Shall we follow the Danes?

There is so much worse that can happen to a pet animal than being euthanised by a vet and fed to another animal. I get very annoyed seeing pets being kept alive because their owner can't deal with having them pts. IMHO the best, last thing an owner can do is to give their much loved pets a decent, timely death. It's what I would wish for myself.

It would be against the animal welfare act 2006 in the UK to do this. Any mice or rats that are fed have to be euthanised and frozen first. UK do however allow live feeding to some exotic non native species but this is usually invertebrates

We are wrecking the world and all the animal habitats. God help all living creatures in the future. I fear human morals and empathy has gone down the pan. Daily I wonder at our sanity or lack thereof.

Allira

David49

In Europe they don’t have the same sentimentality towards horses, horse meat is regularly on the menu as is veal.

But they're asking for pets.

There are plenty of horses kept as pets, whatever the size of the pet Zoos have to be careful, many pets will have been treated with drugs for an illness or disease before they are euthanized. For these animals burial or cremation is the only disposal they are not wanted for pet food or zoos

Mollygo

If you think about what vegans would like, it seems to be a world without animals.
No cows, no sheep, no pigs, no deer, no game birds, no hens, no ducks even feral pigeons would be a bit dodgy. If innocently chasing them is bad, how much worse would be shooting them to eat.
No lions and tigers or other carnivorous animals, no rats, no cats, no owls, no birds of prey, no vultures.
And no humans who don’t fit in with their doctrine.

It's madness isn't it.

Sadly the world is not a "nice" place. I wonder what would have happened to these obviously unwanted pets otherwise?

David49

In Europe they don’t have the same sentimentality towards horses, horse meat is regularly on the menu as is veal.

But they're asking for pets.

In Europe they don’t have the same sentimentality towards horses, horse meat is regularly on the menu as is veal.

I love animals, but putting sentimentality for our pets aside, predators have to eat meat to survive, and whether they eat unwanted pets or animals bred specifically for them to eat, it still means animals die. It’s the circle of life.

The Faroe Islands still in 2025 are still practising the appalling annual slaughter of many Pilot Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises including pregnant females and young calves It is apparently tradition!! The meat is virtually inedible owing to toxics and carcinogens in the ocean, ingested by these creatures. It is an absolutely vile practise, and although a self governing archipelago, Faroe is part of the kingdom of Denmark! Should tell you everything!!

As a side comment;

When I acquired an allotment, the previous tenant requested that we respect the grave of a pet buried on it. I agreed , suggested they mark the spot and tactfully enquired what kind of pet it was. (Because a German Shepherd occupies more ground than a kitten) The answer came back "It's a hamster" and a tiny cross appeared in one of the beds, marking the spot to let it rest in peace.

I can only assume the mourners had been so stricken by grief that it affected their memory. Because months later, carefully avoiding the cross I accidentally exhumed a corpse and its paper bag shroud disintegrated. Not a hamster; it was a large pet rat.

I find this awful.

The zoo is particularly keen to accept live horses for slaughter, you can even get a tax deduction for donating.

Surely the answer to that is not to have predators in zoos. They are usually large animals who should have miles of open space in which to hunt. Anyone who has seen these animals in the wild will surely understand how cruel it is to confine them to a small space.

It makes sense in one way as predators need to eat the whole animal according to vets, just as my little cat will bring in a mouse and sit in front of us and consume the lot, tail, head etc.

I looked it up because that didn’t seem right, but apparently vets reckon that the whole animal needs consuming in order for the cat to get the essential nutrients.

Needless to say she gets fleas and wormed regularly😮😮

Mollygo

Re the OP I wonder how much greater the outcry would be if this was seen as a solution to all the unwanted dogs and cats?

Try it another way; XL bullies could all be used to feed rare tigers.

Sarnia

BlueBelle

How about NOT having zoos has anyone thought about that !

Spot on! Let animals be in their natural habitat and not cooped up for people to gawp at. I can accept conservation centres to help the survival of endangered species but not zoos or those dreadful circuses.

And how do "Conservation centres" fund the staff, animal feed, vet bills etc to house feed and breed threatened species, , if not by selling tickets to visitors?

Just the veterinary care of threatened species is highly expert specialised work. That's why breeding programs tend to be centred in organisations that make enough money to fund the required facilities and expertise. Like zoos.

One thing that you can say about the Danes.

They certainly know how to think laterally.

Although in general I disapprove of zoos there are valid reasons for some animals remaining in captivity and if they're carnivorous, they have to be fed. Which is the less appealing option, breeding animals to provide feed or feeding an animal that is either going to be euthanised or neglected by owners who no longer want them? We live in an imperfect world I'm afraid. It's been common practice for centuries to shoot large animals that have injuries so their bodies can be consumed either by humans or other animals. IMO it's a better option than cremation.
Before I get jumped on for being a cruel monster I'm a committed animal lover who has had dogs, cats, gerbils, horses and visiting sheep as part of my family. I've had to make decisions on euthanasia of beloved animal friends far too many times and ensured I have been present and that's it's done in familiar surroundings but what happens to the dead bodies is dealt with pragmatically. Try burying a 650kg horse in the garden.

So ATY, is disposing of your unwanted pets “silly”?

If we hadn't known before we know now that we are officially in the "Silly Season" for news.

why not?

Vets have clients seek euthenasia of "beloved" healthy pet animals every day. The owners pay for euthenasia, then the corpses are incinerated, bad for the planet.

Donating to the zoo saves pet owners money, reduces pollution, and it feeds living animals. Helpinf to save threatened species. You'd think animal lovers would see the plus side.

If zoo inhabitants don't eat dead pets, they are still goimg to be fed meat from sheep, cows etc that used to be alive.

What else did you think zoos do with the bodies of their own dead animals ?

Absolutely re no zoos, but what’s the point of conservation centres when there’s nowhere for animals to live because we’re chopping down forests for human habitation and clearing forests to grow crops to provide vegan foods for the same population.

BlueBelle

How about NOT having zoos has anyone thought about that !

Spot on! Let animals be in their natural habitat and not cooped up for people to gawp at. I can accept conservation centres to help the survival of endangered species but not zoos or those dreadful circuses.

Re the OP I wonder how much greater the outcry would be if this was seen as a solution to all the unwanted dogs and cats?

If you think about what vegans would like, it seems to be a world without animals.
No cows, no sheep, no pigs, no deer, no game birds, no hens, no ducks even feral pigeons would be a bit dodgy. If innocently chasing them is bad, how much worse would be shooting them to eat.
No lions and tigers or other carnivorous animals, no rats, no cats, no owls, no birds of prey, no vultures.
And no humans who don’t fit in with their doctrine.

What, no tofu for lions? David49