Message from the PAW President
Killing: It's not just euthanasia
anymore!
Here's a thought: Use the right words and improve
communication! We might even clarify some of the issues! This
is fairly simple advice, but somehow, the humane community has
gone astray with the word euthanasia and has inhibited the progress
of no kill. Look in any dictionary and you will find the definition
of euthanasia: The act or method of causing death painlessness,
so as to end suffering: to deal with those dying of incurable,
painful diseases.
The Greek
word is derived from eu, meaning good or well, and thanatos,
meaning death. Thus, euthanasia is
a good death to relieve suffering. Now what does it mean to you
when an animal shelter reports that 90% of their animals were "euthanized" in
a given period? Do you seriously believe that 90% of their animals
were dying of incurable, painful diseases? They were KILLED,
while possibly a small percentage are truly euthanized for clinical
reasons.
When we understand the misuse of the word euthanasia
historically in animal welfare, then we understand the honesty
of the word "kill", and then we understand what "no
kill" means. No kill is the absence of killing healthy,
adoptable animals. When language is used literally to describe
a situation, then readers and listeners know what is truthful.
I am convinced that the failure to remedy the millions of homeless
animal deaths and shelters is because a soft word had been used
for decades to describe their killing. Euthanasia is a feel-good
word, a sad necessity word that leaves little doubt as to its
appropriateness. And you can bet there are uneducated people
who think, "It is OK to euthanize my dog, just don't kill
it," when they relinquish their unwanted pet to a shelter.
My recommendation is that we train ourselves
to respond with a knee-jerk reaction anytime the word euthanasia
is used. Are we literally speaking the truth when we say euthanasia?
Or are we using a cover-up word for kill? Listen to yourselves
as you habitually say euthanasia when you mean kill. Every time
we report that healthy animals were euthanized, we have delayed
the process in saving animals lives. I normally include this
caveat in my presentations, and it is surprising how many caregivers
have never analyzed the use of words in this business. "Euthanasia" is
the crux of the no kill issue, and understanding the terminology
helps us to understand the goal!
Brenda Beck - President
Pets & Animals in Distress / PAW
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