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Comments on the dilemma in the October issue: ‘Euthanasia in a no‐kill shelter’
Author(s) -
Black Yvonne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.g6402
Subject(s) - underpinning , dilemma , institution , law , political science , public administration , ethical dilemma , medicine , sociology , engineering , philosophy , civil engineering , epistemology
The dilemma in the October issue concerned a local shelter's changing policy on euthanasia. It had previously promoted itself as a no‐kill organisation, a policy for which it received significant public support and funding. However, its board of trustees had recently begun pressing for healthy animals to be put down because of a lack of capacity (In Practice, October 2014, vol 36, pp 478‐479). Vanessa Ashall advised that, while it wouldn't be unethical for the board to formally review the shelter's stance on euthanasia, it would be unacceptable for the institution to surreptitiously shift its practices, as this would end up deceiving the public. She suggested that the vet involved should ask the trustees to clarify the principles underpinning the non‐destruction policy and how those relate to the shelter's new circumstances.