Putting down a . . .

[Rebecca]

I'm posting here to hopfully get some replies. Anyway I have to put down a newt, what is the kindest way to do it?? I don't want to just put it in the freezer, I don't think I could handle that knowing it was freezing to death. Thanks for any replies I get.

[katev17]

:( sorry to hear you've got to do that... I don't think I'd be able to leave him in the freezer either... Well good luck :(

Kate

[corr]

When I need to put down a fish, I throw it hard against a concrete floor or outside in the driveway. It sounds cruel but it's instantanious death. Provided the newt isn't too big, this will work with little or no mess. Another way is decapitation... :(

[Tim_Cranwill]

If I were you, I'd get someone with a strong stomach to do it for you. :(

Good luck...

[katev17]

You could also go with the toilet route... but I'm not sure if it's a good idea..

Kate

[eyespy]

If you know somebody with carbon dioxide tanks for a soda fountain, seltzer bottle or home bar you can make a euthanasia chamber that is very humane.

Tape or rubber band a plastic bag to the airhose with the newt placed inside it and open up the regulator to let a good steady flow of CO2 into the bag. Herps can hold their breaths for a long time so leave him in there for at least an hour. The gas will send him to sleep long before levels build up high enough to euthanize.

Otherwise I'd recommend sudden blunt head trauma or decapitation as suggested by corr. Or a very quick, hard snap of the neck to break the spinal cord. Only do that if you have strong hands and use very sudden force though. A partial breakage is probably worse than the freezer.

Good luck, and I am sorry for the loss of your newt.

[tightsqueeze]

why do you have to put it down?

[Rebecca]

Thanks for the ideas. I have to put it down because it has limb rot that has gotten up onto it's body :( . I can't help it anymore. It just kept getting worse, so instead of making it suffer I'm going to put it down. I think I'm going to get my dad to put it down somehow. I just can't do it, I'm a wuss!!

[Lisa]

Ouch that sucks

[Zoe]

Hi,
The best and fastest way to do it, I find, is to throw him down very hard on the floor. It's hard to do, but you can be happy knowing he had a good life with you.

Zoe

[Dilshad]

Hi, sorry it had to come to this, I remember this from the chat.

A small herp like that is instantaneously and painlessly killed by destroying all brain activity simultaneously.

The way to do so is massive head trauma. It sounds horrible but the idea is, the newt will never know what happened. Lights out.

I suggest enlisting your dad (or someone you trust with a strong stomach) to deliver a massive blow to the head with a hammer or similar object. This will obliterate the skull and brain instantly, so instant lights out.

It's tough, but sometimes these things happen. I wish you better luck with any future herps you may decide to keep.

[dave]

you know any other web site would be able to handle such topics without a huge controversial war taking place. Thats what I love so much about ssnakess I would go with the head trama thing. sorry about your loss and Its better if someone else does it.

[Rebecca]

Thanks. I'm thinking if I can live with the guilt I'm going to get my dad to put it down tomorrow. Thanks agian. I also agree this site is awesome, other site people say "sorry for your lose (sp?)" and don't mean it here I personally feel you guys do. Thanks.

[BILLP]

I head trama works good. If you can't do it try a carbon dioxide chamber they are easy to make and work really good. Sorry to hear about your newt

[Pythonian]

i know it's hard to think about it... but If you can't put it down with head trauma.. or CO2 .. freezing it is VERY humane... when an organism dies of freezing to death .,. it literally just false asleep ... it gets really tired then *pop*... asleep and never wakes up ... but i'd be afraid cause some herps (mostly frogs) .. wake up after they thaw out.. which would just be too weird for me!!

Mike

[Dilshad]

I don't trust freezing or CO2 where herps are concerned, guys.

CO2 would take much, much longer and may cause distress, because their metabolisms are much more tolerant of low-oxygen environments.

As for freezing, there is some concern that a lot of pain could occur as water in tissues crystallize, and yes, certain herps have a high freeze tolerance.

[Lizzy001]

im sorry u have to do that.....

i suggest the hammer thing....the quickest way to go!

[joshbp]

Originally posted by Rebecca
I'm thinking if I can live with the guilt...
rebecca: i'm very sensitive to your pain in this situation, but i think it might be useful for you to think about the notion of "guilt". life, disease, and death are all equal parts of the responsibility of keeping animals... pets or otherwise. it would be great if pets never got sick and never died... but that's not realistic. a person keeping captive animals takes on responsibility for that animal's well-being... and that always envolves making decisions and taking action concerning the animals well-being and best interests. humanely intervening to put down an animal that is beyond the point of medical help is a kind and responsibile choice... not one that brings a burden of guilt. To some extent, a person is more "guilty" in a moral sense when he or she does nothing to relieve an animal's suffering. I know this doesn't make it easier, because we get very attached and commited to the animals in our care... But a mature and responsible pet owner doesn't hesitate to make the "hard choices' where their animals' needs are concerned... i'm touched by your attachment to your pet, and the depth of your feeling for it... but please don't let this get confused with a sense of guilt for doing what is humanely the proper thing...

these of couse, are just my thoughts about this...

josh

[Rebecca]

I know it's the right thing. But I still feel bad that I couldn't do more. I have kept meny pets in my life, and have had almost all of them die (verse selling or giving away) It's not an easy thing. And it's not easy hitting your first newt on the head with a hammer. I'll always feel guilty about it. That's the way I am.