RE: Unnecessary euthanaesia

sananbaz — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 11:25:19 GMT

PS if the client was not registered to you, I would also expect proof of ownership to be explored - annoyed neighbours have been known to try and dispose of noisy/destructive next door neighbour's animals this way.

RE: Unnecessary euthanaesia

sananbaz — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 11:14:40 GMT

There is guidance on this issue in the Code of Professional Conduct for vets. No vet is obliged to perform euthanasia for reasons other than the purpose of relieving pain and suffering. The owners wishes and concerns should be taken into account, but a vet can refuse.

In real life, the best way forward would be to find the most empathetic and approachable member of your team (not always the vet!) to talk to the owner and get them to acknowledge there may be alternatives. There is a large amount of pressure on the individual staff member to get this conversation right, and that needs to not be underestimated!

The significant factor to acknowledge is that euthanasia is not an act of veterinary surgery in itself. The use of POM medications to achieve euthanasia obviously is, but actually killing the animal in a humane way (quick and painless) can be performed by anyone. Obviously, this is intended for those situations when suffering needs to be ended, but I have experience of a couple of cases where the owners decided to do it themselves, and one case when and owner threatened to drive over their dogs head in the carpark if euthanasia was refused! In the two cases where the owners did euthanase their pet, the RSPCA struggled to prosecute as the death was quick, and therefore deemed humane (and legal).

So, my advice would be to use the person least likely to escalate the situation, and most likely to empathise with the owner, to talk them round. Talk in private, everyone seated and with the animal there. Never underestimate the power of eye to eye contact between the owner and the pet as a tool to change their mind! Also, be realistic in what is offered as an alternative - an elderly staffie with incontinence (for example) is not likely to be rehomed quickly and may struggle to get rescue space.

I can't say this doesn't happen, as we all know it does, but in almost 30 years in practice I've only seen these three examples that couldn't be talked around, so there is potential for things to be resolved.

Good luck