“Does Language Matter?”

“Webster’s dictionary defines euthanasia as ‘The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.’ Using the term ‘euthanasia’ when a shelter is killing for population control, because it has run out of cages, or because the shelter is opposed to TNR or other progressive programs, is misleading and an incorrect usage of the term. The killing in these cases has nothing to do with the animals being ‘hopelessly sick or injured’ and it is not merciful when applied to healthy or treatable pets.”

Nathan J. Winograd
Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America