Animals and euphemisms

We live our lives surrounded by euphemisms. People don’t die, they leave us or pass on. People aren’t fired they are let go or RIF’d.

Animals are also surrounded by euphemisms, usually when it comes to humans doing something bad to them. Like killing them.

You don’t have to look far to see these euphemisms, like this screen shot from our local newspaper:

When is the death of an animal called murder? And when is it called being “dispatched?”

And dispatched is just of many euphemisms you might find. Also be on the lookout for cull and eradicate and neutralize. In the end, it’s all killing, but we don’t use that word much when it comes to animals.

As a writer, what words will you use? And why? These are questions those who write for animals ask themselves.