of animals.

That is a very informative article from PETA and a very sad reality of the world that we live in. I'm sure that everyone here is sick of me saying this but before you shop you need to adopt. There are plenty of pets in shelters DYING for a loving home.



In my first year working at a grossly substandard animal shelter in Maryland, I forced myself to go in early to euthanize dogs by holding them in my arms and gently helping them escape an uncaring world without trauma or pain and to spare them from being stabbed haphazardly—while they were fully conscious, terrified and aware—in the general vicinity of their hearts with needles blunt from reuse and left to thrash on the floor until they finally died by the callous people who would arrive later to do the job.

I always wonder how anyone cannot recognize that there is a world of difference between painlessly euthanizing animals out of compassion—aged, injured, sick, and dying animals whose guardians can't afford euthanasia, for instance—as PETA does, and causing them to suffer terror, pain, and a prolonged death while struggling to survive on the streets, at the hands of untrained and uncaring "technicians," or animal abusers.

It's easy to point the finger at those who are forced to do the "dirty work" caused by a throwaway society's casual acquisition and breeding of dogs and cats who end up homeless and unwanted, but at PETA, we will never turn our backs on neglected, unloved, and homeless animals—even if the best we can offer them is a painless release from a world that doesn't have enough heart or homes with room for them. It makes it easy for people to throw stones at us, but we are against all needless killing: for hamburgers, fur collars, dissection, sport hunting―the works. PETA handled far more animals than 2,124 in 2008. In fact, we took in more than 10,000 dogs and cats and work very hard to persuade people to spay and neuter their animals and to commit to a lifetime of care and respect for them. We go so far as to transport animals to and from our spay/neuter clinics, where they are spayed or neutered and given vet care, often for free! Since 2001, PETA's low- to no-cost spay-and-neuter mobile clinics, SNIP and ABC, have sterilized more than 50,000 animals, preventing hundreds of thousands of animals from being born, neglected, abandoned, abused, or euthanized when no one wanted them. And on a national level, PETA is focusing on the root of the problem through our Animal Birth Control (ABC) campaign.

If anyone has a good home, love, and respect to offer, we beg them: Go to a shelter and take one or two animals home. The problem is that few people do that, choosing instead to go to a breeder or a pet shop and not "fixing" their dogs and cats, which contributes to the high euthanasia rate that animal shelters face. Most of the animals we took in and euthanized could hardly be called "pets," as they had spent their lives chained up in the back yard, for instance. They were unsocialized, never having been inside a building of any kind or known a pat on the head. Others were indeed someone's, but they were aged, sick, injured, dying, too aggressive to place, and the like, and PETA offered them a painless release from suffering, with no charge to their owners or custodians.

Every day, PETA's fieldworkers help abused and neglected dogs—many of them pit bulls nowadays and many of them forced to live their lives on chains heavy enough to tow an 18-wheeler—by providing them with food; clean water; lightweight tie-outs; deworming medicine; flea, tick, and fly-strike prevention; free veterinary care; sturdy wooden doghouses stuffed with straw bedding; and love.

What we see is enough to make you lose faith in humanity. One pit bull we gained custody of, named Asia, looked like a skeleton covered with skin when PETA released her from the 15-pound chain she had been kept on for years. Asia suffered from three painful and deadly intestinal obstructions, which prevented her from keeping any food down. She faced an agonizing, lingering death, so our veterinarian recommended euthanasia to end her suffering. We pursued criminal charges against those responsible for her condition, leading to their conviction for cruelty to animals. That is just one of the dozens of cases we see every week.

The majority of adoptable dogs are never brought through our doors (we refer them to local adoption groups and walk-in animal shelters). Most of the animals we house, rescue, find homes for, or put out of their misery come from miserable conditions, which often lead to successful prosecution and the banning of animal abusers from ever owning or abusing animals again.

As long as animals are still purposely bred and people aren't spaying and neutering their companions, open-admission animal shelters and organizations like PETA must do society's dirty work. Euthanasia is not a solution to overpopulation but rather a tragic necessity given the present crisis. PETA is proud to be a "shelter of last resort," where animals who have no place to go or who are unwanted or suffering are welcomed with love and open arms.

Please, if you care about animals, help prevent more of them from being born only to end up chained and left to waste away in people's back yards, suffering on mean streets where people kick at them or shoo them away like garbage, tortured at the hands of animal abusers, or, alas, euthanized in animal shelters for lack of a good home. If you want to save lives, always have your animals spayed or neutered.

Posted by Ingrid E. Newkirk

[kalina82]

good idea on posting the article without the pictures. this way everyone can read without the shock value of the pictures.

[manolos mom]

Such a great article...Thanks for sharing it with us...Its very important that we not only educate ourselves but REALLY need to educate our youth. They are the future..

[Wylie's Mom]

This article is incredibly heartbreaking, however, it says in pictures what I've tried to say many times regarding PETA and euthanasia. PETA, during the course of investigations, often rescues the *very* worst of the worst - the indescribable, the animals you almost wish you'd never seen bc their state may haunt you for the rest of your life. That is why PETA's euthanasia rate is higher than many.

