Government Makes Home Euthanasia Illegal
The Federal Government is trying to make House Calls by your veterinarian illegal. If not illegal, at least severely restrict them.
A federal law called the Controlled Substances Act or (CSA) now says that it is illegal for veterinarians to use some very common medications away from where they are ‘officially’ registered- typically a veterinary clinic.
These common medications are for things such as compassionate euthanasia, sedation, pain medication and anesthesia; they are saying that it is illegal for any veterinarian to transport and use these controlled medications.
The law is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which has now stated that unless the law is changed, veterinarians are in violation of the CSA and are unable to provide compassionate and complete veterinary care.
So now some veterinarians have stopped carrying around common medications such as Sodium Pentobarbital for home euthanasia; some rural practitioners are now resorting to guns for euthanasia.
While I was in veterinary practice, the most common reason I would perform a House Call was for a home euthanasia. It was much less stressful for the pet, the owners, and a far more pleasant way to remember the last moments of a beloved animal.
When the time comes for my pets to be euthanized, I want it to be in my home.
Clearly the Federal Government and the FDA have their priorities completely wrong; just who and what do they think they are protecting?
Should fairly addictive drugs be controlled?
Yes
Is this a reasonable and fair way to control them?
No
Whatever happened to common sense…
This law can be changed and it will happen in Congress.
The AVMA is petitioning Congress to make changes to this legislation which will clearly harm our animals.
You can go to: http://avmacan.avma.org/avma/issues/alert/?alertid=62592206, and enter your ZIP code to demand that congress change the current law.
Dr Andrew Jones
Completely ridiculous. Euthanasia at home can be the final gift you give to your beloved friend. this is another exaple of ridiculous overreaching by the government. Perhaps they could better invest their time trying to create a reasonable budget, take a stand against illegal immigration, fight unemployment and stanch terrorism rather than generate problems where none exist. Thanks for the heads up.
We completely agree that saying goodbye at home can be a peaceful and loving final gift for many pets and families. The concern was never about stopping safe medication controls, but about making sure compassionate options like in home euthanasia remain available when they are needed most. A little common sense and balance can go a long way.
I agree with Merci. All the things wrong with this country and they are worried about this! Our tax dollars working hard, folks 🙁
This was never about ignoring safety or regulation, it was about making sure pets and families still had a compassionate option when saying goodbye. A little common sense can go a long way.
I completely agree that this is an asinine regulation. I had to let go of one of my dogs last May and there would have been no way to get her to the vet. He had steep stairs in his basement office and the dog could barely walk, she was also over 100lbs so there was no carrying her either. She went down in her favorite spot by the garden fence and I would not have wished for anything else for her.
I hope that this type of regulation can be stopped as it takes away a level of comfort for both the pet parents as well as the pets.
Home euthanasia can offer pets comfort, dignity, and peace in a familiar place surrounded by love. They give us a lifetime of devotion, and they deserve compassion right to the end.
What a load of nonsense. In Australia we have lots of mobile Vets who operate out of a Van. Also many people, especially elderly, do not have transport, so have to call a Vet to their home. Fair dinkum I just do not understand govts these days. They appear to lack just plain common sense. Personally I would like to see all govts worldwide do something about abolishing puppy farming. Ireland has. I just do not know what the world is coming to. Stupid laws, stupid amendments for example like a judge in the US did not convict a person for making videos of crushing animals because of some stupid amendment. The world is sick and its getting worse. What happens then if a farmer has a cow that has to be euthanized. Does he have to take it to the Vet? The mind boggles.
We agree that compassion and common sense matter. The goal is simple: making sure vets can continue providing safe, humane care for pets when they need it most, especially in their own home.
What an utter load of rubbish this is. What a pity these people have nothing better to do with their time except making things even harder to let our beloved pets cross the Bridge.
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and that final moment should always be handled with compassion, dignity, and kindness. This was never about making things harder for families. It was about making sure veterinarians could continue offering peaceful, loving end of life care in the place where many pets feel safest, their own home. Sometimes a little common sense and compassion go a long way.
I was fortunate many years ago to let go of my 15 year old cat that I had had since 10 at home. I have had to let go with all my others ta a vet office. I have been fortunate that some were very caring and it was done with compassion. The last time was awful. Lets keep home euthanasia legal.
Being able to say goodbye at home can be such a peaceful gift for both pets and people. Our companions deserve comfort, love, and dignity in their final moments, not extra fear or stress. We believe compassion and common sense should always be part of the conversation when it comes to end of life care.
I am guessing that this applies in the US? I am a bit confused, as I know you are in Canada, as am I. Are changes afoot here as well?
This was mainly about changes in the US. Canada has different regulations, but the goal remains the same: making sure pets can receive compassionate, peaceful care when they need it most.
There is NO acceptable excuse to murder your pet. If he is sick, keep him comfortable and let GOD decide when it’s his time. Euthanasia is a fancy word for murder. It’s disgusting.
Our goal is never to give up on a pet, but to prevent suffering. Compassionate euthanasia, when truly needed, is about comfort, dignity, and kindness at the end of a beloved pet’s journey.
They need to make a veterinary exception!!!
There needs to be a sensible veterinary exception that allows vets to provide compassionate end of life care where pets are most comfortable, especially in their own home. Common sense and compassion should always be part of the conversation when it comes to our animals.
you should give your pet love,comfort and care till the end of their life.bec. when they are still young and be adorable they give there love the best they could gve to us pet owner.have pitty to them.yes let God decide when its the right tme for them,they are like humans.they hve feelings.!!!!
