[QBFimi]

I suspect this thread is populated with mostly suburban and apartment-dwelling middle-aged childless women. I also suspect none of you have ever had to put down a sick or crippled animal yourself like those of us who were raised on farms or in the country. And no, I don’t mean a blubbery trip to the vet’s office and a half-hour goodbye while Fluffy is “put to sleep” when the vet could have been helping some other sick animal.

I mean like your favorite dog that got run over by a car and, with paralyzed back legs, dragged herself home by her front paws; I mean like a gorgeous colt that broke his foreleg, bone protruding from the flesh, both in excruciating agony. The deer or cow hit by a truck; you get out of your car, walk up, and find the animal in a wild, wide-eyed panic. Sorry, but we have become so separated from the reality of death that we have turned the lives (and deaths) of these precious creatures into circus acts.

[brytlea]

Hope this wasn’t aimed at me, but if it was, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

[pandoraou812]

No apt dwelling childless woman here. I have seen all kinds of injured animals more times then I can count. What is your point? Do you think people in suburbia don't hurt when they must put an animal down? Or are you tougher since you can shoot your hurt animal? Years ago my grandpa & uncles put down animals in front of us kids. It was what needed to be done & so it was done. We also ate the meat from the cattle, chicken & pigs they raised. If my animal was suffering I would end it's suffering asap. What you are saying is fact & not cases of abuse. However it is illegal to shoot your animal in my state & I would think other states too now. Things are different in the country then in suburbia. When a pet is gone we all hurt the same IMHO no matter where we live or what our backgrounds are.