Livestock owners and others who derive all or a portion of their livelihood from animal agriculture share a moral obligation to ensure the welfare of animals. Therefore, when disease or injury conditions arise that diminish quality of life or create pain and suffering that cannot be effectively relieved by medical means, euthanasia is indicated.

Examples include the following:

• Fractures of the legs, hip or spine that are not    repairable and result in immobility or inability to stand

• Emergency medical conditions that result in    excruciating pain that cannot be relieved by treatment    (e.g. terminal colic in horses, or trauma associated with    highway accidents)

• Emaciation and/or debilitation from disease or injury    that may result in an animal being too weak to be    transported

• Paralysis from traumatic injuries or disease that result    in immobility

• Advanced eye disease (e.g. lymphoma or cancer eye in    cattle)

• Disease conditions for which cost of treatment is    prohibitive

• Disease conditions where no effective treatment is    known (Johnes Disease in ruminants), prognosis is poor    or time to expected recovery is unusually prolonged

• Rabies suspect animals - where there is significant    threat to human health (These animals should not be    killed by gunshot or other methods which result in head    trauma that might cause excessive damage or loss of    brain tissue and increase potential for human exposure    to the rabies virus. Instead, rabies suspect animals    should be attended to by a veterinarian who can    properly euthanize the animal and obtain brain tissue    for diagnostic purposes.)