Is It Biblically Ethical to Put Animals to Sleep?

seoulsearch · Dec 6, 2012

Hello Everyone,

Some of my favorite passages in the Bible are God's interactions with His creations: commanding the ravens to feed Elijah, instructing the "great fish" to swallow and then release Jonah, and closing the mouths of the lions so that they were "not even allowed to give (Daniel) a lick."

I heard a pastor once say that he believes when Jesus told the disciples to throw their nets on the other side of the boat, God called out, "Here, fishy fishy," and all the fish swam to the other side.

I have always loved alligators, and had prayed many times that I would get to see one on my morning walk, not just at a zoo or preserve. As I was coming around a corner one day, I happened to see two eyes floating on top of the water... and lo and behold!!! A "teenage" gator, probably about 4 1/2 feet long, was floating on the surface!!! He stared at me a long time before backing away and hiding under the dock. I was thrilled, and, foolish as this may sound, personally believe that God called out to this gator and said, "I want you to go to the surface and wait... I have someone who wants to see you." I even believe God asked me what I'd want to name this particular gator, and I told God, "Well, Lord, I think I would name him 'Ralph.'" I smile every time I drive by that lake. I know it sounds crazy, but that's my relationship with God.

Something I have thought about for a long time is, what started the human belief that we are allowed to end the lives of animals when we believe something will be too cruel for them, such as an illness or injury? Is it Biblical and part of God's command, or is it something that we as humans decided?

The reason why I'm asking is NOT because I believe that animals should be made to suffer, but I have always wondered why we are "allowed" to decide when animals will die (under extreme circumstances--I am NOT talking about general cruelty, which of course, I am against) but NOT when people can be "put out of their misery"?

I was always told it is because humans are made in God's image and have an eternal soul, whereas animals do not (which of course, brings about the question as to whether earthly pets will join us in heaven.)

Maybe it's just me, but I've always been very troubled that we do our best to prevent any extreme suffering in the animal world... but humans must bear it all up until the painful, heartbreaking end (I'm thinking of things such as cancer and terminal illnesses.)

What are your thoughts?

And yes, I know people will wonder, WHAT THE HECK is this doing in the Singles Forum???

Well, everyone tells us singles that one of the benefits of being single is to "get closer to the Lord". Since I supposedly have more time to read my Bible (the inspiration for this was Jonah 4:11, in which God shows concern for not only the people of Ninevah, but also the "many animals"), these are the kinds of things I think about.

These days I hang out almost exclusively in Singles, and I thought this might be interesting because I know many singles rely on the companionship of pets or rescuing animals (I myself do not have pets--I'm allergic.)

Please share your thoughts and experiences!

Jullianna · Dec 6, 2012

I am a huuuuuuuuuge animal lover, especially dogs. And especially rescued dogs. I lost my husky earlier this year, my nightly running buddy.

I have a softcoated wheaten. I'm posting a pic of one since most people don't know what they look like. This one isn't mine, but I don't have a pic of mine on here. He's my baby.

Kim, I drove through the Everglades earlier this year and there were gators in the ditches on either side of the highway. It was awesome!

I don't know if putting animals out of their suffering is scriptural or not, but I have had to do it twice:

A pig fell off of a semi on the Interstate and was badly injured. I had to put it down with a .357. The state highway department guys BBQd it, so, technically it was used for food, which is permitted by the Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9); and

I went into my backyard at the beginning of my shift to get my German Shepherd K9 and her hips had displaced. She was completely paralyzed. She was in so much pain and was barely breathing. I couldn't stand to see her suffer, especially after she had once saved my life. So, with the help of another officer (she weighed 90 lbs), we took her to the vet. He said there was really nothing reasonable we could do at her age, so he put her to sleep.

How she saved my life: I was patroling at 4AM and saw a car pulled off the road by a cornfield. A man was stumbling around on the highway, so I stopped to see if he was intoxicated and was taking a potty break in the field or possibly ill. He was a very large man and the minute I got out of the car he was all over me and wanted to steal my car. His intoxication gave me an edge and I was able to get him cuffed.

As I was putting him into the backseat, a woman came charging out of the cornfield at me with a knife. I was struggling to keep her and the knife away from me and trying to close the car door against the man with my foot at the same time.

