Ethics of Euthanasia - Part 2

Easy euthanasia discussion

• emergency with poor prognosis

• end stage chronic illness

Less easy euthanasia discussion

• shelter animals

• behavioral euthanasia

• quality of life considerations

No kill shelter

90% will not euthanize for space for behaviorally and physically healthy animals

Are kill shelters a real thing?

No

What is a “good” length of stay for a shelter animal?

~2 weeks

How long until a dog from a shelter decompresses/until you see the ‘real’ dog after adoption?

3 months

What is a top cause of euthanasia in dogs?

behavior

What aged dogs are especially euthanized due to behavior

dogs <3 years old

How many dogs are euthanized annually?

~670,000

How many cats are euthanized annually?

~860,000

What is one of the top reasons for relinquishment and rehoming of animals?

Behavior

Is behavioral euthanasia the same thing as convenience euthanasia?

No

What are some client considerations for challenging/behavioral euthanasia?

Before consultation when:

• increasing number of bites

• bites have broken skin

• bites reported to legal authorities

• permanent departure in family (death, divorce, off to college, etc.)

After consultation when

• children 13-17 in home

Risk factors for behavioral euthanasia

• aggression to family members

• aggression between dogs

What kind of dog pairs exhibit worse aggression in general?

Same sex pairs, with the worst combination being one young female and one old female dog

Questions to think about when considering rehoming vs euthanizing for behavioral reasons

• will welfare be unduly compromised in rehoming process?

• Will welfare be unduly compromised in new home?

• Is it safe/reasonable to rehome pet?

When does aggression typically appear in dogs?

~ year of age (sexual maturity)

What is true of dog aggression as they reach social maturity?

Aggression increases through social maturity (2/3-4)

Will dogs outgrow aggression?

No

When to broach euthanasia for behavioral cases

• rehoming is not an option for safety or welfare

• risk of management failures are large

• lifestyle of management is a welfare concern

• non-overlapping Venn diagram of needs

What are some questions to consider about the pet when having “the talk” about behavioral euthanasia?

• can pet still do favorite activities?

• comfortable with safety management?

What are some questions to ask about the client/family when having “the talk” about behavioral euthanasia?

• does pet’s management impact family activities

• family health care?

What is one term to describe a pet that you should absolutely avoid when talking about a pet who is a candidate for behavioral euthanasia?

“otherwise healthy pet”

What are some of the justifications behind behavioral euthanasias?

• Repeatedly/constantly feeling threatened = suffering

• Suffering and aggression: every growl, bark, hiss, snap, bite means the pet perceives a threat (living in a constant state of threats/stress/suffering)

• Clients are suffering from this too

Behavioral euthanasia aftermath/how clients might be feeling

Clients may feel relief after initial grief and guilt. This can be followed by guilt for feeling relieved. This is all NORMAL.

When it comes to thinking about quality of life of pets, what is a difference between humans and animal’s processing?

Hope vs expectation

Human emotions ARE a factor

What are “3” examples of pets whose quality of life you might want to monitor?

• seriously sick

• generic “old” pet

• young, disabled

What are some things to consider when thinking about knowing if it’s time to consider quality of life euthanasia?

When your pet’s health, mobility, or comfort have been declining slowly

What is a strategy that you can use to monitor your pet’s quality of life over time?

• make a list of 3-5 things your pet likes to do

• mark good and bad days on a calendar

• have each family member do their own chart