I never really considered this a right or wrong type of thing. There are just different perceptions of what it means to be humane. My perception aligns with yours, and I would have done the same, but the woman wanted to take it to the animal shelter where it most certainly would have been euthanized, but would have to suffer for another 2 to 3 hours to get there.
Jackrabbits were prolific in the Central Valley of California where I grew up. Chasing them was great sport and we did so in dad’s ‘52 GMC pick up, my Vw, and any other vehicle with me behind the wheel.
I don’t remember ever hitting one.
Yet, as a teenage bucket of boiling testosterone at the time, I am quite positive boxing up the wounded rabbit and taking him to a shelter would not have been in our frame of reference.
Great story, Tom - it's really made me think. I've never been in this position with a wild animal, but I'd like to think I would have done the necessary to put the bunny out of its misery. I grew up on a smallholding so I have experience of this dilemma in a domestic setting, and of course it's never an easy decision, no matter how desperate the situation.
I would have done the same. Tom, do you recall the time we found a kitten in a similar situation on a walk down Dequindre road in Romeo? I don’t recall if you were there, but I distinctly remember talking though the situation with mom and I found a big rock and put the poor kitty out of its misery as well. Sounds cruel but there are plenty of bunny rabbits and kitties out there in this world, wasting resources and time to rehab an animal that really has no chance is pointless.
I have watched the menfolk in my life put many an animals out of their misery on the farm. It's the right thing to do. It's heartbreaking, but it is really the only option when an animal is suffering like that. Now whether I could do it or not, I know 100% I could not. I found a small bird that fell out of a tree at one point on the farm. I couldn't do it. I had to go get my grandpa who had no problem doing it.
I heard from a friend via email who adds this comment: Tom,
A timely article. Last Sunday, I had to euthanize a male rabbit that was stuck in our fence. It is breeding season now, round two, and the males are fighting. One had just mated and then another male came in. I did not know what was going one, but there was a terrible screaming coming from the far corner of the yard. One male was trying to escape the other and became stuck in the fence. The other males had attacked it, removing its tail and genitalia. Male laboratory mice will do the same thing. I had lamb chops on the grill, got them finished, then got a 2x2. The animal had most of its hind section now ripped open. Two whacks and it did not move anymore.
One of the reasons I retired was that I could not kill any more mice for research; my mouse meter was pegged. I am still thinking about the rabbit.
Yikes! Tough call. I would have been inclined to pick up the rabbit without a box and hurry it to a shelter. But as folks below have noted, that may well have added to the creature's suffering. I remember back more than fifty years when my Dad was hitting fly balls so my brother Larry and I could practice fielding. One got away from him and landed right on top of a shallow rabbit warren, killing a tiny baby bunny. My brother ran down the ball and saw what had happened. He picked up the crushed creature and ran toward our Dad, crying. The incident not only ended fielding practice but led to a solemn burial back at our house. I know this was an accidental killing, but I've always valued Dad's decision to show respect for a sentient creature. Could he have killed it were it only injured? I really have no idea. I certainly don't fault you or your friend for putting the bunny out of its misery.
I would have taken the rabbit home, built a little rabbit wheelchair, rehabbed the poor thing and made a little rabbit fur coat for the coming winter. Nah, I'd have done the same thing you guys did.
Don't know how or why Bunnies became associated with Easter, Tom, but perhaps it will ease your mind to believe the bunny in question has risen and you are forgiven ~w.
I've done similar things a few times, and it never feels good even when it's obviously the right thing to do. I also once found the back half of a badger rammed up behind the engine of a car we once had, after we'd apparently hit it on a dark road one night. It was partly cooked and is by a clear margin the most revolting thing I have ever had to deal with.
Is it easy to "KIll" a animal, let's put it another way, the smaller the animal. The easiest it is. We don't think twice about squashing a cockroach, spider, beetle. Part of that reason is, we can't hear them scream and we believe that it is over so quick. They won't feel a thing. The bigger the animal gets the harder, I would imagine, it would be to take a life... In the circumstance you were in... Your buddy did the right thing.,
You absolutely did the right thing. My wife and I are serious animal lovers and have had to deal with end of life issues for several pets that were a part of our pack for more than a decade. It is never easy to end an animal’s life, and shouldn’t be, but to allow an animal to suffer when there is no medical means to alleviate the suffering, is cruel. The only option is mercy.
Meeting out death should be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary.
You did the right thing, Tom. It is painful to run into these situations. And part of the pain is not knowing "for sure."
