Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: alkemyst
They commited a crime. Zoology is my major as well, plus I have worked with a vet during my training. I think I am a little more qualified to comment than someone just brandishing a .22. Cats esp have been known to spring back after their owners have even thought them dead.
Euthanasia aside, shooting of a pet is outlawed as a method except in extreme suffering or where there is threat to other's life in many if not most places now. There is too many variables in that method that can lead to not only a bad kill, but very easy to collateral damage.
And getting crushed by a car to the point of paralysis is not extreme suffering? What qualifies then? Getting skinned alive and then burned? Or should he still call up the vet, assuming they're still in the office, and arrange an appointment to bring the cat in, possibly the next day? We can't break a law that was quite probably written 1) to prevent killing of animals by truly abusive, hateful individuals, 2) to protect stupid people from themselves, 3) by a few politicians to appease a vocal few constituents in the hope of getting reelected, or 4) to ensure that veterinarians would use proper methods and not get sloppy.
The law quoted also says nothing of cases where the animal is in "extreme suffering." I can't see any rational judge ruling that the OP should have kept the cat alive and suffering long enough to take it to a vet.
Originally posted by: alkemyst
If the cat was purring, I don't really see how you could have determined it was beyond help as well.
Link
"By the way, a cat's purring does not always denote happiness.
A cat will purr when in extreme pain, or frightened or stressed. Have you ever heard your cat purring to beat the band on the table at the veterinarian's office? It's like they're saying, 'Don't hurt me. I'll be good.'"
Link
"Sick cats and purring - Saying that cats purr when they are content is usually right on the money. The problem is that when cats are sick they still often purr. When it comes to being sick never trust your cat's purr.
Cats can and do purr at all levels of sickness, injury, sometimes even as they are dying. If your cat looks or acts ill then even if it is purring, the cat is sick and needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Some researchers have suggested that an injured or sick cat purrs to calm itself down, while others have suggested that it is a submissive behaviour communicating to other cats or predators that they are not a threat."
You might as well say that people only cry when they're sad.