Skip to main content

What happens when we have to put a pet to sleep

Every year we help support, rehome and care for over 8,000 pets. Here at Woodgreen, we care for cats, dogs and smaller pets such as rabbits, hamsters and chickens. No matter the condition a pet arrives in, we’ll always act in their best interests.

We’ll do whatever it takes to rehome a pet

In every single case, we’ll provide the very highest standards. This includes medical treatment and behavioural support to get the pet back to good health and ready for rehoming. We’ll provide secure and comfortable shelter for as long as it takes to find a pet a loving new home.

Why some pets can’t be treated or rehomed

Unfortunately, in a small number of cases, where a pet is sick or injured and is living with unacceptable pain or distress, the kindest thing is to put them to sleep.

Occasionally, there are also animals whose behaviour poses a serious risk to the safety of other pets and people. In these cases, we feel that putting the pet to sleep is the most responsible course of action for all concerned, including the safety of our staff.

“Giving pets the best care and a second chance at living a healthy and happy life is what we do at Woodgreen. We never take the decision to put a pet to sleep lightly and fully review the pet's current and future quality of life before making a decision, ensuring that we've exhausted every other option first.”

Veterinary Services team

In all cases, our small experienced team makes a careful assessment, taking into account all the factors that may affect a pet’s quality of life. In cases of severe behavioural problems, that includes the level of risk to other pets and the public. These decisions are the hardest we have to make and heartbreaking for all of us. What makes it even tougher is that we are all pet owners ourselves and form close attachments to the pets we care for every day.

In many of the extreme medical and behavioural cases we see, the animals we take in can be broken by the lives they have led, be it from abuse, lack of appropriate care or treatment. As these pets are extremely sick or distressed, we’ll act promptly so as not to prolong their physical or emotional suffering. We are also very careful to ensure that they are kept as comfortable and calm as possible and treated with respect and dignity.

 

How we’re helping pet owners, and pets, before a problem becomes an emergency

As animal lovers, we would like to see far fewer pets coming to us in a very serious condition, which is why we’re continually expanding our support for pet owners. We’re here with expert advice, training and workshops, and support over the phone, all to prevent treatable health or behavioural problems from turning into an emergency. And of course, if it is an emergency we’ll always be here, ready to help, without judgement.

Let's do it