But God was with me. My K9 loved to ride on the front seat with the window down and she and I would listen to music together at night. I had commanded her to stay in the vehicle, but called for her when I saw the knife. I did not want to have to shoot anyone if I didn't have to.

The woman stabbed me in my right shoulderblade, but hit nothing vital before the dog took her down. I had both the man and woman cuffed and in the car by the time back up arrived.

She protected me, so I felt I owed her the same. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

wwjd_kilden · Dec 6, 2012

seoulsearch said:

In reality, humans to are in a way "put to sleep" if under medical care and in severe pain at the end of their life.
(Sorry, I can't find a very nice way to explain it in short)

Most if not all efficient pain killers affect the central nervous system and makes it slow down (which is why they work). This in turn affects heart rate and the breathing. If a person is already close to dying, this will make them pass sooner than they would without treatment. On the other hand, not giving those meds would cause them to potentially be in great pain. The dose will normally be slowly increased (though obviously not if the person does not want this) to make sure the pain is kept under control.

- The idea of euthanasia is a difficult morale issue since it makes two basic morale concepts collide: Taking a life vs easing pain and suffering.

I do think God puts a human life higher than that of animals, but the bible does make it clear that He cares about all of creation, even that He sustains it. I do think though, that it is better to put an animal to sleep than to let it suffer if nothing can be done to heal it.

As for humans, it is difficult mainly because of this, (in addition to humans being creatures all made in God's image):
If the law says it is OK to do euthanasia, it can, like other things, be abused, to "get rid of" those that are "a burden" to society. Also, those is healthcare services would risk being forced to preform it regardless of their views on it.

At the same time, if the medical system ends up being designed to keep people alive "at all costs", this is not good either, as people can be kept alive for a long time artificially, clouding the line between life and death. (For both humans and animals). One should have the right to die, harsh as it might sound.

error · Dec 6, 2012

Oh my-such a touchy subject.

I'm at work. So, forgive me please if i type like a monkey. I have to leave soon. But i will give you an answer.

I don't think it is biblical to do that. But...sometimes we just have to do that. We had to do that with our first dog. He was old and couldn't walk anymore.
It was painful to see our dog like that-and it was painful to put him to sleep (it is never easy and never will be).

But-I have a question for you-> do you eat meat?
I think there is a huge diff between ->to ''kill'' someone-cause he is sick or somethng->or to kill someone (healthy chickens, pigs) just to have a nice meal. Don't you think so?

error · Dec 6, 2012

Jullianna said:

I am a huuuuuuuuuge animal lover, especially dogs. And especially rescued dogs. I lost my husky earlier this year, my nightly running buddy.

I have a softcoated wheaten. I'm posting a pic of one since most people don't know what they look like. This one isn't mine, but I don't have a pic of mine on here. He's my baby.

Kim, I drove through the Everglades earlier this year and there were gators in the ditches on either side of the highway. It was awesome!

I don't know if putting animals out of their suffering is scriptural or not, but I have had to do it twice:

A pig fell off of a semi on the Interstate and was badly injured. I had to put it down with a .357. The state highway department guys BBQd it, so, technically it was used for food, which is permitted by the Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9); and

I went into my backyard at the beginning of my shift to get my German Shepherd K9 and her hips had displaced. She was completely paralyzed. She was in so much pain and was barely breathing. I couldn't stand to see her suffer, especially after she had once saved my life. So, with the help of another officer (she weighed 90 lbs), we took her to the vet. He said there was really nothing reasonable we could do at her age, so he put her to sleep.

How she saved my life: I was patroling at 4AM and saw a car pulled off the road by a cornfield. A man was stumbling around on the highway, so I stopped to see if he was intoxicated and was taking a potty break in the field or possibly ill. He was a very large man and the minute I got out of the car he was all over me and wanted to steal my car. His intoxication gave me an edge and I was able to get him cuffed.

As I was putting him into the backseat, a woman came charging out of the cornfield at me with a knife. I was struggling to keep her and the knife away from me and trying to close the car door against the man with my foot at the same time.

But God was with me. My K9 loved to ride on the front seat with the window down and she and I would listen to music together at night. I had commanded her to stay in the vehicle, but called for her when I saw the knife. I did not want to have to shoot anyone if I didn't have to.

