They shoot horses, don’t they?

Vets are idealists. They love animals and choose a career so that they can help them.

Instead, many find that a significant part of their daily routine is killing animals, often for frivolous or utilitarian reasons.

Bernard Rollin, a philosopher at Colorado State University who specializes in veterinary ethics, recently observed:

The consequences are manifest. One recent study showed that one in six veterinarians has considered suicide.

Another found an elevated risk of suicide in the field of veterinary medicine. Being asked to kill healthy animals for owner convenience doubtless is a major contribution.

With euthanasia or assisted suicide or both legal in seven jurisdictions in the United States, plus Canada, the Netherland, Belgium and Luxembourg, it’s worthwhile examining the experiences of vets to see what the future may hold for doctors.

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