I am for putting dogs to sleep to alleviate their pain and suffering. I would be for the same for humans as well. I believe there are times when it is necessary and it is compassionate. It is worse to let the dog suffer from illness or injury. I don't mean a sore paw and touch of stomach ache. There are times when medicine can't ease the suffering.
I would ask the question in reverse. If your dog is suffering from a disease or injury that has diminished it's quality of life and has no viable treatment, is it right to keep it alive? Who are you keeping it alive for? Are you doing it because the dog's still has some quality of life left and is happy to be alive or because you don't want to face the grief?
I have had to put two dogs to sleep due to diseases that had no treatment and I've had one die in my arms. Neither is easy.
The decision to end a pets life is a difficult one that takes so much introspection. You can't enter it lightly. I know someone who had their dog put to sleep, rather than surrender it at a shelter, because they were tired of it. That I cannot fathom.
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