Comments on: Euphemisms for killing

By: Cat Lady

Cat Lady — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:34:39 +0000

It seems that I am not alone in asking that the killing of healthy animals not be called “euthanasia”. I happened upon this blog today: http://withrespecttoanimals.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=1

By: Cat Lady

Cat Lady — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:54:22 +0000

John, even if you apply the expanded definition “good death”, what the WHS does is not euthanasia. There is nothing good about the death provided by the WHS. The word euthanasia is used by “kill shelters” to imply that they are doing something merciful or good. It is, therefore, a euphemism.

By: John

John — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:48:42 +0000

I don’t mean to in any way support euthanasia for healthy animals simply because of a lack of room, but the premise here is incorrect. “Euthanasia” is not a euphemism, nor does it exclusively mean a “mercy killing” to end suffering - you can check a dictionary rather than take my word for it. Take a look at the Oxford English Dictionary, for example. Euthanasia simply means a gentle and easy death, or a “good death” to literally translate the Greek. It does not necessarily mean that the the death was to end the suffering of sickness.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:41:50 +0000

I agree that killing an animal that is healthy is awful, and something I believe no animal shelter willingly wants to do. I do however think that rather then having animal shelters attacking each other when essentially all are working towards the same goal is silly. I believe that the issue falls into the hands of those who do not get their pets spayed or neutered, and the humane society does have a program for those who need financial help to do so. We should be educating the public more about that problem rather than leaving the job to bob barker (drew carry, Price is right). Lets focus on the real issue people!

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:14:05 +0000

Here here, that was a really good post. You do such great work.