Part 6 – A Good Death – Euthanasia – A Controversial Subject

I’m adding this post into my series because it is an important point.

In my last post I included a YouTube video, talking about how I was feeling and how change is inevitable. There were several comments that suggested I find homes for the horses or contact a rescue organisation!!!!!!

I was horrified! And I must say I was also insulted! But of course these are the risks when you make an article or video public. Fortunately I can delete comments I don’t like!

Here is the video for reference:

So, I’ve had these horses for 20 years. They live in horse heaven here! They have everything a horse could want! Physically they have space, plenty of grass, a horse friend, shelter, extra feeds, daily interaction and play time. They have their teeth attended to – plus hooves, the necessary vaccinations and immediate first aid treatment.

Plus they are trained with positive reinforcement!

Magnum has reached the point where his aches and pains are just too much – and Ducati is not far behind.

So – would you send your elderly animal which is in pain to a rescue organisation – or some stranger? I don’t think so.

I believe that an animal should not suffer – either while they are alive or in the process of death. This belief is why I became a vegetarian – I could not bear the thought of animals suffering at the abattoir.

Along the ‘long road’ of horse ownership I have also been educated by our equine dental vet on tooth problems in elderly horses. A horse can look like it is peacefully grazing, yet be in agony. There would be many elderly horses who receive no dental care.

Here is an article from The World Horse Welfare Group https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/blog/end-of-life-a-decision-most-horse-owners-dread-but-how-do-you-prepare-for-it

I will once again post the article from Oliver Liyou here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DruRCmKuD/

I agree, that it is the hardest thing to euthanize your beloved pet, but my belief is that we must put them first.

The people who wrote the comments totally missed the point. I’m not doing this to get rid of them – I’m doing this because one is in pain and his best mate Ducati, who is also no doubt in pain cannot be left on his own.

We must change our thinking that we need to extend an animal’s life at all costs. Who are we extending it for? Ourselves! And we should not assume that our elderly horse is just happily grazing in the paddock. Horses are experts at hiding their pain.

I only wish humans had an easier path in choosing how and when they die when in pain. I will never forget my poor mother at the nursing home begging me to kill her.

Here is an interesting YouTube video on animal sentience – it’s worth listening to. Jonathon Birch is doing some great work and good to hear that the British government is listening to him:

And here is a free download of his book called The Edge of Sentience: https://academic.oup.com/book/57949

I know I have vented in this post, but it is essential to consider euthanasia as a compassionate option for any living being enduring suffering without the prospect of effective treatment.

In the next post I will be back to what I have been doing with Magnum. We are making good progress!

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS STORY, PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING HERE – Part 1 – An Introduction

PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS