Putting animals to sleep

[slimjim]

When a dear family pet is killed by lethal injection, we say they have been put to sleep. When a poorly-disciplined rottweiler mauls a kid, and is killed by lethal injection, we say it has been destroyed. Why the big difference? I assume the act is the same in both cases.

[andy-hughes]

It's a matter of perception.

People who have loved a pet would balk at the term 'destroyed', or even 'put down', but saying 'put to sleep' does soften the advice that the animal is no longer going to be around.

Similarly, a dog which has caused harm to a child usually merits the term 'destroyed' because it infuses an air of finality and 'justice' together with the implicit advice that the incident will ot be repleated.

[commoner]

...a bit like us humans really..........a dear friend "passes away" where a murderer..........is/was "executed" as Andy said......it how you percieve it that makes the difference...........

[flubber]

I agree, it is a matter of perception. My last three dogs were not put to sleep or destroyed, I simply eased their suffering and they "left me" and it helped me because in three instances I looked into their eyes that spoke volumes that they had "had enough"

To say "destroyed" is more a media way of putting things possibly, but to each individual it really is a matter of perception and how we relate to what saying rests well with us individually, surely?

[Katysparkle]

We have three dogs, two of which are getting on. One requires vigilence as she has a form of dementia inasmuch as she will go into the garden, forget what she was going out for, comes in then needs to go out a few minutes later!!! BUT she never wets indoors despite her memory getting dappy....my husband say she ought to be put down but I do not think it is time yet as she is enjoying herself, her food and waddling around in the garden....I challenged him on this and asked him if he was willing to take her to the vets and have her "killed"......he baulked at this and he said it sounded horrible but I said that is basically what he wanted to do...he has changed his view!! I think thinking about the word made him consider what he was proposing and the the process ......