I've only seen that when they already know about the result of such items. House pets are not usually exposed to firearms (unless they see them on TV and recognize one in real life as amazing as that would be). Though I suppose if you spray your dog/cat with the hose they may associate a gun as something with a similar unpleasant result. A pet on their last leg probably won't care anyway. I know this cat sure wouldn't have.
Animals have some sort of higher instinct than people is all I can say on this. I have not only witnessed it, but read about it a bit. If an animal is half dead, then they probably won't realize it. However, many pets are put to 'sleep' before they get that critical.
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Wasn't my cat, but I knew him very well. He was sickly and lazy to boot, he would've just lied there in the grass, not moving a muscle. As I said, if done properly it's fine. My step-dad is also an experiened and competent deer hunter. He knew what he was doing.
that's a key aspect...most gun owners are not pro-hunters nor dealing with a stationary animal. However, there is also a reason why most hunters don't go for head shots either.
Many laws are in-place simply to deter stupid people from stupid things which is good cause it works, but I'm not an idiot so they don't mean much to me. Obviously you shouldn't shoot or harm your pet in anyway, but as a means to euthanize it's acceptable. You do it right and there won't be any issues. You can always go out to the country and do it, course in a large city that may not be very practical.
Once you say laws are just in-place for stupid people, you really lose all credibility.
I know you mentioned it was cheaper and more private, however; in almost all areas you can find a vet that will do an euthanasia for $50-60 with no frills other than a planned time they do these things and it will be a quiet facility.
That is much cheaper for most than driving out to the country (since you can't discharge a firearm in most urban/suburban areas legally except in self-defense).
In almost all places it's illegal to shoot your own pet. However, there is a blanket loop-hole that states an owner can administer euthanasia if done humanely.
Happens with deer too. Don't know why. I wasn't there so maybe there was a tiny amount of blood, but not like a steady flow or anything.
I am not disagreeing so much that in your case it was a clean kill. I am confused though because usually my experience with clean kills is there is some blood, but the animal goes down right away and passes quick. On larger beasts, you can easily have just a trickle of blood...the smaller usually leave a splatter.
I am just saying for most people that own shotguns, rifles and pistols, trying to shoot your own pet to euthanize it is usually a bad experience.
I am a bit of an animal geek though. It's a big part of my life. I usually visit dog parks when I travel and some rescues even without my dogs.