Good story Tom, you portrayed the poor bunny very well. I hope I would do what Mike did.
I never really considered this a right or wrong type of thing. There are just different perceptions of what it means to be humane. My perception aligns with yours, and I would have done the same, but the woman wanted to take it to the animal shelter where it most certainly would have been euthanized, but would have to suffer for another 2 to 3 hours to get there.
Jackrabbits were prolific in the Central Valley of California where I grew up. Chasing them was great sport and we did so in dad’s ‘52 GMC pick up, my Vw, and any other vehicle with me behind the wheel.
I don’t remember ever hitting one.
Yet, as a teenage bucket of boiling testosterone at the time, I am quite positive boxing up the wounded rabbit and taking him to a shelter would not have been in our frame of reference.
Great story, Tom - it's really made me think. I've never been in this position with a wild animal, but I'd like to think I would have done the necessary to put the bunny out of its misery. I grew up on a smallholding so I have experience of this dilemma in a domestic setting, and of course it's never an easy decision, no matter how desperate the situation.
I would have done the same. Tom, do you recall the time we found a kitten in a similar situation on a walk down Dequindre road in Romeo? I don’t recall if you were there, but I distinctly remember talking though the situation with mom and I found a big rock and put the poor kitty out of its misery as well. Sounds cruel but there are plenty of bunny rabbits and kitties out there in this world, wasting resources and time to rehab an animal that really has no chance is pointless.
I have watched the menfolk in my life put many an animals out of their misery on the farm. It's the right thing to do. It's heartbreaking, but it is really the only option when an animal is suffering like that. Now whether I could do it or not, I know 100% I could not. I found a small bird that fell out of a tree at one point on the farm. I couldn't do it. I had to go get my grandpa who had no problem doing it.
I heard from a friend via email who adds this comment: Tom,
A timely article. Last Sunday, I had to euthanize a male rabbit that was stuck in our fence. It is breeding season now, round two, and the males are fighting. One had just mated and then another male came in. I did not know what was going one, but there was a terrible screaming coming from the far corner of the yard. One male was trying to escape the other and became stuck in the fence. The other males had attacked it, removing its tail and genitalia. Male laboratory mice will do the same thing. I had lamb chops on the grill, got them finished, then got a 2x2. The animal had most of its hind section now ripped open. Two whacks and it did not move anymore.
One of the reasons I retired was that I could not kill any more mice for research; my mouse meter was pegged. I am still thinking about the rabbit.
Steve
Yikes! Tough call. I would have been inclined to pick up the rabbit without a box and hurry it to a shelter. But as folks below have noted, that may well have added to the creature's suffering. I remember back more than fifty years when my Dad was hitting fly balls so my brother Larry and I could practice fielding. One got away from him and landed right on top of a shallow rabbit warren, killing a tiny baby bunny. My brother ran down the ball and saw what had happened. He picked up the crushed creature and ran toward our Dad, crying. The incident not only ended fielding practice but led to a solemn burial back at our house. I know this was an accidental killing, but I've always valued Dad's decision to show respect for a sentient creature. Could he have killed it were it only injured? I really have no idea. I certainly don't fault you or your friend for putting the bunny out of its misery.
I would have taken the rabbit home, built a little rabbit wheelchair, rehabbed the poor thing and made a little rabbit fur coat for the coming winter. Nah, I'd have done the same thing you guys did.
Don't know how or why Bunnies became associated with Easter, Tom, but perhaps it will ease your mind to believe the bunny in question has risen and you are forgiven ~w.
I've done similar things a few times, and it never feels good even when it's obviously the right thing to do. I also once found the back half of a badger rammed up behind the engine of a car we once had, after we'd apparently hit it on a dark road one night. It was partly cooked and is by a clear margin the most revolting thing I have ever had to deal with.
Is it easy to "KIll" a animal, let's put it another way, the smaller the animal. The easiest it is. We don't think twice about squashing a cockroach, spider, beetle. Part of that reason is, we can't hear them scream and we believe that it is over so quick. They won't feel a thing. The bigger the animal gets the harder, I would imagine, it would be to take a life... In the circumstance you were in... Your buddy did the right thing.,
You absolutely did the right thing. My wife and I are serious animal lovers and have had to deal with end of life issues for several pets that were a part of our pack for more than a decade. It is never easy to end an animal’s life, and shouldn’t be, but to allow an animal to suffer when there is no medical means to alleviate the suffering, is cruel. The only option is mercy.
Meeting out death should be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary.