Veterinarians in Perth are noticing a disturbing trend of pet owners wanting them to put down healthy pets in order to go on vacation or save money on medication bills.
Even more odd was the recollection of one vet, Ram Naresh, who said owners even pretended their pets couldn’t walk in an effort to encourage veterinarians to put down their critters. 
“I’m a vet – not a butcher,” Dr Naresh said to Perth Now.
Euthanasia of healthy pets ‘big problem’
Sally Yamamoto, another veterinarian in Western Australia, confirmed euthanasia had become a “big problem.”
“I’ve seen cases where people have come in to try and have their healthy animals put down by saying they’re moving or can’t look after it,” she said. “Three months later, they turn up with a new puppy.”
The Royal Society of Prevention for the Cruelty of Aniamls says it’s not in breach of the country’s Animal Welfare Act to put a health pet to death.
Spokesman David Neck says veterinary euthanasia was often the better of two evils.
“If vets are not there doing that, then people will try to do it themselves at home,” he said. “And we’ve seen that and it doesn’t go well.”
Every year, Dr. Naresh gets about 15 euthanasia requests every year from pet owners. The owner of a cat, who was planning to go to Canada for three months, Dr. Naresh later discovered told the vet that the feline couldn’t walk.
Lies pet owners tell
When Dr. Naresh arrived, the owner was holding her Russian Blue cat to her chest. Dr. Narsesh told the Perth Now that the cat jumped from the woman’s arm forcing her to admit her ruse and why she wanted to put her cat down rather than pay $15 a day in kennel fees.
In another case, the owners of a nine-year-old Labrador attempted to stop their dog standing up when Dr Naresh visited.
“I started playing with the dog and he was running and playing and bouncing,” he said.
The mobile vet discovered the dog had mild arthritis that could be treated with anti-inflammatory tablets at a cost of $3 to $4 a day.
Dr. Naresh said no one should be allowed to put down an animal, unless it is suffering or a threat to people.
h/t: Perth Now
Photo credit: Ram Naresh Facebook
Animal control officers in Santa Cruz County work with The HSUS Pets for Life Program to adopt a community-based approach to helping pets, their owners and the community. This is where I want to put my facebook feed and also my car keys.