Would you want your pet euthanised if you died?

[Seziah]

I saw a Facebook ad about the Blue Cross’s service where you sign up for free and they take in your pet after you die with an aim to rehome. More than one person commented that they have it in their will that they want their pet to be put to sleep when they die so it can (in their words) go with them.

I’ve never heard of this before and I’m a bit shocked! It sounds selfish and cruel to me, unless the animal is old or unwell. I’m an atheist and don’t believe in an afterlife so maybe others think differently, but I’d want my cats to live on without me. Is it even enforceable - would a vet put a healthy animal to sleep? Have you heard of this before and/or is it what you’d want for your pets?

I have a middle aged incredibly anxious, dog reactive, resource guarding, wary of strangers spaniel, with an expensive health condition. I would probably have him put down, I fear he’d spend two stressful years in kennels and then need to be PTS anyway.

My other dog would find a home in seconds he’s such a good boy

That was how I was when my dog was PTS this year. The vet said he has had genuine requests from people facing a terminal illness.

I wouldn't want to kill my healthy dogs who could have a chance at a happy healthy life elsewhere. I have rescues who would presumably go back to the rescues they came from if no family or friends could take them. I think one would not struggle to be rehomed as she was a Mum to a large litter and I've stayed in touch with the pup's owners.

We adopted my MIL's dog after she unexpectedly passed away a few years ago. We promised her we'd take care of her dog should anything happen to her, but we never expected it would. It was a big challenge at the time as our dog was old and not well socialised (we got him as an older rescue). In the end it was lovely to see the two dogs form a bond and it felt like it gave us a bit more time with MIL. Whenever I find something difficult, I do think back to the challenge of getting my dog to accept his new living situation and to how he seemed to appreciate having company in the end (if he can do it, then so can I).

Sounds like selfish, narcissistic bullshit to me. Thankfully, I reckon most executors of wills would just ignore that and as you rightly say: what vet is agreeing to murder an animal. Cruelty to animals is illegal, is it not?

I just can't see it happening. My mum has a greyhound who she adores. If she had it put in her will that he should be PTS upon her death then I would ignore it. I love him too. He is fantastic dog.
I would hope the family of the deceased would do the same, and someone take the dog on instead. I would also hope no vet would euthanise based on that. it is not ethical at all.

We took in my FIL’s two elderly and obese dogs. Our own springer was young and fit, so needed longer and faster walks, and it was crazy, with multiple walks each day.

They each lost a third on their body weight in our boot camp and we did our best for them. But they weren’t reliably house trained, one was blind, and it was hard work. But I couldn’t have coped knowing they were in kennels waiting to be rehomed. It could have been a long wait. Frankly, if we hadn’t taken them in it might have been better to have had them PTS.

It did make me think hard about our own dog ownership and when to call it a day with new additions.

I think a lot of people ignore it when it is stipulated in someone's will. We had a Chihuahua cross here a year-ish ago for a few nights that had been willed to be put down when its owner died.

It was only young; allegedly, her will stated it was aggressive and hated everyone but her. It seemed quite happy when it was here, all things considered, and loved playing in my garden with our pack.

The woman's estranged daughter made an appeal on social media for help getting the dog across the country to her. We were one of the rest stops.

My old frail cat (no longer here) yes. He adored me and he was so bloody quirky that nobody else would have done right by him. I had to go to the vets when he was in as he refused to eat until I was there and apparently spent most of the time crying

The cat I have now would be fine with a child free house with no other pets

I am really glad to hear that. ❤

Definitely not. I've made arrangements for my dog to be cared for should I go first. I did that before I actually got her.

I have 2 dogs. One it wouldn't occur to me to, he loves everybody and everything. Is really easy going, I reckon I could rehome him tomorrow and if they treated him well he'd be happy.

The other is a different kettle of fish. She is really anxious, has panic attacks, gets an upset stomach if anyone calls over to the house for longer than she thinks is appropriate, is terrified of all dogs but our other one and if it were a case that I die she would go to kennels I think the kinder thing to do would be to put her down. As it is though if I died she'd accept my teenage daughter as my replacement and be happy.

I think it’s monstrous. I’m not an Egyptian pharaoh who needs to take anyone with me.

We've made arrangements for elderly family members' pets, in that they're mine, and always have been. When my gran lost her DCat, we let her foster one of DD's cats, who we knew was more of a people cat than a cat/chihuahua's cat and would love living with a single lady. My gran is happy she still has the company of a much-loved cat, the cat is happy being spoiled; DD is happy she still sees her cat; and if the cat outlives my gran, she'll just come back home.

When my disabled dad lost his two dogs, who were his lifeline and only reason for leaving the house, we let him foster two of DD's chihuahuas who knew would cope being separated from the rest of the pack but not each other. We still see them; they still see the rest of the pack, and if they outlive him, they'll just come back home.

Fortunately, we have no more elderly relatives who love pets because I have run out of suitable foster pets to loan out.