Our pets give us so much love, and they deserve comfort, kindness, and dignity throughout their lives. When the time comes, compassionate end of life care should be about reducing stress and allowing them to pass peacefully, ideally in a familiar and loving environment when possible. They are family, and their feelings truly matter.
This is the most personal and emotional event in the life of pet ownership. Many people simply cannot drive to the vets or anywhere under such duress to have their pet cross the bridge.. to drive anywhere under such stress could also cause an accident (if it has to come down to needing ‘reasons’ in such a perspective) Also, some pets are large and often cannot be carried TO the car in the first place,, if in such discomfort, often impossible to move a large pet ‘anywhere’. Often a senior pet is owned by a senior person who would find it difficult to get TO the vets in the first place, let alone to drive under such emotional sadness. To let your pet go ‘in the home’ is what most pet lovers want.. it also helps all other pets in the house an opportunity to say goodbye, rather than see one pet go to the vets and not come home. This act to not allow this is cruel to both pet owners and the pets. Pets ‘matter’ to their loving owners. This Congress have to pull up their socks and get real here,, phenobarbital is also a drug used for pet owners with pets who have seizures.. so their logic to not allow to transport this medication is flat out BUNK ! So what is next,, to take your pet to the vets DAILY for their dose of phenobarbital to control seizures?.. how stressful is that! .. this is all very STUPID and I question the real reason why they are pushing this asinine legislation to not allow euthanizing your dying pet ‘in the home’ .
For many families, a peaceful goodbye at home is the kindest gift we can give our pets. We understand the need for safe medication rules, but we also need compassion and common sense in how those rules are applied. Our pets are family, and their final moments deserve comfort, dignity, and love.
This measure is beyond draconian! And yes, I have contacted my Congressmen regarding a veterinary exception. No animal – large or small – should be denied appropriate and effective care while offering as much ease and comfort as possible. These people can’t really expect a horse owner (or the owner of another large animal) to drag a down or suffering creature into a trailer to haul to the vet, and that’s assuming the owner even HAS a trailer! Such a requirement goes beyond abject cruelty – and any owner who tried to comply with such a requirement would deserve to be charged with animal cruelty. These legislators obviously are not animal lovers. By imposing this restriction they demonstrate just the opposite, in addition to being grossly ignorant and ill-informed.
Home euthanasia can provide a much gentler experience for pets and families, especially when travel would add stress or suffering. We absolutely support safe medication rules, but they also need to allow veterinarians to provide humane care when and where animals need it most. Hopefully lawmakers listen to the people who are actually caring for these animals every day.
While I’m at it – anyone who chooses to deny the opportunity, nay the necessity, of euthanizing a gravely suffering animal obviously has never experienced the horror of a badly twisted gut, or a shattered leg, or a dystocea where in her efforts to expel a badly-positioned baby (foal, calf, even a dog) the mother has ruptured herself beyond any hope of repair. Permitting such suffering, which may well exceed the capabilities of pain medications (especially any actually permitted by this law) until the animal dies of its injuries is insufferably cruel and unnecessary.
We completely agree that ending suffering is part of compassionate care. The concern is making sure veterinarians can continue providing peaceful, humane options like home euthanasia when it is the kindest choice for the animal and family.
The government from every company should stay away from our home choices. We know our animals and they tell us when it is time. It breaks our hearts and we cry, so it is best when it happens at home because we don’t have to walk out of the room into the waiting room, waiting to pay with tears coming down our cheeks.
Governments have their heads in their rear ends, so they can’t see much and they think all the info is up there.
Being able to say goodbye at home can bring comfort and peace during such a difficult time. Compassionate care should always keep the wellbeing of our pets at heart.
Do politicians at any level, in any country, actually know what COMMON SENSE is. My personal view is that they do not have a clue.
They should leave well alone and let the real experts get on with their work to the best of their ability without interference and stupidity from politicians.
We absolutely need safeguards around medications, but those rules also need to make sense in the real world. When it comes to compassionate care, especially helping a pet pass peacefully at home, veterinarians need the ability to use their knowledge and judgment. The goal should always be protecting both people and animals, not creating more stress for everyone involved.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Government is trying to regulate everything to death… No pun intended. Common sense has to be used when passing some of these legislations and I really think that here “common sense” is severely lacking. They obviously do not own pets or else they do and have someone else look after them. Transporting a gravely injured or ill pet is sometimes too stressful on that pet and I think this is a STUPID regulation.
Home euthanasia can be a much gentler option for many pets because it avoids the stress of a clinic visit during an already difficult time. The goal is always safe, compassionate care while making sure medications are handled responsibly. We’re all for protecting pets, but we also need regulations that protect their comfort and dignity too.
Hello Dr,
This is sad news to hear! I most certainly will sign the petition and are hoping that a majority of people will do too.
It takes a lot of signatures to make a difference. Please, everyone take that moment to sign to help change this important matter.
I thank you to the latest news Dr, have yourself a great weekend.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to sign and share this important message. Our pets deserve compassionate care, especially during their final moments, and being able to provide a peaceful goodbye at home can mean the world to both pets and their families. We are hopeful that common sense will prevail and that positive changes can be made. Thanks again for standing up for our animals. Have a wonderful weekend too!
It is the vet that is registered, not the building/premises he/she works from.
It has nothing to do with govt.
Who is behind this – who gains?
I vote no.
The concern is that certain rules around controlled medications can restrict where vets can provide compassionate care, including home euthanasia. We believe there should be a safe, common sense solution that puts pets and families first.