For those unfamiliar w/ the Asilomar Accords, I'd suggest checking them out before judging an organization's euthanasia rate - those guideposts for assessing an animal are what animal welfare organizations use - and like I said, PETA takes in the worst. It's tragic, but when an animal is so near death or so untreatable, choices have to be made and sometimes euthanasia is the kindest path for certain animals, as sad as that is.

[cindymeador]

This article is so good, but so hard to take, I cannot believe that people are so mean....Why???????? This just broke my heart I wish I had not seen the pictures, but it was to late..Just made me cry...

[zorrolinchen]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

This article is incredibly heartbreaking, however, it says in pictures what I've tried to say many times regarding PETA and euthanasia. PETA, during the course of investigations, often rescues the *very* worst of the worst - the indescribable, the animals you almost wish you'd never seen bc their state may haunt you for the rest of your life. That is why PETA's euthanasia rate is higher than many.

For those unfamiliar w/ the Asilomar Accords, I'd suggest checking them out before judging an organization's euthanasia rate - those guideposts for assessing an animal are what animal welfare organizations use - and like I said, PETA takes in the worst. It's tragic, but when an animal is so near death or so untreatable, choices have to be made and sometimes euthanasia is the kindest path for certain animals, as sad as that is.

I know what you mean. As I was 12 I got my first dog. He was a shelter dog a bassethound. He was two years. He was friendly and nice and the best friend for me and my sister. At the age of 19 I moved in my own very little rooms in another town. Basco as we called him stayed into my mothers house with a big garden and my mother had much more time for caring him and for going walking with him as I. I saw him every weekend. As I was 25 he had some illnesses and was every month treated by the vet. He was slowly and blind but had no pain. A year later he changed his personality and attacked my mother so she must stayed in hospital some days.
Basco was now 17 years old. It was very hard to decide what to do. Mother feared him now and sister was attacked by him too. And I had no chance to get him because I had only 1 room for living and was every day working about 12 hours. I took him to the vet and the diagnose was brain cancer. How sad. Our hope in the past was that he sleep at one evening and never wake up at the morning because he was 17 and this is a very very high age for a basset hound.
It was so hard but I spoke with my family and took him to the vet again for putting him to sleep. I think that was a heartbreaking but best decision for him. A friend of mine was angry and said I should him give to another owner or a shelter. But Basco was 17 and had brain cancer and other illnesses (urea, heart, blind) - he had never understand what is going on and why he lost his home. I couldn´t took him to another owner because he had attacked him again. And I couldn´t took him in a shelter - that were no life for him. He had a long life as a beloved pet and I´m sure that he had us forgiven.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by zorrolinchen

I know what you mean. As I was 12 I got my first dog. He was a shelter dog a bassethound. He was two years. He was friendly and nice and the best friend for me and my sister. At the age of 19 I moved in my own very little rooms in another town. Basco as we called him stayed into my mothers house with a big garden and my mother had much more time for caring him and for going walking with him as I. I saw him every weekend. As I was 25 he had some illnesses and was every month treated by the vet. He was slowly and blind but had no pain. A year later he changed his personality and attacked my mother so she must stayed in hospital some days.
Basco was now 17 years old. It was very hard to decide what to do. Mother feared him now and sister was attacked by him too. And I had no chance to get him because I had only 1 room for living and was every day working about 12 hours. I took him to the vet and the diagnose was brain cancer. How sad. Our hope in the past was that he sleep at one evening and never wake up at the morning because he was 17 and this is a very very high age for a basset hound.
It was so hard but I spoke with my family and took him to the vet again for putting him to sleep. I think that was a heartbreaking but best decision for him. A friend of mine was angry and said I should him give to another owner or a shelter. But Basco was 17 and had brain cancer and other illnesses (urea, heart, blind) - he had never understand what is going on and why he lost his home. I couldn´t took him to another owner because he had attacked him again. And I couldn´t took him in a shelter - that were no life for him. He had a long life as a beloved pet and I´m sure that he had us forgiven.

What a very sad story of your beloved pet Basco. I too had to have our lab put to sleep for brain cancer as well. It is called doing the responsible things for the love of your pet when you make the hard decision to have to PTS your pets. Although it is a very hard decision to make it is also out of love that we had to make our decisions. It is those that inflict pain and suffering upon god creatures that make me sick. People that cause pain and needless suffering to animals that should be held accoutable for what they do. I am sure that your Basco knows that you loved him now and always.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

This article is incredibly heartbreaking, however, it says in pictures what I've tried to say many times regarding PETA and euthanasia. PETA, during the course of investigations, often rescues the *very* worst of the worst - the indescribable, the animals you almost wish you'd never seen bc their state may haunt you for the rest of your life. That is why PETA's euthanasia rate is higher than many.

For those unfamiliar w/ the Asilomar Accords, I'd suggest checking them out before judging an organization's euthanasia rate - those guideposts for assessing an animal are what animal welfare organizations use - and like I said, PETA takes in the worst. It's tragic, but when an animal is so near death or so untreatable, choices have to be made and sometimes euthanasia is the kindest path for certain animals, as sad as that is.

