We have an abortion industry, an environmental industry, a religous industry, a medical industry, a science industry. We don't need an animal euthanasia industry. Being a dog lover I will be more than happy to pay for the bullet and my gun licenced friend will do the job when the time comes.

I really don't know what the solution is.

I see Pericles point about licencing pet owners, after they have done a course, but that involves another buruecracy.

We don't need to do a course or need a licence to breed kids and plenty of them are abused. How about everybody read the 'Little Children are Sacred' report, again I hope, to get the pet thing back into perspective. I cry when I read of little kids having ear infections, lice and STDs. Being filthy and hungry. How can we allow that?

We certainly need euthanasia available for terminally ill animals, just as we should for humans. We are at least humane to the suffering of animals. It's a start anyway.

I believe that if we take responsibility for an animal, then we should care for it's health until the day it dies, preferably of old age.

We can't make it illegal to euthanase animals because we would then have more idiots with guns, knives or whatever, trying to do the job themselves, leading to more suffering to animals than they already have.

As far as killing animals because we can't pay the vet bill, I think we should look instead at the veterinary organisations and ask why the bills have to be so high?
I think we need an investigation into the true cost of medications and consultations in our vet surgeries.

After spending thousands on my last dog, and then $125 for the vet to give him one injection to euthanase him at the age of 14 earlier this year (sob!), I took out pet insurance for our new pup.

It's been very handy indeed!

Houel:” I might start a movement for rat's rights.”

The snake owners are gonna spew on you. I have a pet rat, they’re great little vermin and very clever. Clever as any dog I ever met/enslaved. I did feed a dead mouse to my eels, it was dead cause I killed it first. Ummm….

Runner:“Being a dog lover I will be more than happy to pay for the bullet and my gun licenced friend will do the job when the time comes.”

Pay for the vet to come around and use the other kind of shot. It’s quick and very peaceful. Francis of Assisi would approve I reckon.

Pericles:”One day, I hope, we will realize how primitive - barbaric even - is the practice of owning an animal, purely for our own selfish pleasure.”

I know you are absolutely right Pericles, I just can’t resist the primitive selfish and barbaric side of myself. I’m never gonna be vagan but I know I should be. And along with Suze I want to know what is up with vet bills. I paid over a grand for an exploratory op for a dog – they were told to ring if it went over 500.00 but they just go ahead anyway since you aren’t watching and then present the bill. Worse they make out you are the worst dog owner if you don’t subject them to more and more tests. Actually same thing happens with children and doctors here.

I’m with Banjo let’s sort the Kids before the animals. It should be easier.

What a silly subject.
And some of the answers are at best generalizations.
I have always had dogs, not the pink hairy poorly bred beggars that fools miss use.
And not to bark unless some thing is wrong, wander the neighbor hood, or threaten any one.
Gard dogs Gard fools and weaklings.
My desexed foxy cross females are much loved by every one and do no harm.
Yes some should no be able to have dogs, kids too for that matter, but not every one not every dog.
Why however the cocern for pets, ever watched a butchers kill yard

Belly: ever watched a butchers kill yard.

It's a Slaughter Yard or Abottoir & they are Slaughtermen not Butchers. Buchers cut the carcus up after it's been slaughtered.

I grew up on a Slaughter Yard. My dad was the Potsman, making tallow & feeding the residue to the pigs. We killed Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Chooks & Ducks. Oh & the odd dog & cat (but not for eating);-) It was always humane & quick, mostly with a bullet or hammergun for the Cattle or a knife for the Pigs & Sheep. We used a cane knife on the Chooks & Ducks. Bullet for the Dogs & cats.

Just for the those Namby Pamby, Politically Correct, Greenie crybabies. ;-) He he he... Squirm you sorry wusses, squirm.