Grace Potts

Eisner Period 4
English 4
2/23/2024

PRECIS FOR “The Shelter Charade: The Dilemmas of Urban Animal Control”

In the article "The Shelter Charade: The Dilemmas of Urban Animal Control" (September 1978), The State and Local
Government Review focuses on addressing the issues that face many elected officials on dealing with the stray animal
population, emphasizing on the exponential population growth and animal control problems while discussing financial
support and potential solutions for this growing crisis.

Through a vivid narrative, the author illustrates issues regarding supply and demand of not just the animals in danger but
the healthcare required for care with limited resources, and setting priorities when it comes to unwanted and uncontrolled
animal lives.

The article underscores the reasons and justifications previous pet owners have for either giving up an animal or
euthanizing it in order to emphasize the moral and ethical decisions the government and shelters housing the animals must
address such as expediting low cost spay/neuter clinics as well as issuing state laws protecting animal welfare.

The State and Local Government Review’s article appeals to a wide audience of proactive humanitarians by depicting a
narrative of mayhem, discussing all the economical, ethical, and political issues that come hand in hand with the
overpopulation of stray animals, approaching the writing in a serious and desperate tone so readers become incentivized to
contribute to the cause.

Jacqueline Vaughn. “The Shelter Charade: The Dilemmas of Urban Animal Control.” State & Local Government Review, vol.
10, no. 3, 1978, pp. 87–91.

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PRECIS FOR “Death Without Dignity”

In the article “Death Without Dignity” (Fall 2016), Florida State University sheds light on the use of euthanasia on stray and
unwanted animals that are both completely healthy and ill, illustrating horrific stories of professionals abusing and
inhumanely killing pets.

The narrative begins with a gruesome tale of Beau Anderson, “a state certified animal euthanasia specialist” killing a dog by
strangling it and stabbing it while it cries out in pain and continues to discuss how killing animals is kindness and not
murder.

This article consistently justifies euthanizing animals as an act of kindness and savior in order to accurately represent the
underlying issue in improper animal management and to call out the inhumane treatment of these animals.

This particular article appeals to a sympathetic audience by describing disturbing stories and quotes from supposed welfare
programs such as PETA, engaging a sorrowful yet informational tone as the article ends with the reasoning that putting
down an animal that is completely healthy is inhumane and wrong.

Sloan, Katherine. “DEATH WITHOUT DIGNITY: THE MISNOMER OF EUTHANASIA IN THE STATE ANIMAL
SHELTER SYSTEM AND A CALL FOR A NO-KILL FLORIDA.” Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, vol. 32, no. 1,
2016, pp. 261–90.
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PRECIS FOR “Euthanaisia and Morally Justifiable Killing in a Veterinary Clinical Context”

In the article "Euthanaisia and Morally Justifiable Killing in a Veterinary Clinical Context" (2013), Sydney University Press
focuses on addressing the true meaning of the word “euthanasia”, emphasizing on the misuse of the term while describing
certain criteria that must be included for animal killing.

This article begins by illustrating a narrative of unwanted animals being displaced due to their own owners desires,
describing that an animal’s life is dispensable and incomparable to a human life: “...There is no simple answer to what
constitutes a ‘good’ death for humans”.

The article discusses the loose terminology surrounding the word “euthanaisia”, illustrating the big differences between
killing for convenience versus killing for necessity in order to firmly decide the true criteria which must be upheld in order
to consider euthanasia for a pet, including a humance procedure, to address terminal illness, and legal issues.

The Sydney University Press writes to appeal to a compassionate and logical audience by honing in on the idea that
euthanasia should only occur with minimal pain and distress to prevent pain and suffering, writing in a serious yet
optimistic tone so readers can change their viewpoint on what should be considered helpful versus murder.

Fawcett, Anne. “Euthanasia and Morally Justifiable Killing in a Veterinary Clinical Context.” Animal Death, edited by Jay
Johnston and Fiona Probyn-Rapsey, Sydney University Press, 2013, pp. 205–20. JSTOR