Animal Ethics
JANUARY 30, 2007
Barbaro's killing is a case of euthanasia. The word "euthanasia" means good, gentle, or easy ( eu ) death ( thanos ). The paradigm case of euthanasia is where a sentient being is terminally ill, will die soon anyway, and is in great pain. Euthanasia is often called mercy killing, for obvious reasons: Its motive is mercy.
10,000 Birds
OCTOBER 7, 2016
Cat and dog rescuers share with wildlife rehabilitators the unfortunate burden of healing the hurt caused by other humans. Like many people who grew up in my era, our childhood dogs and cats went outdoors. The bird was stripped of feathers and so badly battered that euthanasia was probable. And, I would have understood.
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