My kids, against my wishes (but my then wife vetoed my wishes) took in a stray and, a year later, presto.
I washed my hands of it until someone needed to come in and save the day before our vacation and so I took action. Dad is the cleaner upper of other people’s problems. And that one was cleaned up simply and effectively.
One of my daughters still has a cat, but not from that litter.
And don’t get me started on spaying and neutering! It is not a moral decision, but a practical one. The reason I would have it done is for my convenience, not the animals best interests.
Re: 86
Understood. I certainly respect your ability to do what you did. Ultimately, animals are property within our society.
Several years ago had a young person throwing rocks at some sheep I had at a show. I grabbed him by the arm, “escorted” him out of the tent and advised him that if he ever did that again, he’d get his ass kicked in. He said “they’re just sheep,” to which I replied, “but they’re my sheep.” His father came over and was told in no uncertain terms to leave as well.
I agree that animals have no soul, yet people and some animals come to have bonding relationships, at least as far as one can love his dog, cat, horse, whatever. I think that God put us here to rule over his domain, and that includes both caring for, and harvesting from, the animal kingdom.
What you did was not for entertainment, like dragging animals behind trucks, as I have heard sick tales of. But it was not harvesting either. It was a practical solution to a problem as you say, and the outcome, minus suffering, is the same. Dead kittens.
Given the circumstance you described, I am not sure I would have come up with the same solution. If my daughter ever found out her father beat kittens to death, I am not sure I would want her to label me with that. Put a suffering old dog or lame horse out of its misery with a clean head shot, ok. But not a kitten beater.
None of my business, but I hope you did not let your kids know the truth of what happened.