The woman stabbed me in my right shoulderblade, but hit nothing vital before the dog took her down. I had both the man and woman cuffed and in the car by the time back up arrived.

She protected me, so I felt I owed her the same. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

That's what i'm talking about. We had a similar situation.

Searching4Truth · Dec 6, 2012

It really sucks but animals die and it hurts. When it comes to them naturally passing away out of old age, the pain is to be expected. But when one is forced to put them (dogs) down without the resources of professional help, that's when the sting of hurt runs deep. But that's just life for some of us.

arwen83 · Dec 6, 2012

There is a compassion inside us for those who suffer (unless you are a psychopath), that understand when the suffering is too much for an animal that it is best for its life to end. When it comes to survival- you eat or die (I'm talking about non-domestic animals now), I think animals were made for humans. Although, I am sure vegetarians and vegans would strongly disagree. Its just where I stand on the subject.

Jullianna · Dec 6, 2012

THE NOAHIC COVENANT - GENESIS 9 -

9 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If lifeblood is precious to God, apparently that of animals too (verse 4), then it is to me as well.

I know this is a bit off topic, but it has always bothered me a LOT to see people hunt for sport and not consume the animal. Especially if they aren't good at it and leave the animal to suffer. I shoot targets, not living things, for sport.

error · Dec 6, 2012

Jullianna said:

THE NOAHIC COVENANT - GENESIS 9 -

9 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If lifeblood is precious to God, apparently that of animals too (verse 4), then it is to me as well.

I know this is a bit off topic, but it has always bothered me a LOT to see people hunt for sport and not consume the animal. Especially if they aren't good at it and leave the animal to suffer. I shoot targets, not living things, for sport.

Yeah, but it is kinda funny-that some animals are meant to be our best friends. And some are just meant to be our food.

I'm not a vegetarian. I love meat. But whn I think about it-it is kinda funny that it breaks my heart whn I see a bird that is hurt. But I don't think about this poor chicken that is on my plate-until I see a video on youtube about their life in farms and yeah...that is just horrible what they do to those poor animals.

Jullianna · Dec 6, 2012

I agree, error. Whether an animal is to be used for food or not, it should not be tortured or mistreated.

The same thing happens even with animals who are our "best friends". They busted a puppy mill here recently and it broke my heart.

Ritter · Dec 6, 2012

I've seen several good furry friends put down and can only think of one occasion in which the ethics were questionable (he swatted a bad and by state law needed to be put down when there could have been ways to test for rabies).

seoulsearch · Dec 6, 2012

error said:

I DO eat meat, but have cut down a lot over the years. I just seem to have lost my taste for it in general, especially chicken. I do love a good burger though about once a week.

However, if we all knew how our meals were made, we'd probably never want to touch meat again. I worked with a meat manager for many years who had visited major meatpacking factories and slaughterhouses, and it's quite horrible.

Turkeys (lunchmeat) are hung from clotheslines, sprayed with water, electrocuted, and thrown into boiling vats while still alive. Cows are hoisted up, hit in the forehead as a way of dazing them slightly and then split open in mid-air while still very much alive. I have no doubts that God would not approve of our "modern" means of preparing animals as food.

On the other hand, I totally disagree with people who allow NO animal testing (in the most humane way possible, which I know can be a fine line) and would rather let people die than develop new drugs and treatments for many conditions due to trial runs on animals. I have a friend who worked in a pharmaceutical lab and animal rights people would seek jobs there under false pretenses, then would purposely sabotage the research because they felt animal lives were more important than human ones.

kenisyes · Dec 6, 2012

God had Adam name the animals. In Hebrew, naming something is determining its purpose. That's why we have the right to choose for each, pet or lunch, life or death. God does not like some of what we do, because of what our choices do to our hearts in how we treat everything in the world, animals included.

Ugly · Dec 6, 2012

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

I'd say that gives us the right. Now i'm not talking about torture, or killing for pleasure, etc.. But if an animal is sick, or a danger then i believe we have that right. Long as it is done in a manner that does not make the animal suffer more.

alienx7587 · Dec 6, 2012

I don't tolerate animal cruelty, if I see it I do my best to put an end to it. However, I do hunt sometimes and I make delicious home cooked meals when I'm successful.

