Small pets: legal questions

Handsome_Chris

If they are in lots of pain, do you have to have to euthanise them?  If so are you allowed to do it yourself?

By the way, I'm talking about rodent type things.  I would not suggest allowing a dog or cat to suffer, I'm not a monster.

octatonic

Go to a vet and see what they say.
I wouldn't suggest killing a pet yourself.

richardhomer

octatonic said:

Go to a vet and see what they say.
I wouldn't suggest killing a pet yourself.

That seems to be eminently reasonable advise....

fretmeister

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/euthanasia-of-animals/

holnrew

I had a dwarf hamster put down, she had a massive tumour. It cost more than everything I'd spent on food, her cage and bedding, but it was worth it to stop her suffering.

marcus449

Cat, dog, cow, rat, rabbit, hamster, chameleon...they're all living creatures (i.e. you would't kill a dog so why a rodent?) Leave it to a vet to weigh up the consequences. 

holnrew

Killing a pet yourself won't be a nice death for them. Let them go peacefully

Sambostar

 Thunderflash in the arsehole is the most humane.

Dominic

If it's easy and a very small animal or bird it's probably not legal unless you have a shotgun -the end result is the same and there would be no suffering
Having grown up on a farm I probably have a different perspective but it's more about how it would make you feel

MattBanshee

holnrew said:

I had a dwarf hamster put down, she had a massive tumour. It cost more than everything I'd spent on food, her cage and bedding, but it was worth it to stop her suffering.

I took an old housemate to the vet to have a pet rat put to sleep, and it only cost £15 i think.

Sambostar

A hamster is smaller than a size 12. I just don't get taking it to the vets, or is that part of the anthropomorphic grieving process?  I can understand having housemates put to sleep though and for £15 it does seem like a bargain.

Handsome_Chris

@marcus449 , I wouldn't euthanise a cow,dog or a cat because of the practicality​ of it i.e. I know that I wouldn't be able to do it cleanly.

If i had any pet I'd factor it's end of life treatment in to it's budget, which is where this question originates from.  I've been reading up on guinea pigs, and there have been threads where people have asked what to do as they can't afford that final trip to the vet.  If it's only £15 then I do not see what the issue is. 

Sambostar

£15 for a guinea pig to be put to sleep?  The world's gone crazy. Keep eating the bacon

TheBlueWolf

Sacrifice them to Baphomet?

Joking aside, talk to a vet. There are plenty of humane, legal ways to help

Handsome_Chris

I have just found out that there is a guinea pig guillotine.  It's lab equipment so I would hap to suggest that's not your usual stock at Pets At Home.

hotpot

We had a neighbour years ago who had a canary that was full of tumours, it couldn't even stand up so he asked for my air rifle to dispatch it, He fired twice at pointblank range and missed it both times LOL, I said give me the bloody gun for heavens sake.

Handsome_Chris

TheBlueWolf said:

Sacrifice them to Baphomet?

Joking aside, talk to a vet. There are plenty of humane, legal ways to help

Well according to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons , thank you @fretmeister , it is perfectly legal to do it yourself as long as it is humane.  

@Sambostar , do not even start on a guinea pig gallows. I know that you're sizing up black caps already.

Handsome_Chris

hotpot said:

We had a neighbour years ago who had a canary that was full of tumours, it couldn't even stand up so he asked for my air rifle to dispatch it, He fired twice at pointblank range and missed it both times LOL, I said give me the bloody gun for heavens sake.

Surely a chisel and hammer would have provided a quick out?

paganskins

One of our chickens had sour crop and despite our best efforts treating it the situation wasn't improving, she was slowly starving to death.

I made sure my small hatchet was very, very sharp and dispatched it. We weren't confident technique wise to try wringing its neck and the hatchet seems the quickest, most humane option.

Handsome_Chris

Sambostar said:

£15 for a guinea pig to be put to sleep?  The world's gone crazy. Keep eating the bacon

Cirrus

My worry would be that I botched it and the pet knew about it - so their last thought is "Oh my god, my owner is killing me".

Sure, some of you will be of the opinion that they're just animals and probably not even self aware, but I'm not certain enough they wouldn't be able to formulate that thought to risk doing it DIY.