Economic Euthanasia

Estimates that 3 million to 4 million animals are euthanzied annually

With the country still in tough economic times, there is a sad trend that many pet medical professionals are seeing – economic euthanasia. Pet owners who have no money to pay for high veterinary costs are forced to euthanize their pet when it’s not medically necessary.

This type of euthanasia stems from two things – first, pet owners who are struggling financially are forgoing preventative medicine than can help prolong a pet’s life. Second, when a serious health condition develops in their pet, lack of funds force pet owners to decline life-saving medical care, and either ask the veterinarian to euthanize their pet or take their pet home to die on its own.

And it’s not just veterinarians who are seeing the trend. Animal shelters and humane societies are also seeing a rise in the amount of animals euthanized. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 3 million to 4 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States, and that number is expected to grow.

Many organizations are trying to help their clients and customers by compiling lists of financial assistance programs. One of the things that can help is pet insurance. Pet insurance can give pet owners the peace of mind that when their pet becomes unexpectedly sick or injured and requires costly veterinary care, they can approve the treatment without worry of cost.

And with the knowledge that any future high medical costs will be covered, pet owners are free to plan and pay for routine wellness care that is essential for all pets. Things like vaccinations, flea medication, heartworm treatment, and dental cleanings are all routine expenses that are easy to plan for, as they come at designated times of the year and are predictable.

Hopefully, as the economy strengthens and pet owners continue to prepare themselves for expenses, we will see a decline in the sad trend of economic euthanasia.