Euthanizing pets...
- rozoksmaslom
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Euthanizing pets...
Guys, our cat was sick, we went to the vet with her today and he just called us, saying she has cancer and he suggested that euthanasia would be the best option, otherwise she would suffer tremendously and that she would had a month to live, at most.
My mom agreed to it, but I wanted to wait, as I know that killing is simply, really bad karma.
What do you guys think? What should I do... I think the vet still didn't do it, but it's a matter of minutes, I guess
edit: sorry, if I have misplaced this post in the wrong forum section, I am always confused where to post certain things
My mom agreed to it, but I wanted to wait, as I know that killing is simply, really bad karma.
What do you guys think? What should I do... I think the vet still didn't do it, but it's a matter of minutes, I guess
edit: sorry, if I have misplaced this post in the wrong forum section, I am always confused where to post certain things
Re: Euthanizing pets...
Your post is in the completely right section.
I couldn't give a general advice. This is not a theoretical case and I would judge with my direct feeling to the actual pet.
Generally said, buddhists always tend to wait.
But it's not always possible to avoid bad karma. Often we only have the choice between bad and poor. Therefore, it's important to ponder closely and choose the alternative that is less harm.
I couldn't give a general advice. This is not a theoretical case and I would judge with my direct feeling to the actual pet.
Generally said, buddhists always tend to wait.
But it's not always possible to avoid bad karma. Often we only have the choice between bad and poor. Therefore, it's important to ponder closely and choose the alternative that is less harm.
- Kim O'Hara
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
It's a case of mixed karma. Sure, it's bad karma to kill or to cause death, but it's also bad karma to cause suffering. In this case you have to do one or the other.
We also have to deal with our own feelings about our pet, and try to make sure we are acting (as best we can) in its interests, not our own.
Kim
We also have to deal with our own feelings about our pet, and try to make sure we are acting (as best we can) in its interests, not our own.
Kim
- rozoksmaslom
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Thank you guys very much for the replies. She was put to rest
Yes I am heartbroken, she was absolutely precious, the best friend I had for the last 2 and a half years.
I tried to talk my mom out of it, to delay it at least for a day or two, but I couldn't persuade her.
RIP Sophie
Yes I am heartbroken, she was absolutely precious, the best friend I had for the last 2 and a half years.
I tried to talk my mom out of it, to delay it at least for a day or two, but I couldn't persuade her.
RIP Sophie
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Last summer, the morning after Khenpo Namdrol finished the tshig don mdzod lung, my dog fell sick. That first day I heard bubbling noises arise from his inside after he had eaten. He looked a bit surprised himself at the noise but didn't seem sick and was still able to comfortably go on a long, slow walk that evening (arthritis). The next day, after I came home late in the afternoon, he got up, went to his bowl and eagerly started drinking. Immediately he threw up. Early next morning the vet gave him medicine to recover, but later that night he fell sick again. The day after that, an x-ray revealed there was a large tumor pressing on his windpipe. His blood also indicated the cancer had already spread throughout his body. He spend that last summer day in an airconditioned environment at the vet accompanied by his favourite plush pink doggy. I had no choice but to put him to sleep that afternoon with his head resting on his favourite pink friend. For the first time in his life he was refusing to drink and there was no chance of recovery. Only more tests and prolonged suffering. I also had practically zero sleep for two nights in a row, so there was no alternative.
This was not creating bad karma, it was taking responsibility. He fell asleep peacefully, not afraid, closing his eyes on his own strength.
This was not creating bad karma, it was taking responsibility. He fell asleep peacefully, not afraid, closing his eyes on his own strength.
- rozoksmaslom
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Archie2009 wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 11:47 am Last summer, the morning after Khenpo Namdrol finished the tshig don mdzod lung, my dog fell sick. That first day I heard bubbling noises arise from his inside after he had eaten. He looked a bit surprised himself at the noise but didn't seem sick and was still able to comfortably go on a long, slow walk that evening (arthritis). The next day, after I came home late in the afternoon, he got up, went to his bowl and eagerly started drinking. Immediately he threw up. Early next morning the vet gave him medicine to recover, but later that night he fell sick again. The day after that, an x-ray revealed there was a large tumor pressing on his windpipe. His blood also indicated the cancer had already spread throughout his body. He spend that last summer day in an airconditioned environment at the vet accompanied by his favourite plush pink doggy. I had no choice but to put him to sleep that afternoon with his head resting on his favourite pink friend. For the first time in his life he was refusing to drink and there was no chance of recovery. Only more tests and prolonged suffering. I also had practically zero sleep for two nights in a row, so there was no alternative.
This was not creating bad karma, it was taking responsibility. He fell asleep peacefully, not afraid, closing his eyes on his own strength.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
It was out of compassion and love so it's very good karma.
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
My sympathies.rozoksmaslom wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 11:44 am Thank you guys very much for the replies. She was put to rest
Yes I am heartbroken, she was absolutely precious, the best friend I had for the last 2 and a half years.
I tried to talk my mom out of it, to delay it at least for a day or two, but I couldn't persuade her.
RIP Sophie
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
I had a very similar situation a few months ago. My cat stopped eating and the vet said she had advanced kidney disease and at best she might live a couple of months more. I decided that it would be best if she I had her euthanized rather than struggle on in pain. I waited for a few days to see if she would start eating again but she didn't.
I took her to the vet and cried like a complete dick as the vet euthanized her. She was my late wife's cat and I hated both taking her life and losing another connection to my wife.
However, painful and difficult although it was - it was the right thing to do. Intention is everything in karma. If you're intention is to lessen your cat's suffering then the karmic outcome for you will be positive. If you delay because you are afraid of your own suffering at losing her, you are causing her more suffering and that will have a negative karmic effect on you.
I took her to the vet and cried like a complete dick as the vet euthanized her. She was my late wife's cat and I hated both taking her life and losing another connection to my wife.
However, painful and difficult although it was - it was the right thing to do. Intention is everything in karma. If you're intention is to lessen your cat's suffering then the karmic outcome for you will be positive. If you delay because you are afraid of your own suffering at losing her, you are causing her more suffering and that will have a negative karmic effect on you.
This is not the wrong life.
- KathyLauren
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
So much of karma is intention. The intention in euthanasia is to prevent unnecessary suffering. Preventing suffering is a good thing, and therefore good karma.
We had a greyhound that was getting up in age. She had arthritis, and was getting unsteady on her feet and losing weight. We knew the end was coming soon. Then one morning, she developed bad seizures. One look told us the obvious: she was suffering terribly and her eyes were begging us for help. We had not a moment's hesitation. Not putting her to sleep would have been a terrible, cruel thing to do, and would have been very bad karma. We dropped everything and rushed her to the vet.
There are no easy answers. The two lessons in this are that intention matters and to reduce suffering when you can.
Om mani padme hum
Kathy
We had a greyhound that was getting up in age. She had arthritis, and was getting unsteady on her feet and losing weight. We knew the end was coming soon. Then one morning, she developed bad seizures. One look told us the obvious: she was suffering terribly and her eyes were begging us for help. We had not a moment's hesitation. Not putting her to sleep would have been a terrible, cruel thing to do, and would have been very bad karma. We dropped everything and rushed her to the vet.
There are no easy answers. The two lessons in this are that intention matters and to reduce suffering when you can.
Om mani padme hum
Kathy
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Is the cat in a lot of pain?
If it were me (and it has been),if the cat is suffering then I would euthanize it and meditate with an aspiration to take any negativity generated by that act on myself.
If the animal still seems happy (again, been there) I would look into palliative care - steroids, etc., then make the decision when it is time. Animals generally behave in certain ways when ready to die.
This is a complicated subject, my own teachers have basically told me I was on my own and to make the best decision I could.
If it were me (and it has been),if the cat is suffering then I would euthanize it and meditate with an aspiration to take any negativity generated by that act on myself.
If the animal still seems happy (again, been there) I would look into palliative care - steroids, etc., then make the decision when it is time. Animals generally behave in certain ways when ready to die.
This is a complicated subject, my own teachers have basically told me I was on my own and to make the best decision I could.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: Euthanizing pets...
Euthanazing pets, when it is necessary, can be a compasionate act. Difficult, painful, but sometime this is what needs to be done.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
Discussion reminds me of the bodhisattva boat captain. Good story if you haven’t read it. Bodhisattva boat captain killed in order to alleviate suffering and was willing to take on bad karma for themselves to save others. Because of that, didn’t actually make bad karma but the opposite.
One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!
Re: Euthanizing pets...
Intention is a key factor for producing karma.
Patrul Rinpoche in his short text 'Nine Considerations and Criteria for Benefiting Beings':
Patrul Rinpoche in his short text 'Nine Considerations and Criteria for Benefiting Beings':
If you can't help remove a pet's encounter with euthanasia or natural suffering, you can at least plant seeds of liberation for their future lives. The latter being arguably more important in the long run.Even if it would harm in this life, if it would help in the next, being skilful with methods to protect this life from harm you should act to benefit the next.
'When thoughts arise, recognise them clearly as your teacher'— Gampopa
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
'When alone, examine your mind, when among others, examine your speech'.— Atisha
- rozoksmaslom
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Yes, I think of that story a lot of times.seeker242 wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 12:53 pm Discussion reminds me of the bodhisattva boat captain. Good story if you haven’t read it. Bodhisattva boat captain killed in order to alleviate suffering and was willing to take on bad karma for themselves to save others. Because of that, didn’t actually make bad karma but the opposite.
iirc he did end up in hell for some lifetimes, though.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
On the other hand, I cannot imagine that it is possible to avoid hell by letting a pet suffer very long. The precept "not killing' will be fulfilled, but it's quite a deed without compassion. It's just following a rule without considering the circumstances. How ethical is that?
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Re: Euthanizing pets...
Keeping around a terminally ill, suffering pet is an egotistical act. It's just for you, short term.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
Putting a dog down, or any other animal for that matter is without doubt the worst part of owning an animal.
Unfortunately it is part of being a responsible animal owner.
Good luck and best wishes.
Unfortunately it is part of being a responsible animal owner.
Good luck and best wishes.
Re: Euthanizing pets...
I don’t think so. I looked to see if that was actually the case once and could not find any reference to that happening.rozoksmaslom wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 9:47 amYes, I think of that story a lot of times.seeker242 wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 12:53 pm Discussion reminds me of the bodhisattva boat captain. Good story if you haven’t read it. Bodhisattva boat captain killed in order to alleviate suffering and was willing to take on bad karma for themselves to save others. Because of that, didn’t actually make bad karma but the opposite.
iirc he did end up in hell for some lifetimes, though.
The Skill in Means (Upayakausalya Sutra), where the story is found, does say “samsara was curtailed for one hundred-thousand eons because of that skill in means and great compassion.”
136. “Son of the family. At that time, in that life I was none other than the captain Great Compassionate. Have no second thoughts or doubt on this point. The five hundred merchants on board are the five hundred bodhisattvas who are to nirvāṇize to supreme, right and full awakening in this Auspicious Eon.
“Son of the family: For me, saṁsāra was curtailed for one hundred-thousand eons because of that skill in means and great compassion. And the robber died to be be reborn in a world of paradise.
137. “Son of the family, what do you think of this? Can curtailing birth and death for one hundred-thousand eons with that skill in means and that great compassion be regarded as the Bodhisattva’s obstacle caused by past deeds? Do not view it in that way. It should be regarded as his very skill in means. Mark Tatz’ Skill in Means Sutra, pp. 73-74
One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!
Re: Euthanizing pets...
I saw a video of a vicious and fatal attack of a man a man by a group of dogs the other day that had to be captured and put down. It's similar to how sometimes you get a rat or mice infestation and need to have them killed in order to prevent diseases and promote cleanliness. Some things are important to do regardless of any negative karma that might be accrued.