In the book of Genesis, God makes it very clear that humans have dominion over animals. I believe if an animal was suffering in agony, it would be cruel not to kill it.

AgeofKnowledge · Dec 6, 2012

I'd rather put them on the barbecue.

A common Hebrew word translated life (soul) is nephesh. Nephesh is used for the life or breath of both animals and man (Gen. 1: 20, 30; 19: 17). Life is that state that is the opposite of death. It is a state of animation, breathing, and awareness.

Men and animals alike possess a soul in the sense of breath (nephesh). However, in the sense of possessing a part or element that lives forever, as man possesses, animals do not possess an eternal spirit (cp. Matt. 25: 46). The animal simply and totally returns to the dust, the spirit of man continues to exist (Eccl. 3: 21, cp. 12: 7).

So, bon appetit!

seoulsearch · Dec 7, 2012

alienx7587 said:

That's the interesting and heartbreaking thing, to me, at least.

We don't tolerate animal suffering.

But humans suffer a plenty and they have to just keep on going to the end, no matter what. It's cruel to let an animal suffer... but apparently, it's God's will for the human to endure whatever pain or discomfort there may be, all the way up until death. As human beings who have authority over creation, we have decided that sometimes, death is better than life.

But for ourselves, there is no option. This is one of my many questions for God someday--have we humans chosen the best answer for His creations? To kill when we judge that the suffering is too much? And if we're allowed to make the decisions, why does God not make it with us? Of course, the Bible says God won't put more on us than we can bear, so maybe in a way, He does make the same decisions... I don't know.

Stuey · Dec 7, 2012

While I think we should avoid undue suffering for animals, I think humans need to be first.

I have a question to put to you guys.

It may cost say... $50 to $100 to put an animal to sleep at a vet, where, if you put it to sleep at home you would save the money.

If you were going to say - donate this money to people in Africa - which would be more ethical?

Put the animal to sleep? Or feed people?

I have heard an argument in regards to not eating meat ethically - the one that I have heard was that we shouldn't because of the resource costs. It costs a lot more to produce meat than it costs to produce vegetarian stuff. Something to think on I think.

I find this affects me practically, I can't really afford a lot of meat with every meal. Mind you, some meat is healthy, and I had an iron deficiency a few months back hahahaha.

lost1972 · Dec 7, 2012

I have had to put several dogs to sleep, I love my animals, and when there is nothing you can do to help them, I dont think God wants them to suffer, The modernn way of putting them down knocks them out immediately with no pain, it's very heartbreaking to do, but sometimes you have to. I had a little beagle that I had for years, her mind went and she was terrified of things that weren't even there, it would have been inhumane to allow her to suffer in terror like that, she was abused before we got her, and I believe she was remembering what used to happen to her. The worse was a tiny long haired Chihuahua that we rescued, little sweet fluff ball, but we discovered her jaw was broken, the vet said what had happened was it was already broken, yet continued to try and heal itself, the way it was broken and location made it nearly impossible to fix, so the only real choice was for her to be put down, I think God sent her to us so she would have at least a little time with a loving and caring family. This dog actually slept on top of my head at night on the pillow,she was so small. I have a 13 year old dog I've had most of her life and soon the decision will have to come up again, as she's getting bad health wise

seoulsearch · Dec 7, 2012

Stuey said:

Stuey,

I agree with you that people's lives should be placed above animal's lives. As a former orphan, I more than agree that people are our priority.

However, to answer your question, because I have no knowledge of how to put an animal down, yes, I would spend the money and leave it to a professional. We also must consider the emotional and mental toll that someone might suffer in putting down their own pet. That $100 might save the person from $1000 worth of counseling later. As for extra money to donate, I'd try to pick up some extra work and earn the money to give.

One of the reasons I have these questions is because I had a great-grandmother, who, due to medical complications, had to have part of her leg amputated. She died not long afterward, and the shock and pain of the amputation was likely to have been a major contribution to her death.

If she had been a horse, they would have never done the amputation. She would have been "ethically put down."

But humans don't have that choice... we have to hold on to life no matter how many body parts are severed... no matter the pain and suffering that results from trying to save the life. I do believe that many times, we are kinder to animals than to people.

Things like this bother me greatly.

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