Why don't people understand?

[CarriBrown]

People handle grief in very different ways, and I think it's tough for some people to understand the crying when they don't cry themselves. I think it's totally normal to be upset when you have to kill an animal, even if it is for your table. Some people may cry, others may think, I hate doing this, and both are forms of grief.

 

[Cetawin]

I believe that the majority of people DO understand but many are not willing to admit it. There are those who have never owned a pet that cannot understand and there are those who are just heartless.

Remember that all the noted serial killers of history began by torturing and killing animals. So there are heartless people out there.

Thank goodness those are the small minority.

I am a woman and a bow hunter. I have never yet killed an animal without thanking it and crying. Loss of life is something to grieve for and feel sad about. Even when it is necessary or better for the individual dying.

My daughter is 11 and I have seen her cry for her pet rats that passed and I have cried with her. I have also seen her cry for a hognose snake that she was trying to get out of the road but it got hit anyway. I think you have to be able to "feel" in order to live and be a part of this world.

My big tough DH, the green beret, soldier, stalker, sniper and yes, killer, cried when we had to have our wolf put down. I had to send him to a corner so he did not upset my boy. I waited until after it was over to ball like a baby. Tears help heal ... so shed them.

 

[chickfillhay]

Some of you already know this...I put my dog of many long years "Zuzu" down a few days ago. IT IS SAD! No way around it. Wether you put them down mercifully or if they suddenly die from some freak accident. It hurts just the same!
An animal is an integral part of our lives. Even those of us who don't have any animals. One way or another we come into contact with one.
As for the whole God put the animals here to sustain.

That is correct. Anytime you want to question that point. Look at the animals out in the wild. Most of them don't eat only vegitation. They eat other species of animals (including humans). Humans are the exact same way. Some of us only eat vegitation, others (like myself) eat meat AND vegitation. Its the circle of life. No matter how you slice it. We are part of the wild kingdom. We tend to forget that because we can talk and build things.
We think our lives are more comfortable and civilized.
It's not....just different.

 

[ChuckenGirl]

i know how you feel!
i lost a rooster thursday and sometimes people dont understand because they havnt experienced it and sometimes they think its not as important to love an animal

 

[spook]

When I have to cull or kill anything, it sounds strange, but I thank it before the deed is done. It makes me feel more humane. Although my darling sis-in-law told me when I hatched 5 roos and 4 hens that if I "killed" any of them "we would have to re-evaluate our friendship".
Eeek, I managed to give 4 roos away, keeping one, and then this spring I had to give him away as he was to busy with the girls, needing a bigger flock.
Pets are pets. Food is food, if you can do it, good for you. I wish I could raise meat birds, but honestly, I don't think anyone else could eat them except me.
For the first time in my life I have found weird people like myself that is nuts over my favorite pets!

 

[Davaroo]

Anny and Carrie have nailed it. People cannot possibly share your emotions over the death of a creature. Each handles it in their own way.

Death of animals, is in fact, a non-issue for many. For some, animals are at the other end of the spectrum from them and if one dies, then so be it.
For others, death is just part of living and so it isnt something to shed many tears over. Call these folks pragmatic if you will. I tend to be in this group.

Others emote over the death wholeheartedly. They tend to give their all and when a death occurs, they feel it poignantly. They invest emotionally, more than the pragmatists.

It is always hardest to feel the other persons emotion, to truly relate on their level. It behooves us then to accept what others feel, even when that is hard to do.

 

[DuckLady]

We may not feel the depth of grief that another feels, but empathy will make us realize that the grief is valid.

If we cannot empathize, then that makes us heartless.

 

[amystours]

I WANT meat birds, but I just CAN'T do the deed. I would feel too horrible.

As for pets, y'all all know I just lost my horse I've had for 25 years...it's absolute misery. I guess I'm actually being just selfish....I want him here with ME! On the flip side, at least his arthritis isn't hurting him anymore.

I'm not good with death, I have a hard time of it whether it's a guinea pig, a chicken, horse, whatever. I can't feed live mice to my snakes for that reason. They get strictly frozen, that way, it's not ME doing the killing....doesn't really justify it, but makes me feel a little better.

 

[Sonia]

I think elderoo and terrilacy have nailed it. While we don't all feel it the same way or to the same degree it is important to understand that even if others don't feel the way you do, it does not make their feelings any less valid.

 

[chikenlady]

Quote:
I had to put down my 11 year old chocalate lab over a year ago. She had terrible arthritis and broke her hind leg. The vet would not do surgery to fix it because she would not beable to support herself on three legs to recover. That decision was the worst and hardest I could ever make. But, I loved her enough to let her go...I did not want her to suffer and I knew it would make her so sad to not have the ability to follow me around (she was like my shadow!).

Personally, I do have difficulty killing an animal for food. I do eat meat, but I don't want to have a relationship with the animal I eat. I just can't. Maybe that would change it the need arises...I have not been in that situation, though.