Euthanization of animals, elderly and abortion

[revolutionist90]

After reading this article:http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/07/the_grim_effects_of_liberals_death-obsession.html(the political correlation is not the focus for this OP) I have to ask the question:

 

Is euthanization really an act of compassion?

 

A few weeks ago my dog, who brought me joy for 11 years, was euthanized. The topic of euthanizing something was never really brought to my attention nor did I think about it much until the day my dog passed. I was taught, by t.v and the media, that killing an animal for being a stray or for any resemblance of pain was better than allowing it to live. I took that by killing the animal it would relinquish suffering but I question that now. If I did it all over again I probably would fought against familial pressure and kept her with me until she passed away naturally. The questions of could she have been saved if I took her to the vet, was it really so serious to euthanize her and most importantly does God support euthanizing animals plague my thoughts from time to time. 

 

I think there is a problem with the increasing desire to euthanize animals for the sake of convenience or to stop assumed suffering because the reasons for euthanization can easily be used to support the death of other groups. The reason being is that many people in today's world frequently equate anything they do not want to unwanted animals. Stray dogs are seen as an inconvenience and are automatically assumed to be in pain. The elderly are an inconvenience, they are ushered into homes, forgotten about and are frequently seen as a suffering group. Unborn children are an inconvenience, they are blobs of tissue and would probably suffer more if brought into this world. 

 

The support for euthanization is suffering and convenience which though may sound like empathy I believe it is quickly becoming a tool of arrogance and a desire to dodge responsibility or guilt. Why not just simply adopt the dog or take the dog to a no-kill animal shelter? How do we know the dog will not recover and be happy and healthy? What is wrong with taking care of the elderly since we will all become old? Why not just have the child and place it in an adoption center? The assumption of suffering seems to override the response to do something about the situation and instead get rid of the thing causing the situation to ease their suffering (or our suffering?)

 

Many would hopefully still cringe at euthanizing an older person even if they are in pain and dying from cancer. For some the concept of God being in control of death and when a person is suppose to go still overrides the desire to euthanize older humans in most circles. But this concept of death being controlled by God seems to be almost completely overriden for animals or for unborn children in some circles. There is a growing movement for the death of the elderly. 

 

Why are such trends growing? Is the ability to kill a dog, the unborn or the elderly about control of the concept of life and death? Does God believe it is compassionate to euthanize an animal who are strays or even who are sick? Would he prefer we take care of them until they passed? Is there biblical support that God would want humans to humanely euthanize the animals if it were in severe pain and if so why is that rationale not for humans who are equally in severe pain?

 

I feel that there is a correlation between the euthanization of animals, of the unborn and the growing trend for the elderly since they can all be seen as: potentially suffering, an inconvenience and thus disposable.  Am I looking too far into it?

 

 

This is not to insult those who have euthanized their animals just a look at how euthanization of animals can quickly cause rationale for other groups.

[BFP]

Coming from a farmers view...you are looking too far into it.  Humans are much different than animals.  As a farmer, we use animals for food, warmth,and companionship as well of course. When a dog gets to an age where you are considering it, it usually is the answer for that dog.  I have had a dog put down, and have no regrets, she was in great suffering and it really wasnt fair to her to keep her around just for us.  I have seen people keep dogs around long past the state that they should be put down and it is so sad, and in my mind selfish on the part of the owner.  God gave us dominion over the animals, to have good husbandry over them.  My animals are very well cared for and treated well over the course of their lives.  In the end, my chickens are used to feed us, just as God intended. Cows are used to feed us.

Dogs become our companions and they are much more difficult, but ALL animals are difficult to bring to thier death.  There would be something wrong with us if it was too easy:)

We were not given dominion over other humans, so that is an entirely different case altogether.

[JDavis]

Most of the things we would put a dog down for would have already caused their death in the wild.

I am not really sure God intended for our pets to have joint replacements and more. i know a couple that spent $10,000 keeping a cat alive for an extra 14 or so months.

We have the very human view that all death is bad, but death is a natural part of our world

[RustyAngeL]

I"m not sure how any of this fits together.  I have 12 boxes of ashes from my dogs.  I am the type of owner that when my dogs no longer have a good quality of life I put them to sleep.  I have lost 5 dogs to cancer one to diabetes and others to just being so old they can no longer have a good life.  To let them suffer would be cruel.  We can't do that with humans, and again I"m to sure where where abortions fits into this.  Sadly people choose to end a child's life even before it's hardly starts.  To me that is murder and I believe it to God also.  So my answer is I will never let one of my dog suffer the other two are out of my hands.   

[revolutionist90]

Did any of you read the article? I am talking about those who do not see the difference between an unborn child, a dog and an elderly person. There is a belief they are suffering to the point that they need to be euthanize but it is how the person rationalizes. A dog suffering from bleeding and cannot walk from cancer is different from a dog who is starving (can eat and drink) but is still deemed to much trouble to save.

It is the idea that something can be thrown away.

