Another view on PETA and euthanasia

[Guest guest]

I acknowledge that this is a touchy subject, so I want to be clear that

I offer this response as food for thought, rather than as a personal

attack. And those who know me know I am aware any criticism therein

applies as much to me as to anybody else and I'm quite interested in

discussing this subject. With that disclaimer in mind...

 

For another view on shelters and euthanasia, I suggest reading:

http://theveganideal.blogspot.com/2008/12/abduction-and-pets.html

 

Here is a snippet:

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The practice of killing pets in shelters is part of the process of

consumption/abduction. After all, it is the " least adoptable " pets who

are killed off to make room for the " most adoptable. " What this denotes

is a hierarchy that assigns value to other animals in the shelter system

according to the dictates of consumption. This hierarchy is also

reflected in the rescues that focus on maintaining the " breed, " which is

also based on consumptive standards.

 

Rather than seeing the human relationship to other animals kept as pets

as based on human supremacy and exploitation, nearly all parties blame

the pets' own reproduction and biology as the problem. Thus the

discussion resolves around " responsible breeding " and having pets

" spayed and neutered. " The consumption/abduction of these other animals

goes unquestioned. Instead, this consumption/abduction is portrayed as a

positive relationship and an example of the moral status of other animals.

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For me, one of the more bizarre moments in the documentary about Ingrid

Newkirk " I am an animal " was when Newkirk takes a dog out of a

neglectful situation and a little later, after the dog is diagnosed with

a treatable heartworm infection, Newkirk gives the order to have him

killed. Through all of this, it's humans making decisions for a

non-human animal. Although it was literally a matter of life and death

for that dog, he had no say in his fate. I think this illustrates the

complete control we have over the lives of non-human animals, power we

wield even as well-meaning vegans, and merits reflection on how we

arrived at the point of defending the killing of unconsenting animals

under our control.

 

The question I ask when somebody says it is necessary to euthanize a

non-human animal is: Necessary according to whom?

 

Victor

 

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Veganism as Anti-Oppression: http://loveallbeings.org/

The Vegan Ideal: http://theveganideal.blogspot.com/