I have a customer that has a pet bobcat that is getting old and he wants me to mount it for him. The bobcat is kept out back in a large pen and he would like me to come over and shoot it for him so he dosen't have to see it. I feel uneasy about it but I want to keep him happy. He has excellent deer and turkey hunting on his land. Let me know what you all think.
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Brian,
I can understand your position, only becasuse i have been put in similar situations. I would have to say either shoot the cat or poision it, in order to end its life. When you look at the grand scheme of things, you are doing a friend/customer a favor (while it may not be a desireable one). It may suck for a day or two,but you will be able to handle it and you certainly don't want to take a chance with loosing some choice hunting ground. That is my own opion anyway.
Good Luck,
Donnie
Brian, This has to be a personal choice. If it botters you then I'd tell him to get someone else to shoot it- it's not worth bumming yourself out about. He won't think less of you since he admits that it would bother him to do it. Around here I wouldn't have any problem finding guys that would do it easily and I bet you have those people near you too.-Aaron H.
Just my opinion, but since it is a pet, why not call a vet and let them put it down? I certainly would not shoot one of my pets and I damn sure would not poison it. With poison it would have to suffer at least shooting would be more humane if done correctly. BP
A vet would be a more humane way to put down a pet. Just my opinion.
A vet is the ONLY option. You will and so will your client come to regret any other.
I would shoot the cat. You are doing a buddy a favor and it is not your pet so there is no emotional attachment to the animal. Just think about the hunting land
The problem with the Vet they want 25-50 bucks for this job
The reason many of us are taxidermists is because we care for these critters...I think that we also must respect all the critters we harvest as well as the ones others harvest/kill. Poisoning is not even an option! why would you willing cause an animal to suffer? I realize that there is a cost for the vet services...but so what...is the added 50 dollars or even 100 dollars is a reason that this guy won't get the mount done? If this is a pet and the guy has an attachemnt to it...don't you think he will appreciate a humane death as opposed to the alternative? I would say that he would have much more peace of mind if a vet simply put the cat down...
The concern I would have as a taxidermist from any option is the final mount quality...if you poison it it will convulse while it is dying and quite likely damage hair significantly...if you shoot it the you have a hole to sew and likely hair damage where the bullet entered...not to mention added blood...if the vet puts it down you have no damage, no holes and no blood at all and this will give you the best results as a finished specimen. It also will allow for you to finish the skull and keep it or sell it...this would surely cover the costs of the vet charges...
$25 should not be a factor when You consider it was Your pet for a long time and if He can afford to pay the price for the mount $25 should be nothing for the peace of mind it would bring Not to mention it is much more Humane to His pet. I would have to agree with Jim & Becky P.
Good luck with Your decision. Rick
A 22 shell is alot cheaper, quicker and actually more humaine than dragging the cat to the vet. If the cat is going to have to go down do it quick. Ready, Aim, Fire.
i would go a head and shoot him and keep the meat to make jerky out of mmmmmmm good kitty
..You'll be very wise to give this one a wide berth. The Vet is the best answer here. Your "friend" is going to remember you as the one who killed his pet. Either he does his own dirty work or hires someone else to do it.
Most of us on here are hunters or trappers first, and taxidermist second. Kill the cat and get it over with. If you do not feel that a bullet to the brain or through the heart is not a humane way to kill an animal then stop hunting and trapping and start needle point.
Greg - I do agree a hole throught the brain is as humane as whatever the Vet does BUT the guy isn't gonna remember that. He is just gonna remember his pet is gone. Why even allow yourself to become part of the equation? If it were wild or if it were your own shoting it is no different that gasing or injecting it.
I don't have a problem with the act of shooting it. Lord knows I've shot my share of critters. The cat is old but not in pour health as of yet and I don't want him to blame me for his cat being gone. He would like me to come over in the morning before he gets up shoot and take the cat. This is not an easy decision for him. He hasn't given me the go yet. Only asked if I would.
When I have an animal, I take the responsibility of him. When they get sick, I treat them unless Im not able to, then its off to the vet. When they need to be put down, I take care of it. Humane, and personal. Its not a fun thing, but I want to take that responsibilty. From a practical standpoint, chemical euthanasia sometimes causes specimens to slip or not be in good condition. Maybe its the stress, Im not sure. Finally, from a moral or legal standpoint, I would NOT shoot or destroy the animal for someone else. Im a professional taxidermist. His buddy or freind can do this for him, but I have to professionally step aside, if not to just cover my butt. Just my opinion, guys...
Brian,
just another opinion, but the issue isn't toughness or the need to take up "needlepoint" (all hunters draw lines at different places): bottom line is really:
1 - to be sure that whether by gun or injection, this man's pet dies a humane and respectable death;
2 - that the friendship you have is maintained - If you already feel uneasy about it, you have your answer. Since he is your friend, why not offer to give him a discount on the mounting to offest the cost of euthanasia if you don't want to shoot it for him (I worked as a vet technician and euthanasia will *not* affect the condition of the cat)
they will just fall a sleep no pain no nuttin just go to sleep no holes no blood no vet bill
You dump an overdose of xylazine into a pet and sooner or later youll have one have hair come out in clumps...why else would I tell him so if it doesnt? Sometimes folks have to find out the hard way, others take the advice. Best of luck to all either way.
What may the big rush be to have him mounted. Do you think he is in some kind of pain? Some people consider and treat some of their pets as if they were children. Enjoy the length of time you have spent with he/she and consider the option of a natural death. If your pet is in some sort of pain, then I agree to have a pet put him down. I would imagine that during his/her lengthy visit with you it was that of a good one, and a bullet may make you feel that you really didn't care. So you may have to pay a few more dollars for a vetinarian to do his job and I am sure your feelings of having it done in this manner would be satisfying, and you would feel better about having done so. Good luck.