[revolutionist90]

Coming from a farmers view...you are looking too far into it.  Humans are much different than animals.  As a farmer, we use animals for food, warmth,and companionship as well of course. When a dog gets to an age where you are considering it, it usually is the answer for that dog.  I have had a dog put down, and have no regrets, she was in great suffering and it really wasnt fair to her to keep her around just for us.  I have seen people keep dogs around long past the state that they should be put down and it is so sad, and in my mind selfish on the part of the owner.  God gave us dominion over the animals, to have good husbandry over them.  My animals are very well cared for and treated well over the course of their lives.  In the end, my chickens are used to feed us, just as God intended. Cows are used to feed us.

Dogs become our companions and they are much more difficult, but ALL animals are difficult to bring to thier death.  There would be something wrong with us if it was too easy:)

We were not given dominion over other humans, so that is an entirely different case altogether.

I am not talking about killing animals for food or for people who were very good to their animals. I am talking about people who see an animal on the side of the road and instead of helping the animal deems it is an inconvenience, cannot be helped and should be euthanized. Also though we are not given dominion over humans there are many who do believe they have dominion over humans i.e abortion and euthanize of the elderly. There is a difference between true compassion and killing for convenience. 

[revolutionist90]

I"m not sure how any of this fits together.  I have 12 boxes of ashes from my dogs.  I am the type of owner that when my dogs no longer have a good quality of life I put them to sleep.  I have lost 5 dogs to cancer one to diabetes and others to just being so old they can no longer have a good life.  To let them suffer would be cruel.  We can't do that with humans, and again I"m to sure where where abortions fits into this.  Sadly people choose to end a child's life even before it's hardly starts.  To me that is murder and I believe it to God also.  So my answer is I will never let one of my dog suffer the other two are out of my hands.   

If a baby has down syndrome then it is deemed to have an unworthy life and is frequently aborted. If a stray dog is found then it is deemed to have an unworthy life and is frequently euthanized. There is no true compassion to help. Maybe I did not make it clear but I did not intend to question those who euthanize out of true compassion but for those who don't have true worth of life in general and don't see a difference between unborn, animal and elderly.

Also there is a difference between you and the people in my post:

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10. If you are righteous you care for your animals and have the righteous dominion over them and ease their suffering out of true compassion. But those who are wicked could see an animal that could be saved and choose not to save the animal thus thinking they are doing a kindness but they are being cruel. 

[revolutionist90]

Most of the things we would put a dog down for would have already caused their death in the wild.

I am not really sure God intended for our pets to have joint replacements and more. i know a couple that spent $10,000 keeping a cat alive for an extra 14 or so months.

We have the very human view that all death is bad, but death is a natural part of our world

Shrugs...my point of view was from people who are actually non-compassionate. Have you ever heard of the phrase "if a person is able to torture and kill a dog without remorse is able to kill a person"? I am simply noticing a connection with people who truly are not compassionate with animals and thus have lower compassion for humans. 

Many animals would starve in the wild but yet it is not a good choice to euthanize them for starving if they can eat. 

I am not really sure what God intended for animals which is why I am asking for biblical quotes. Was it wrong for the couple to keep their cat alive for those months?

You are right that death is not a bad thing but there is a problem when we interfere with natural death. All things will die but why do we make the decision when they are suppose to die?

 

These questions are not to be rude. I just think many posters are not understanding the point of my OP. 

[The_Patriot21]

God put humans on a higher playing field then animals. We have dominion over them, they do not have a soul and don't go to heaven or hell no matter how much we want them to. I've got nothing against putting an animal down. If the animal is in so much pain it cannot function, in fact to me is akin to beating the animal. I love my dog-but if and when he gets to that point I will likely put him down myself. I'd rather be the one to do it then a vet in a cold lonely room.

As far as humans go we have a soul we can go to heaven or hell and the bible commands us to preserve life at all costs. So naturally I am against human euthanasia and all forms of abortion. Its murder, pure and simple.

[JDavis]

 

Most of the things we would put a dog down for would have already caused their death in the wild.

I am not really sure God intended for our pets to have joint replacements and more. i know a couple that spent $10,000 keeping a cat alive for an extra 14 or so months.

We have the very human view that all death is bad, but death is a natural part of our world

Shrugs...my point of view was from people who are actually non-compassionate. Have you ever heard of the phrase "if a person is able to torture and kill a dog without remorse is able to kill a person"? I am simply noticing a connection with people who truly are not compassionate with animals and thus have lower compassion for humans. 

Many animals would starve in the wild but yet it is not a good choice to euthanize them for starving if they can eat. 

I am not really sure what God intended for animals which is why I am asking for biblical quotes. Was it wrong for the couple to keep their cat alive for those months?

You are right that death is not a bad thing but there is a problem when we interfere with natural death. All things will die but why do we make the decision when they are suppose to die?

 

These questions are not to be rude. I just think many posters are not understanding the point of my OP. 

 

 

I do believe there is a connection between those that would harm an animal and those that would do so to humans.  A compassionate person will be compassionate with all things, not just some.  It makes perfect sense that one who is compassionate with animals would also be that way with humans.

 

Do you think that prolonging the life of an animal though artificial means is interfering with natural death?