Excellent Point Made!!

those pictures show the worst of the worst. that one picture of the dog with the cancer ridden face is still in my mind. I have no idea how that dog was alive like that. its very very sad. 3 of those animals clearly had horrible cancers and their owners should have done something about it long before it got to that point....... it just makes me so mad. the only escape from pain for those animals is euthanasia and thankfully someone was there to help them finally lose the pain.

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by simonandhallie

I just read this blog from PETA about why they euthanize so many animals and while it is VERY DISTURBING (that's a warning) it is a very well written, heartfelt article that explains a lot. There are pictures so please be aware before you look.

I am not posting this to debate any organization and I am well aware of the backlash I am sure to receive however, the article is informative and I think there will be some people here who will appreciate it as much as I did.


The PETA Files: Why We Euthanize

I know you don't want an argument - and honestly, I'm not wanting to start one - but I am also trying to understand all of this & the report that came out last week reporting that PETA killed 95 percent of its adoptable pets in 2008. I'm just trying to understand how PETA explains this?

Press Release | PETA Killed 95 Percent of Adoptable Pets in its Care During 2008

Posted On March 25, 2009




PETA Killed 95 Percent of Adoptable Pets in its Care During 2008

Hypocritical Animal Rights Group’s 2008 Disclosures Bring Pet Death Toll To 21,339

WASHINGTON DC – Today the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) published documents online showing that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) killed 95 percent of the adoptable pets in its care during 2008. Despite years of public outrage over its euthanasia program, the animal rights group kills an average of 5.8 pets every day at its Norfolk, VA headquarters.

According to public records from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, PETA killed 2,124 pets last year and placed only seven in adoptive homes. Since 1998, a total of 21,339 dogs and cats have died at the hands of PETA workers.

Despite having a $32 million budget, PETA does not operate an adoption shelter. PETA employees make no discernible effort to find homes for the thousands of pets they kill every year. Last year, the Center for Consumer Freedom petitioned Virginia’s State Veterinarian to reclassify PETA as a slaughterhouse.

CCF Research Director David Martosko said: “PETA hasn’t slowed down its hypocritical killing machine one bit, but it keeps browbeating the rest of society with a phony ‘animal rights’ message. What about the rights of the thousands of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens that die in PETA’s headquarters building?”

Martosko added: “Since killing pets is A-OK with PETA, why should anyone listen to their demands about eating meat, using lab rats for medical research, or taking children to the circus?”

CCF obtained PETA’s “Animal Record” filings since 1998 from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Members of the public can see these documents at PetaKillsAnimals.com.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by kalina82

Excellent Point Made!!

those pictures show the worst of the worst. that one picture of the dog with the cancer ridden face is still in my mind. I have no idea how that dog was alive like that. its very very sad. 3 of those animals clearly had horrible cancers and their owners should have done something about it long before it got to that point....... it just makes me so mad. the only escape from pain for those animals is euthanasia and thankfully someone was there to help them finally lose the pain.

I was wondering how those dogs & cat got like that...cancer?! Awful, but I think PETA is helping those animals end their suffering.

[Nikki+2]

Excellent article. It's heart wrenching but the evil of some people is inconceivable for most of us. I know many animal organizations don't want to deal with these worst of the worst cases because of messing with their statistics and suffering the kind of backlash that peta is now. None of us like seeing horrifying pictures of abused and neglected animals but I think it is important to at least take a quick glance at the link to grasp the level of animal that peta handles.

It is extremely important to know who peta's main detractors are and where pretty much most of the negative "facts" about them come from. The CCF Center for Consumer Freedom is a group of lobbiest working for the industries that are hurt when peta steps in for animal welfare.

Center for Consumer Freedom - SourceWatch
The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) (formerly called the "Guest Choice Network") is a front group for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco industries. It runs media campaigns which oppose the efforts of scientists, doctors, health advocates, environmentalists and groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, calling them "the Nanny Culture

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Nikki+2

Excellent article. It's heart wrenching but the evil of some people is inconceivable for most of us. I know many animal organizations don't want to deal with these worst of the worst cases because of messing with their statistics and suffering the kind of backlash that peta is now. None of us like seeing horrifying pictures of abused and neglected animals but I think it is important to at least take a quick glance at the link to grasp the level of animal that peta handles.

It is extremely important to know who peta's main detractors are and where pretty much most of the negative "facts" about them come from. The CCF Center for Consumer Freedom is a group of lobbiest working for the industries that are hurt when peta steps in for animal welfare.

Center for Consumer Freedom - SourceWatch
The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) (formerly called the "Guest Choice Network") is a front group for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco industries. It runs media campaigns which oppose the efforts of scientists, doctors, health advocates, environmentalists and groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, calling them "the Nanny Culture"

CCF can turn fiction into fact like nobody's business. They are the definition of a propagandist group. I mean, this is a group that is *against* MADD bc it hurts the alcohol industry.