Reasons for Euthanization in Animal Shelters

Euthanasia is a common practice in animal shelters across the world, with approximately 3.7 million euthanasias performed in 2008 according to the Humane Society. This practice involves voluntarily inducing death in an animal, whether it be by injection or gassing. Though this may seem like a morbid practice at first glance, shelters do it for numerous reasons.

  1. Overcrowding

    • Overcrowding is the most common reason for having to euthanize dogs and cats in animal shelters. These facilities all have finite capacities, with only a certain number of cages, certain amounts of food and limited manpower. Because new strays come in every day, there simply isn't enough room to contain all of the animals, and therefore many must be euthanized for the sole purpose of freeing up kennel space to accommodate incoming strays.

    Medical Issues

    • Some animals have medical concerns that may be terminal, like injuries or diseases that cannot be fixed and cause insurmountable pain. If a dog or cat comes in with a severely injured limb, burn or terminal illness that cannot be saved, some veterinarians may elect to simply put it down, ending its misery. Severe, uncontrollable infections can also be cause for euthanasia.

    Weakness or Anorexia

    • Some new strays may refuse to eat or drink, leading to weakness or an inability to move. When animals become too weak to even eat, they may be in extreme pain and simply counting the minutes till they die. Euthanasia allows animals to be put out of that pain peacefully, particularly when it's too late to save them. The American Human Society's guidelines state that most dogs should be considered for euthanasia after five days of complete anorexia.